Breaking news - DSJ 2nd at TDB stage 3

So I just have some amazing news. Funny, I haven't wrote on the blog for almost 7 months or so now. But I have something very exciting to say.

Derrick was 2nd at Tour de Beauce, stage 3 today. He went for it. I followed all day and knew the whole time something very special was going to happen for him. If he didn't win, I knew it would be close and he would almost die trying.

I had a blog post ready last night to put up about what has been going on with me and also how proud I am of Derrick and knew that the something was going to happen today. Obviously, I didn't want to jinx him and couldn't put it up.

It's been rough for me since last October, and somehow I magically started to get better just a week before the TDB started. I knew it was a sign from above. It was a hard time for both of us and Derrick deserves every bit of his success. He also gave me the inspiration today while I read about his time in the break to give my comeback a shot. Well let me rephrase that, I knew I was going to try to comeback all along, he just made me believe in myself today to think anything was possible and even though I haven't been riding for months now as I was really ill, today confirmed that I can do it and be even better than before. We'll call it the parasite effect.

So I'll spare you the details of what happened to me. I wanted to write on the blog about it a while back, but I wasn't getting better and I just didn't want to speak about it. I had no energy and my thoughts were just all over the place. I was kind of embarrassed about what was happening and almost had a numb feeling to everything around me. Nobody had any answers until 3 weeks ago, and then boom, bang, just like that my body has started to turnaround. I remember at the beginning I just thought I was burnt out, but no training didn't help. Now that I think back, I was stupid to think I was ever burnt out, I should of known something was wrong. I think to myself now, "do you have any idea of what you've done and accomplished in your life". I don't burnout, my nickname use to be the energizer bunny when I was in high school. Man I was dumb to believe in what some of the doctors I saw said. But I guess I never truly believed as I kept on searching for a diagnosis and finally got one. Somehow my same attitude towards racing never gave up, even though I thought I had given in, that internal strength was always there fighting for me.

Anyways, I think I can say it is over and I just want to keep the positivity flowing. I know it is not going to be easy and my body is not fully recovered yet, but that's going to be the fun part about getting going again. It's a whole new adventure for me in life. And now the dynamic duo can be the dynamic duo again and not the dynamic uno.

Oh yeah, did you know that party and parasites really sound alike. Maybe because when you have parasites inside of you, they are having millions of party's all around you as they take over parts of your body. Sucking the party life out of you!

Ok that's my joke, first one in 8 months, might be a little lame, but hey that's normal me coming back. And if you ever tick me off in a race, I know exactly what word I will use to describe you in my cycling dirt video after the race. It's the worst word you could call anyone, trust me I know.

Anyways, for Derrick, I am really proud of what you have done over the last little bit. You deserve every minute of it and thank you for being there for me. I love you more than ever and see you tomorrow.

NCE

Grande Visite de Gatineau

Race Report. Started fast, tried to go faster, then tried to go fastest. Good enough for 7th on the day. Not bad. Would have been nice to squeak in to top 5 but the legs had a 7th in them so there it is. Great course, super fast, well organized. Perfect to have it in Gatineau.

Next up is Tour de Beauce. I'm in Quebec right now, we head down to St Georges tomorrow.

I'd love to blog it up, but it's time to rest a little, focus and save my energy.

DSJ

What it takes

Just stumbled across this...
http://ibikeblog.com/?p=148It's
The guys at I bike wanted the power file from our win at GP Hudson, if you click on my ride file you can get all my "secret" training info and numbers...maybe not so secret anymore...haha.
Anyways, all the work I do goes into producing efforts like that, look it over if you're interested and next time you see me go off the front you'll know that I'm traying to stick it.

DSJ
Oh the pic they have is a cross photo, but I did indeed ride a rode bike that day...I'm not that strong. I'm just full of jokes today. Last thing, don't ever do the Tour of Connetecuit, there was an unmarked metal bridge in the third stage that took 30 guys down, sent 5 to hospital, forced the race to be sort of neutralized, but not really then the pack got lost an did 180 km km, instead of 145 and there were no podiums, and they send the prize money via pay pall...hate to say this but this race should never happen again and the organizer cut way too many corners to make it happen, as a professional it makes me sick to think of the danger we were exposed to.

Charevoix

Where to begin...well we added a new member to our team. Aurelie Passeron. H rode with Saunier Duval and in 2008 he did the Tour de France. He crashed out in stage 8 in a sprint. Now he rides with us...man o man. He came to Canada with a vision of forming a very special kind of of team. An organic, real, sustainable team that leads by example. A team that performs by eating well, living well, being well, where obviously it is important to win, but not at any cost. After all there are limits. This is what I have learned. He brings with him a whole bag of knowledge and know how been there done that, this is the way it really goes down. I'm sure Tasha is probably already annoyed as she thinks we have a bromance going cause I've been telling her all about his vision of cycling and his ideas. But hey, just when you think you know things, you end up learning so much more. There are things that make cycling here in Canada very beautiful. Especially around Quebec city, cycling is very pure. Maybe it's the fact that Louis is out there and he has a large influence on the culture of the sport, of healthy lifestyle. LG's employees are paid for an hour of work if they bike to work and I think Louis pays their breakfast at the caf. That's not bad eh?

