What happened yesterday I still can’t explain
So this year’s Tour ended like so many others have for me with an early withdrawal. It certainly wasn’t for the lack of trying, legs or even injury this time.
To give you the full run down of what has been going on lately, I struggled through the month of June like so many of you have seen. The reason for this has been that I had a very high acid level in my body, possibly brought on by the stomach bug I got in the Giro. So to explain, what that means is “my whole body was inflamed”. The more I raced, the more lactate I built up and my body just stored it. Luckily this was caught by the team’s medical group and I was put on a low acid diet to give my body a chance to regroup. Basically a complete detox!
That might not be the best build up to a three week tour, but the legs were good all the time. After some long discussions with the management (JV and Matt White) where I stressed to them that I didn’t want to just take a spot just to go to the Tour. In my eyes, that would not be fair to the rest of the guys gunning for a Tour start. But they still felt that I was good enough to go. So off I went.
The first two days I was going OK, but nothing special. Then my legs started to come around and by stage 3, I was feeling like myself on the bike again. The time trial wasn’t one of my best, but I wasn’t that far down and on a course that didn’t suit me at all. I was pretty happy with the result. Things kept on getting better and on stage 5, I was there to mix it up with a big attempt for a lead-out for Julian. I was by then seeing myself as being back!!!
What happened yesterday I still can’t explain. I was going great for the first 50 km and had no problems keeping the pace over the first couple of climbs. Then 50 km in to it my legs started building up lactic acid and I couldn’t get rid of it. Then when we hit the 4th category climb, I just popped. I couldn’t get out of the seat and by 500 m to the top, I could not even turn my legs over. Same feeling as I had when I was racing in the US earlier. I had to cruise for a bit to recover and then set about trying to get inside the time limit. I knew it was a tall task, but I wasn’t gonna pack it in out there on the road. I gave it absolutely everything I had for the last 100 km. I finished exhausted and unfortunately 4 minutes outside the time cut. I was gutted!!! Still am!!!
I can handle missing the time cut if I’m riding at 100% and I’m just not good enough to keep up with the race. But that part of the day when I got dropped, I was maybe at 50% and that is very hard to live with. The worst part for me is that my legs were better on the massage table after that effort than they were after the previous day. So it’s not the legs that can’t take it, something else is wrong!!
And now comes the chase that I have been accustomed to so many times in the last couple of years. Finding out what is going on!!! Straight after the race, I rang up my guys back home and they are on the case sorting out what ever tests need to be done to work this out. So I’m hoping to have an answer by mid to end of next week.
I want to say a big thanks to all of my fans out there who are always rooting for me in good and bad times. I hope I can bring you something good to cheer for soon!
Maggy
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on Saturday, July 12th, 2008 at 10:25 am and is filed under Features, Garmin Web Site, Home Page and tagged with Magnus Backstedt, Tour de France.
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I hope you find the problem soon Maggy so we can see you racing at top level again.
Maggy
So sorry to see and hear of your problems. You have always been someone I look out for on races – always doing your best and a real example to others.
I truly sympathise with you – I have a recurrent ’something or other’ that has kept me off my bike for 6 weeks – so I appreciate the feeling of not knowing fully what is happening in the body, but being aware that it isn’t right.
I hope your team analyse and solve the problem for you so you can return to the peleton as powerful and effective as ever.
Magnus! Vi kommer att sakna dig hemma i svenska tv-soffor!
Nästa år…. då jävlar!
Sorry that this bug has got you down, Big Man, but you’re still awesome and we’re looking forward to you returning to top form. Take care, and get well soon!
Guys, I never reply to these things but this is different!
Just want to say that you guys ROCK! I was a few years above Mr Millar at school in HK and know a couple of your mates, keep your pecker up! to ride up a hill with a puncture just hurts thinking about it, you;’ll get that stage win soon! Maggy, hope we all find out what’s wrong abd you’re back in the saddle soon, Christian, you’re flying under the radar successfully. To the rest of the team, Kick some ass throughout, you’re all doing great
Get back soon Maggy! It’s a real tribute to you that you finished at all given the way you you described your sensations–stage 7 was a hammer-fest. Doing it alone, off the back, must have been hell. Good luck and get healthy.
Oh Maggy! So sad for you, but know that we still love you and know that when you figure out what is wrong you’ll be back on form in no time! Allez Argyle!
Keep your chin up Magnus !
That was some of the most courageous 100Km I have seen in a Tour de France ! Just shows the spirit of the Team and each rider on every continent in Argyle !
No Bull, No excuses, No Extras ingested and the body is Very Frail really ! One thing for sure You have the best Team in the Pro circuit and the best Manager to get to the route of the problem ..REST ..Your body obviously needs it !
and a personal note Thanks for the Autographed kit through Dave; Ridden in Today and treasured
AC Lincolnshire liveSTRONG !
