Training camp and settling back into routine in France
Hi all,
It’s been a pretty full gas couple of weeks since arriving in France. We arrived to our new apartment in Roquebrune Cap Martin all set up and ready to go, which was a real comfort and peace of mind instead of bunking down on friend’s couches for the first couple of weeks. We made the move down to the coast near Monaco at the end of last year, but it was short lived when I realised I had a broken elbow and it was on the plane home.
The team called the day I arrived first to say hi, and second to explain they needed me for the race in the weekend as another rider was injured, leaving the team only five riders for GP Laiguelia and needed 6 to start. So as our new home away home was only an hour away and on route to the race I was asked to pin a number on.
So this meant full medical testing the next day to apply for my french racing licence, I was half asleep by the time I got on the SRM bike for the Vo2 max test but never the less proved myself fit to race.
Friday we awoke to see from our balcony the Mediterranean sea raging in anger as the waves crashed onto road, and in true french style caused a massive traffic jam for no reason. So while I was more tempted to go find a surfboard and get amongst it, I duly packed my suitcase and waited for the Director to pick me. The next morning the storm had passed and we were greeted with a clear crisp day, though it would not be a long one for me. The race hit the first climb at a furious pace and I was cautious not to push myself too hard too early, and was told by the director to turn round and go rest. So I took his advise as it’s not often they say that to you.
Anyway training camp was to follow the next week and I knew that was where I would start my real build up for the season. The team gathered over the following days as some riders were still racing the Tour du Haut Var, which was won in great style by Christophe LeMevel continuing the team’s great early season run and starting the camp off on a high.
Training camp for me was time to get my bikes and other equipment sorted for the year, and time to speak with the coach about my training and race program for the next couple of months. The camp was based in Draguingan, which is the base of the French Military. We did some good rides up into hills where snow still lined the roads after the very cold winter that has passed through here.
Though camp wasn’t long I was eager to get back home and get settled into our new home by the sea. I have over two weeks until my first real race and then more time after that to continue trying to get my body back into race shape. There is a really good group of guys around here so I am looking forward to some long rides in the hills over the coming weeks.
Today we replaced the car battery which was a bit of fun in the pouring rain, and tomorrow its time to get the scooter up and running too. Then we’ll be down to Italy for some cheap supermarket shopping, always making time for a coffee stop as you don’t really get it better anywhere else.
Thanks to you all for your comments great to hear from you.
Cheers
Tim
Checking the heart and lungs
Testing begins
The view from our balcony on a stormy day
The usual calm Med sea, looking back to our bay
SKY Sport is proud to bring you unprecedented international cycling coverage in 2010 from around the world with both LIVE and highlight packages and with five New Zealanders now contracted to “Pro-tour” teams in Europe, you’ll be able to monitor the progress of our lads as they race against the likes of Lance Armstrong and Alberto Contador.
This month, the ‘race to the sun’, the Paris-Nice cycling race returns for the 68th year, running from Monday 8th March to Monday 15th March. The race is made up of 8 stages and covers a total distance of 1,288 kilometres through and is guaranteed action!
PARIS – NICE:
STAGE 1: Monday 8 March, 3.00am, LIVE on SKY Sport 3
STAGE 2: Tuesday 9 March, 3.15am, LIVE on SKY Sport 2
STAGE 3: Wednesday 10 March, 3.15am, LIVE on SKY Sport 2
STAGE 4: Thursday 11 March, 3.15am, LIVE on SKY Sport 2
STAGE 5: Friday 12 March, 2.45am, LIVE on SKY Sport 2
STAGE 6: Saturday 13 March, 3.15am, LIVE on SKY Sport 3
STAGE 7: Sunday 14 March, 7.00am, DELAYED on SKY Sport 3
STAGE 8: Monday 15 March, 3.15am, DELAYED on SKY Sport 3
SKY Sports cycling coverage continues with…
Paris to Roubaix, France (April 11): Probably the most important one-day race in the world, the “Hell of the North” takes riders north from the French capital to the velodrome at Roubaix across some of the roughest stretches of cobble stones in Western Europe.
Fléche Wallone, Belgium (April 22)
Liége-Bastogne-Leigé, France (April 26): Two of the most prestigious “Spring Classics” on Cycling’s calendar.
Tour de Romandie, Switzerland (April 28): The Pro-tour swings in to Switzerland for a race that always seems to throw up a surprise victor.
Tour of California, USA (May 17-24): Now later in the year, the California tour has quickly become America’s number one bike race.
Tour de Suisse, Switzerland (June 13)
Dauphiné Libere 2010 (June 6-13): The Swiss tour and the Dauphine are the ideal lead-ups to the Tour de France and the real indicators to who is going to take the favourites mantle into the season’s biggest bike race.
Tour de France, France (July 3-25): Here it is, the climax to the season, 21 stages around France. The race that every bike riders dreams of starting … and only a very elite few can ever contemplate winning
Paris Tours, France (Mid Oct): The fastest one day classic on the calendar.
The five New Zealanders who’ll be vying for places in the Tour de France and all the lead-up races are; Julian Dean of Waihi who rides for the Garmin-Transiions team, Hayden Roulston of Tinwald with HTC-Columbia, Greg Henderson of Dunedin who’s signed for the new British team, Team Sky, Tim Gudsell from Kihikihi rides for the French outfit Francaise des Jeux… and finally there’s Sam Bewley of Rotorua who’s been signed to Lance Armstrong’s new team, RadioShack.
Regards
John Cardwell
Sky Network Television
Comment by john cardwell — March 5, 2010 @ 10:54 am
Hey Uncle Tim!
Just a short message to say good luck and best wishes for 2010
from your biggest fans!
We know its going to be a good one for you.
Take care
Big cuddles from Holly and Macklin xx
Comment by Anna Rix — March 10, 2010 @ 8:07 am