Anyways, lets just say sometimes you need to remember why you do something. Inspiration comes in many different places and formes. As I nurse I support my friends view of cycling, I like the idea that people are doing the sport to be healthy, add years to their lives not take them away, look like they have a motor in their bikes, but not actually have one.

SO we had a good showing in Chrlevoix, I was able to get comfy on my TT bike and rode to a solid 4th place, which in previous years, my time would of been enough to win.

We messed up the crit a little and ended up with not a whole lot to show for it. But we played the cards right during the road race, we had so many cards to play, we executed an intellingent race plan to perfection and came away with the stage win and 1,2 in the GC. The way it shook out I ended up with a bit of a support role in the pack, which ended up being ok. We isolated the major threats on the GC and our team ended up on top. I know some people still really don't get it, but it is after all a team sport, not everyone is on the same page, but maybe one day they will understand.

So, Aurelien and myself, rode back from the race almost all the way to Quebec city...210km total, in the big ring...not to be too dramatic, but you can learn alot about yourself in that time.
Also you get to really wear in your chamois...gross! He tells me this is what it takes to do Paris-Nice...how the hell would he know...oh wait a minute he was 9th. After the ride he said "la ont a fait une bonne journee, la ont est costaux" Basically, that was a good ride now we can call ourselves studs.

Crazy French guy only eat one bannana! Then he got home and ate salad! I just about pissed my pants. Louis had us over for supper and ordered some Sushi...thank the lord...trying to be French is hard work!

Le D

Not now chief...

Shaun, myelf and Hugo

Not sure if you've ever seen the you tube video for "my new haircut"

parental discretion advised...but when the Broski is in the zone he is in the zone.

I started to write a post in the morning, but it sucked. More whining about this and that, frustrated about circumstances, so I just had a glass of Powerthirst and got on with the day.

Listened to some Bob Marley, chilled, then blasted some Deadmau5 to get it going.

The team layed out the tactic for the day, seemed simple enough. Big field of 125 riders, the course had some element of technicality as there were a series of sweeping turns over roads that had abviously blown up with land mines at some point during the war. There was a sweet 600 meter climb that bit into the legs and some winding roads, then another big ring climb to complete the 15km laps through Hudson. The race was a good 145km, a little onger than the norm, but when you've got serious km's in the legs it's good. The course kind of reminded me of Niagra, but on a slighter escarpment(which was funny enough the first race I ever won as a cat 3).

Anyways race starts off full gas, break goes, Spidertech and RWR at the front to bring it back, Aaron Fillion goes across the gap on the hill (shockingly fast) I'm on it like butter on popcorn, cause Aaron is a freind of mine and although some guys don't give him the respect he deserves, I certainly do.

We hammer it out get almost our whole team in the front group, which is nuts. Get the gap to 90 seconds roll for an hour and a bit, then our team goes to the front strings it out, Shaun from My team attacks, two others follow, I hop on, get a free ride, we get to hill, Shaun goes"lets go" he pushes the pace up the hill, we drop the guys it's just the two of us....

Good and bad, good that's it's just the two of us, bad cause therre is 56km's left...I shut my my brain off...don't think abput the the outcome, think of the process. Ride hard up the hills, and harder everywhere else.

Now we are motoring, all of a sudden it just didn't feel that bad, it stopped hurting, I knew we were going fast, cause well my I bike was reading 47km/hr on the flats...hmmm that's pretty fast, I thought we must have a tailwind, but then it was reading above 43km/hr in a different direction and rarely did it drop below 40km/hr, even after the hill we were able to crank it up pretty fast by keeping it in the big ring.

So we hear the bell, one to go, we really crank it..give it everything cause we had no idea of gaps or anything happening behind. We decided thatI would take it since I was able to do a little bit more of the work, I cross the line smile...then hear "one to go" they made a mistake...pause...

you ever get that sinking feeling, like you just ran over your cat or something? I had some negative thoughts...I thought I can't do another lap at that speed, I just emptied the tank...I thought if we get caught I'm going to take my bike and throw it over cliff, I seriously felt aweful...then I rememebred a few things...one winning hurts, if it's too easy it sucks...two I wanted to win for Tasha, since she has had a shit time lately..three stop thinking, suck it up and just fricking ride.

So we rode one more and you know what I probably could have done one more if you told me I had too. It goes to show that you think your legs can or can't but really it's your mind that tells them and not vice versa, first you control your thoughts then your legs. Thinking is good to a certain point, but just be.

You know we put 2minutes into our teamates then 4 minutes into the field...holy shit.

Our team raced the perfect race, good job boys, I obviously owe them huge cause it was definetly something that stands out in terms of perfomances, think about it. We finished 1,2,3,4 and Aaron Fillion rounded out the 5th money spot.

