Team / Blog My chain reaction
Today was odd. So much of it was right. I was having fun this morning and found myself off the front for no reason other than I was having fun getting mixed up in the action with Maggy and Danny. It was all happening on its own. I didn’t need to try very hard.
Before I knew it, I was in a race winning break, and I rapidly switched into race winning mode. I started to get ultra switched-on and even a little short-tempered, a sure sign I’m in the zone.
It was hard.
I was feeling totally in control, but it was hard. I averaged 154 heart rate for 5 hrs. I have a max of 190 when fresh. So I was hurting myself, and yet I never doubted myself. I decided to win the sprint. So all I had to do was not hesitate a second when the other four started attacking me in the final. Because that was what they had to do. They all knew I would beat them in a sprint, so that would be their tactic.
I did this until my chain broke. I was so raging and so focused that all the energy I had for winning the race was taken out on my bike. I’m not that person, I don’t see red. But I think it’s quite funny I did that. I’ve yet to see the footage…
Anyway, probably the nicest thing is seeing how affected by it Whitey is. He’s never affected. Makes me remember how much he cares. The same goes for the whole team here. They’ve been lovely.
I love Grand Tours. I’ve got 15 more stages to rectify today. Brilliant.
49 Responses for "My chain reaction"
Some kind soul posted it for you on Youtube…
Serious pain in the arse.
David, thanks for all of your posts. The behind-the-scenes looks, and your thoughts are very interesting. Bad luck today, and very gracious of you to still post. Best of luck in future stages. All of you are due for some more good luck. I look forward to seeing you win a stage 10. Hopefully CVV can also take some time back in that stage. Go argyle!
Brilliant, absolutely brilliant. To hear Mr. Millar describe what happened. It brings out the essence and soul of “the warrior” It is like magic to hear somebody describe that: to be able to loose control, you must first have control. The Giro is war, and you ar a hel… of a soldier. My hat of to you David.
Best Regards
Per: a cyclist from Sweden.
hi Dave that was tough today really felt 4 you same happend 2 me in my fav race at the time i didnt understand the world 4 a few hours . HANG IN there yr flyin great 2c you guys up the road
oh man what i would have given to be standing near by and quietly walk of with the beauty that is those felts! get em next time.
found the video: http://youtube.com/watch?v=xqTKaDmUr1w
I was watching the end of the stage sneakily at work & I thought it was yours for the taking. After all that effort & then for your chain to snap I’m not surprised you took it out on ya bike. Great to hear your still up for more.
On my way home from work I got a flatty & I was gutted, thankfully the sun was shining.
Hope you get your stage win
David, that was heartbreaking to watch this morning. I was watching it on cycling.tv and they have the last 10 minutes as a replay which shows your chain breaking. I was getting pumped up just watching because I thought for sure you’d win the stage. Your reaction just showed how much you wanted to win and didn’t make you look bad at all, I don’t think. I hope you get another chance to win a stage. Best of luck! We’ll be watching and cheering you and team Slipstream/Chipolte on.
Dave,
Didn’t expect a ‘post’ tonight. Thought you’d be consoling yourself by allowing yourself a beer.
Was following the stage on Eurosport ticker today, ahem.. at work. Couldn’t believe your bad luck.
Great to see you on form and wearing the National Champs jersey in a major tour.
I desperately hope you get the oppportunity again! I was hanging on the edge of my seat reading the live coverage because I knew you had it in you to pull off the win. I agree with Richard, very nice of you to still post given what your frustration level probably is (or was).
David,
just glad you didn’t stack it when the chain snapped! Yikes, the footage looks nastier than it sounds.
Hang in there and give ‘em hell!!
-aardvark
On youtube ‘How to get rid of your bike’.
one of the dave’s i know…
good thing you didnt plant yourself firmly on the pavement with that mechanical!
you’re due for a win and i think it will happen for you soon! keep on keepin’on!
Bad Luck, real bad luck, DM’s had too many mechanical problems in what could be career defining moments. It’s crap. Was hoping we were seeing 2 Brit wins in a row.
Always tomorrow, or the day after or the day after.
Think about the team DM, their reaction, when this gets you down (which it will)…
You don’t come out of it looking bad, you can see in your face that its instinctive and your regretting it after its barely left your hands. Thanks for posting, at least you didn’t get injured (it looked a bit painful), hope you get another chance.
You got some good distance on the throw.
That was such a pity. Broke all the fun of watching that thrilling final kilometers. All respect to the other guys, but this stage deserved a better finish.
I’m really looking forward for a new David Millar Show. Hang in there!
David, That was EPIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m so sorry you didn’t get to contend for the stage win, however, afterwards the spotlight was on YOU.
Nobody will remember who won today, but no one will forget THE TOSS.
Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeet!!!!
Had you not tossed the bike, I would have thrown my computer (which would have been difficult to explain at work…..thanks!)
Awesome form this early in the season!
Also didn’t expect a post today Dave. That was your stage for the taking. I was gutted..
Go get ‘em. God I love cycling!
David
Appreciate your explanation (I think everyone in the world has had at least one occasion where they’ve let their immediate feelings rule the moment) however unfortunately for you, you’ve joined the ranks of Bjarne Riis and Riccardo Riccò as a bike tosser exposed to the world by the wonders of modern media.
I’ll state the obvious that this episode doesn’t do much for you, your sponsors (especially the equipment supplier of your chain) or the sport with juniors aspiring to greater things.
I believe that in last year’s TdF you avoided topical skin treatments for your reaction to the harsh French summer sun, to avoid drug related backlash. That’s impressive, inspirational and the sort of behaviour you should want to be noted for.
