Tim Gudsell

Hi all

Well this is my first report from Italy and hopefully a little insight for you into my world as a neo pro in Europe, as I try to find my feet in the pro peloton.

Starting in Sardinia sure made it a long trip to the start line for my first Grand Tour, but it was at the same time a truly amazing setting. The first thing I realised about grand tour life is that it is really Grand!!, the hype, hotels, preparation, size of the team and team support. Dealing with 21 days of racing is one thing, but there are long transfers before and after stages, medical control before the tour, then doping controls during, press duties (yes even for the riders who come in well behind the leaders) the ultra passionate and sometimes over the top Italian fans “tifosi” forever asking for signatures, caps, and biddons as you go by. Though you will only spend between 4-7hrs actually racing each day, your day is completely full, with little time for much else. When you get time to put you feet up after dinner, you are ready to sleep straight away, that’s if your throbbing legs have calmed down a little.

This year there was a rest day after just three days racing, not that I was complaining!! After three scorching days racing in Sardinia we had to fly back to the main land, where we would start the real lap of Italy. Even with just a 1 hour flight it sure was a long day, up at 8, left hotel at 9, on plane at 12, landed at 1, made it to next hotel at 3, to find out we wouldn’t get bikes till 8, so enjoyed a chamois free day but the legs did not enjoy the next start that’s for sure.

So as you can see it’s not just about the racing you have deal with a lot more that comes with riding the big races. I will be back soon with more stories, its now time to concentrate on making it though another day at the tour, with 3 mountain passes it sure will be interesting.

Tim