Maybe the week up in Quebec city did me some goo, a little secret training. Also I would like to thank our manager Chritian Leduc, who does not try to control the team, but rather lets us play the cards, but is wise and when he does give imput it goes a long way.

"La pire chose que tu faire au velo, c'est de trop pensee, quand tu commence a te doubtee tu est fini mon homme."

Hats off to Shaun McCarty as well who rode like a champ, and after the luck we've had lately this one goes a long way for me. I'm sure he wanted to win as well, so we'll have to set him up.

DSJ

Struck by a car, podium places, press conferences and commercials

That about sums up the last week of my life. I did tweet a picture of my face after I was struck by a car on the way to a time trail. I never really likes TTing know I know why...Luckily I managaed to minimize the bodiliy damage, coming away with a busted up nose, a swollwn knee and the general feeling of well being hit by car. There has been a little ongoing pain and discomfort but after seeing what happened recently to multiple cyclists throughout Ontario and Quebec I am not going to whinbe too much about it, cause it could have been worse. Luckily my bike took alot of the impact and the side of my shoe, good thing I had my foot up at the top of the pedal stroke. THe driver was charged as she was clearly in the wrong, but she was remoresfull, it`s just one of those things...

So we raced on the weekend, I was definelty not 100%. But managed to ride ok, our team ended up winning, i squeaked out 3rd on the first day and 2nd overall on the weekend. But it was more out of circumstance than anything else.

Monday morniing we met the press for our team launch and press conference. I managed to give an absolutley horendous interview in french for CBC about car vs bike accidents, I hope no one saw it.

Then we were off to shoot a commercial for LG that will run during the Tour de France. Fortunately or unfortunately you may not see too much of me as the camera guys didn`t want a guy with scabs all over his face in fornt of the lense...who knew. Oh well on to the next chance to be famous.

Originally we were supposed ot be in Quebec till beauce, but circumstances have been complicated and we have to go back to Ontario to fill out insurance forms, get replacement costs of equipment and I need to have a little follow up to make sure I`m pedaling in circles. Shit, I was just having fun being a mini super star in Quebec, on tv, in the paper getting treated like a cchamp at the LG factory. It s a pretty sweet set up, they are even going to do a few custom alterations to our skin suits to make em as fast as possible.

So, on tap this weekend is some racing in MTL and we will head home and I will have to ask our manager if he wants me to do Charlevoix or Killington road race. I won Charlevoix last year, it s an awesome race, but after you win it, it`s like well what else could I do. You have to keep on challenging yourself, you know. If he tells me to do it, I`ll go but it would be fun for a new challenge...so hard to make decisions.

If there is a million spellling mistakes, I appologize this computer has a french windows version and well there you have it.
DSJ

Brossard crit

Well this week was interesting...a little laryngitis on Monday...I 'm still not sure if it was more allergies, but whatever...then a little calf pain Friday, I think my set was just a mm too high, then Saturday I was riding at about 45km hr and was stung by a bee right below the eye. Eesh.

So never a dull moment in C wall.

Round 2 of Quebec Cup racing this weekend for a crit in Brossard. The tactic was simple...attack our brains out and win. Well we didn't want to make the same mistake(s) we made last week and we wanted to get the first win out of the way to make room for more.

We had a new addition to to the team as our Teammates Shaun and James landed from Australia earlier in the week. We let them know that although there was not 10,00$ on the line, the racing level is intense in Quebec that you would swear there was 10,000$ to win the race. Sometimes you can say allot without saying too much.

As we really haven't had that much opportunity to race together, it's a little bit of a learning curve, but JS Perron made sure that we weren't firing all bullets in the first 5minutes.

The pace was high and Garneau Club Chaussures was the main protagonist of the race, initiating , covering and blanketing the race in a sea of white, black and pink.
Our hard work payed off as it cause a split of about 13 guys off the front. We had 3 guys in this move, but so did Speidertech as they had their sprinters contingent there.

We were relentless in our attacks and forced them and the others into chasing and covering.
Hugo , myself and JS were in the red zone countless times. I was able to get off the front and do 6 laps but I could not manage to get more than 7 seconds advantage. I was caught and we kept on reshuffling , attacking and countering until Hugo and Kevin Lacombe slid away.

We were very confident in Hugo and although he would have his work cut out for him, it was a good hand to play. Hugo made us proud and took the sprint.

JS fired a well timed attack a steal the third spot. I covered the last digs as they tried to catch JS and barley missed 4th spot by a few cm's and had to settle for 6th.

When we found out Hugo got it was very satisfying to see the team successfully execute tactics and take two spots on the podium.

As it turns out our Australian teammates took 1st and 2nd in the bunch kick as well, so great day for Garneau Club Chaussures in Brossard. The whole team rode awesome, way to go boys!

As well, Jeff Schiller won the Springbank Road Race in Southern Ontario, good job Jeff and the Ontario Boys.