Get better soon Maggy. We all know that you gave it all you had out there. Watching you pull for Christian at the Giro was so inpirational. Take your Doctor’s orders and hopefully you’ll be feeling like your old self in no time.
A year to forget, for sure: DNF’s in Paris-Roubaix, the Giro, and the Tour, and the Qatar crash. Hope you can come back strong for the Classics next year but I’d like to see you relinquish any seniority you’ve got for the Grand Tours to the younger squad members and give the team a chance to finish everyone in Paris and Milan.
Maggy,
Sorry to hear the bad news. I sincerely hope you get things figured out and back to how they should be shortly.
Maggy;
I hope you find the cause of your problems, You are an inspiration to all of us big guys on the bikes.
Complete recovery wishes from Texas.
Hey, for what it’s worth, even with your legs only at 50% you could still smoke me!
You gave it a shot. You rode in the tour and you raced as hard as you could given the circumstances. It does suck, but don’t let it get you down. You are good cyclist on a great team in an amazing sport. Regroup and keep pursuing the sport you obviously love.
Thanks for your efforts to finish the stage. It serves as great inspiration when so many others would have just quit. Best of luck in the future and I hope you get things straightened out soon. I’ll miss your video diaries on VeloNews, they were fun & educational to watch. Be proud, we are!
I’m hating it for you right now, Maggie. It must be tough on you to miss the cut like that, but I want you to know that in my opinion, you are the classiest guy in the peloton, and my favorite rider by far. The race will not be the same without you. Here’s to getting yourself healthy and back in to the mix. Cheers to you!
Thank you for taking time to post about what happened when you’re feeling “gutted.” You kindly took time from your dinner to talk to my three year old daughter after the CSC invitational, and she and I have been rooting for you in the Tour. The quick reports from yesterday didn’t give me much for answering her “whys” so it’s nice to know more, even if it amounts to still not knowing really! We both send our sympathy and will look forward to you racing again soon.
Magnus, I admire your bravery with your explanation of what happened to you in the tour. That is great to see! I hope you and your doctor get to the bottom of the problem very soon and you get back to your cycling very soon! Keep up the positive attitude. Looking forward to seeing you in the tour next year!
Maggy-
Thanks for giving it a go…hope you back in top form soon and doing what you do best….riding like a mad man! Best of luck to you and the team.
I agree with Cliffs comment. At 6′5″, I to get inspiration knowing that Maggy is a big man that gets the job done! Hang in there Maggy.
Magnus…dude…you won Paris-Roubaix. That’s a lifetime of free drinks in France as it is. The Tour has no mercy for those days when the legs are heavy. As a 215lb “Clydesdale” cyclist, you are and will be the inspiration to keep pulling on the kit. Hope to see you in the Vuelta for a stage win!!!
Maggy, as a bigger rider myself, you have always been an inspiration to me. Best of luck with your illness, treatment and recovery. Take care of yourself.
Magnus, you’re a great rider and a true champion. You’ve already achieved more than 99.9% can dream of. I know injuries suck (I’ve had my share) but listen to your doctors and come back stronger. I saw you in NYC and watch for you at races. You make all 6ft and taller guys proud.
Maggy, we saw you attack the course at the CSC Arlington invite and the showdown in the horrendous temperature in Philly, so we know you go 100% and on top of that you’re a great bloke. Here’s to you coming back stronger and harder!
Magnus,
I have been quite impressed with your presence, both in your writing and in the VeloNews video spots. It is obvious why you are an inspiration to many young riders. I am already missing you on the Tour! I hope you recover quickly and your cycling career is long and rewarding. And I know your talents and determination will bring you success in whatever else you attempt in your life.
Hei Maggy!
Obviously the Auvergne is no lucky place for you since in 2004 you had to quit the Tour right there as well.
I’m really sorry for you and I hope you’ll find out what’s wrong soon to recover well and comletely. But take all the time you need for it.
thanks for all your writing on this homepage and on your own homepage and for the velonews diarys. For me as fan it’s great to get some informations directly from the rider for whom you keep the fingers crossed.
Don’t give up!
Barbara
Magnus, so sorry to learn of your troubles. It is good in the long run you couldn’t make the cut, as there is something wrong and staying in the Tour may make it worse. Rest up and best of luck on the diagnosis and recovery. Hope it is something simple!
Heja Maggy…
Maggy,
we still love you! I’m convinced your team/doctors/friends will find out what the problem is and you’ll be able to bounce back in the Fall.
Just FYI in regards to your amazing power numbers: When you’re going at only 70% of your abilities others are going all out…!
Hang in there,
Steve
Feel better soon. You’re one of my favorites to watch in the Tour and I hope to see you in it again next year. You’re a total badass and an inspiration!
You’re the Man, Magnus! You are hardcore! Hang in there!
Wish you the best. Don’t give up. You are great and the team too.