I went into Tour de la Somme knowing my form was still on the up and sure I had fuel in the tank to do something for me and the team.  Still fighting a cold I had picked up the weekend earlier I knew for a one day race this couldn’t hamper me too much, and after 20km I found myself initiating the first major break of the day.  

A group of 15 of us took a minute lead and we rode hard as the teams missing from the group rode hard behind to get us back, and after about 30km that they did.  The race continued in an aggressive style until the feed at the 100km mark where a small group was let away as the peloton took time to refuel.  This was where my race was about over, I had some really bad stomach cramps and didn’t feel good at all, though as the race was not about to stop for me we hit a tough cross wind section and along with Bouegues Telecom we split the bunch into many a group.  I felt my legs were still there but stomach wasn’t playing the game and as the race really got serious in the last 50km I had no choice but to take relief in some near by bushes as it was not a sight anyone would appreciate. Well it wasn’t really the way I wanted to finish my last race of the European professional season but sometimes there’s just not a lot you can do about these things. 

After a very uncomfortable flight back to Toulouse and then quick drive up to Albi I finally stomached some food and went to bed a tired and skinny boy haha.   

As I only had a week to organise my departure from Europe to get back to NZ in time to recover before heading to track camp and the Sun Tour, it is fair to say I was pretty much flat stick getting things sorted. 

I did how ever manage to make it to Toulouse on Saturday along with about 20,000 other kiwis to support the All Black in their last pool match against Romania.  I went along with my Uncle Neil and we enjoyed a great afternoon in the sun watching the All Blacks, then the Fiji England game on the big screen at the World Cup village in the centre of