Four days of rolling country side in western France with a bit of sun, a lot of wind and some massive crowds out to support their French hero’s. 

The Tour du Poitou Charentes doesn’t have the most interesting parcour to make for exciting racing, though the 2007 edition was far from boring with plenty of wind blow across the small exposed country roads shattering the peloton into small groups at many different times of the race. 

For me coming into the race with little form due to the long break from racing I knew I was here to keep the boys hydrated and help out along the route where I could, and over the last four days I found myself with more than enough work to do.  On day two we were warned that there would be long stretch of cross after about 10km, everyone knew it was coming and sure enough the bunch exploded as the smack went down at the front.  I sniveled my way up the bunch and was happy to be in the top 15 to 20 riders with three of my team mates near by.  Though it wasn’t to be for long as there was a crash at the turn into the cross wind and our rider highest on GC had fallen, and through radio I hear the director screaming for some of us to come back and help.  So I swung left descended through four or five groups thinking to myself now this could be a very long day with still 170km to go, and it sure was as I never actually got far enough back to find our leader as two others did and all three ended up pulling the pin as they were minutes down and the race was on as it swung into the head wind and didn’t ease up. 

Though sometimes you have to have a bad day for a good one to follow, and that was how it went for us.  With only five guys left in the race we had a hard job on our hands to bring back the break away on day three.  In the end I and two team mates chased flat stick for 50km and got the break with in reaching distance for the peloton, and as the race thundered into Chatellerault the home town of our team sprinter Sebastien Chavenal he made the most of the opportunity taking line honors with both hands aloft.  It may not have been me who crossed the line first but a team victory is always a great feeling, especially when you know you put in a few yards to help out. 

With another stage win on the last day by one of the stagiaires from our team we all went home happy with a successful week.   I felt pretty content to have made it though five days of racing and was looking forward to a few days rest before getting stuck into some more training and continuing with some rehab work on my leg which is still not 100%.   

Sorry this one report has turned up a little late so the following post will fill you in on the past week. 

Cheers Tim 

Below: Seb Chavenal takes victory in Chatellerault.