Well done for ‘fessing up. Shows the quality of character that makes for a true sporting champion.
I wish you well with the rest of the Giro. I’d rather put my positive thoughts behind a Scotsman (it’s a heritage thing), given that the Ozzie prospects have reduced significantly with Stuie and Brad McGee being taken out. Watch out for our wee Robbie though. He could still have his day.
All the best
Iain
That one will be in many cycling montage clips to come. It was awesome (the tossing) – yet god-for-saken painful to watch (clearly, the devil’s work). Get one, Dave. You guys rock. Su’ze:tte
Diabolical. The only thing to do was hurl the thing, I think you got that just right. Another excellent write-up after another tough day – thank you and in my best Scarlett O’Hara, Tomorrow is another day!
David,
Your frustration was understandable. It was a very frustrating moment for us in Boulder, CO following our local team. It was so great to see you, a Slipstream Chipotle rider in the race winning break.
Keep it up – you guys are great fun to watch!
You are doing a great job in your new team! I support you for throwing your bike over the barriers, luckily for you the bikes are free. The bike mechanic(s) needs a kick in the arse! I read a couple of comments elsewhere that this would not happened if you would have used Campy. Has this happened to other riders using campagnolo components?
Sorry… but did make for great footage. Thank you for blogging. Now I’m hooked and will be following you closely.
That is an extremely impressive attitude in your post – no wonder you are such a champ! I was bummed about it all morning.
Way to get over it – still plenty of time to race and win.
No you dont see Red . You’re riding Shimano not Sram !
Nice toss, maybe someone will give it the same treatment as Dave Zabriskie’s bottle throw
Your reaction to the mechanical failure, and your subsequent comments about it, is exactly how a driven winner would react.
It’s great to see that you are back and doing justice to that red, white and blue champions jersey and it must also be nice to have that feeling in your legs again at the finale of one of the biggest races in the world.
What happend with the bike after the throw? A very happy spectator got a almost new bike?
Dave,
Lekke bru. You will have pleased my mate John no end with that one. His chain snapped cresting a climb whilst we were out on Sunday. We only noticed fifteen minutes later. Oh dear…
154bpm for 5 hrs? I get that going up the stairs.
PB.
Absolutely gutted for you! But so glad to see you are positive and looking forward, let’s hope there’ll be another chance to get in a break. Two British stage wins in two days would have been fantastic, but I’m sure there’ll be more. Keep it up.
I see your preparation for this years Highland Games caber tossing event is going well. Let’s hope that in another stage you’ll be flying even further than your bike.Chin up,Dave and all the best.
dave,
YOU THROW LIKE A GIRL!!!
I think that you’re being upset is completely natural. I am relatively new to the sport, and I don’t really understand alot of the things going on in the Giro. (My husband and I drove from Indiana to Georgia to see Team Slipstream in the Tour De Georgia. We love you guys. The Argyle Armada lives in our home.)
Back to your reaction, there isn’t a cyclist on the planet that wouldn’t have been upset by thier chain breaking. Especially if they were expected to win the stage that they were racing. You’ll get your win. I know you will.
felt bad for you best of luck for the rest of the season
How are your bollocks Dave?!
I feel your pain. I was in a 2-man breakaway on a very technical crit course here in the San Francisco Bay Area. We got away with 8 laps to go and with 2 laps to go we had a 35 second gap. I would have been happy to finish 2nd as it would have given me enough upgrade points to get my category 3 license.
However, in the most technical portion of the course where there is 180* hairpin turn, my rear tubular tire rolled off my Zipp 808! I was so mad…I let out my best William Wallace braveheart scream and took my bike off the course. I didn’t throw the carbon beauty, but I did take off my helmet and slammed it down onto the sidewake as hard as I could. And to take it further, I stomped on it too. I’m weigh 200 pounds so you can imagine the damage I inflicted on the poor helmet!
[...] middle of a sprint in one of the most popular Grand Tours. David Millar of team Slipstream/Chipotle blogs it… I was so raging and so focused that all the energy I had for winning the race was taken out [...]
Sheesh, I’m sure it’s not David’s proudest moment, but I can’t say I wouldn’t have done the same thing.
There will be better days to come for sure.
-Chris
You have to love the passion.
David, as an euthusiast and proud owner of a bike just like your team rides, (an incredible machine) I was shattered when the chain snapped. To your credit, you didn’t fall. You’re a great competitor and your emotions were understandable under the circumstances. In a future column I would be interested in the details of the equipment failure – what brand chain does the team run? Dura-Ace, Wipperman or another? Did the joining link pin fail, or does the team use a replaceable link, like the Sram chains?
At least your didn’t lose your grip on the bars and crash, as one rider did a few weeks ago in a semi-classic, within 100 feet of the finish ! That would have been embarrassing even for a punter like me – much less a pro.
You and the team’s efforts have been tremendous. Slipstream/Chipotle are the new #1 in U.S. cycling.
Dear Todd MANley,
way to JONG up the comments!
Hi Dave, what a bummer. As your friend Lance is quoted as saying “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” looking forward to the stage win when it comes.
Covadonga Conqueror
Sorry about your bad luck yesterday- and I would have heaved my bike too in the same situation. Best of luck with the rest of the Giro and I hope you get your stage win.
my dad can throw his bike further than you!!
=)
Can scarcely believe how appalled y’all are re David throwing a bike! From my standpoint, it shows the same high degree of sportsmanship and professionalism as throwing a tennis racquet. Smooth.
wow men your so focus in winning i like your style………keep it up..men.!
That’s the spirit man never say die! I admire your determination.
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