Stages 11,12
Well you couldn’t really get to more different stages to write about. Stage 11, on from the gun, pouring rain, never flat, hills more like walls, roads no bigger than footpaths, cold, and relentless pace all day. Stage 12, PIANO, thats rite real easy start, flat fast roads, a little rain cleaning to 26degrees, and then a little sprint amongst the fast boys.
Tonight I am writing from a small city called Modena, near Bologna. Where we will be leaving from again tomorrow morning for another flat sprint stage, before the race gets really serious in the mountains on Saturday.
The legs are starting to feel very heavy, especially after yesterdays tough stage. I was really motivated to get through yesterday in good shape, and things were going well when I slipped into a break of about 10guys after 20km, but it was not to be as a couple of km’s later I found myself riding straight over the top of a rider from Lampre as he lost control on a slippery corner, and from then on in it felt like I spent the whole day chasing. Even after finally catching the grupetto after riding with a group of 10guys out the back they never sat up as they thought time cut would be tight even though it wasn’t. So a little bumped and bruised I went to bed last night feeling completely drained.
Though today was quite a treat as we rolled out of the start village an only one mad Spanish rider decided he wanted to spend the day alone out in front as the rest of us stopped at a small bakery to enjoy some of the regions specialties before rolling off down the road again. Though some guys hadn’t had enough and brought the trays of cakes with them, good on ya fellas keep the peloton feed well.
The sprint finish was pretty chaotic with small rights and more corners in the last 3kms than you’ll ever find in any other race. I managed to follow in in 21st place for the day which was really about all my legs were good for after yesterday.
Ok time to see the Doc and get some new patches put on the wounds, then its off to bed for some recovery time.
Back soon
Catchya
Tim
Hey bro, love reading your updates each day! You are making us all in NZ very proud. I stayed a night in Bologna, not much to see there…but Modena is where Pavarotti was born! There is a great fact to pull it when cycling haha Keep the head up and keep smiling x
Comment by Rebecca Gudsell — May 23, 2008 @ 10:52 am
Hey Tim keep up the good work its good reading your messages after each stage because when you look at the results you dont know if youve had any problems out there.
keep doing the kiwis and ypor team proud.
Hayden
Comment by Hayden McCormick — May 24, 2008 @ 8:13 am
Hey Guddy, good to see you knocking it up at the Giro. Looks like you have some good form, keep up the great work. Best of luck for the Giro, go hard mate.
Comment by Thomo and Em — May 24, 2008 @ 11:34 am
Hey guddy your riding awesome bro.Keep up the good work and good luck for the rest of the tour mate hope all goes well
Comment by Brad Carter — May 24, 2008 @ 6:34 pm
We are enjoying following your progress and you are doing fantastically. Thanks for the insights into your adventures and experiences.
Comment by Brent from NZ — May 26, 2008 @ 8:13 am