Dodging wildebeest on our way to the Alps
“Think of it boys. One week from now, we’ll all be drunk.” These were Kiwi Guy’s words of hope after we’d reached the bus at the foot of the final mountain on Sunday’s stage. Although the distant spectator may think the day is done for us the moment we cross the line, it is not. We then, more often then not, have a quick change of clothes, do a 180 degree turn and head back down the mountain to the waiting bus 10 km down what we’d just clawed our way up. Normally the summit finishes don’t have enough room for all the buses. Anyway, even if there was room, our hotels are usually in distant valleys meaning the bus has to re-trace the race route in order to reach them. All the teams generally have their buses waiting at the foot of the climbs to whisk us away, as the quickest way back through the melee from the summit is on a bicycle.
This is usually the most dangerous part of the day, dodging literally thousands of spectators who are on foot, on bike, and in campers. It puts the fear of god in me every time, and it would be a stupid way to hurt myself or anybody else. Obviously in Italy, it’s mayhem. It’s like migrating wildebeest stampeding down the mountain, threading through it tired, jaded, dazed and of course, in case forgotten, tired. Makes for a less than relaxing end to a less than relaxing day. I grew accustomed to this mayhem at the Giro. The gendarmes manage to maintain some form of order on the French mountains. The Italian carabinieri do not manage to do the same in Italy. We did make it though and nobody was hurt…and yes Kiwi Guy still had a sense of humour, which is a very good sign.
It was the end to another eventful day for us. We had intended on having one of us in the break so that if all hell broke loose on the first mountain, Christian would have somebody up the road waiting for him. Fortunately for everybody, all hell didn’t break loose meaning that the break Danny had got himself into was destined to reach the finish line for the win. It was a very strong move. Arrieta, Martinez and Gerrans are all strong guys. Add Danny into the mix and it was an awesome foursome.
I can’t really tell you much about what went on as I didn’t see a thing as they were a quarter of an hour ahead of us much of the day. Although I hear Danny was really strong in the final and was genuinely in the mix for the win. I’m over the moon that he was able to be in the race like that. Both him and Will have now both been racing for a Tour stage win, something very few guys ever get to do. They’ve both now done it in their first Tour. Danny was funny. He said at one point he was so tired that he had to sit on for a little while behind the other three guys. He felt like he was at some little race back in the States missing turns and feeling crap. At that particular moment in time, it didn’t feel like the Tour de France for Danny. I love ‘The Pate’. He always manages to keep it real.
As for us behind, well CSC did what they do best: taking the race by the scruff of the neck and achieving what they wanted in wrestling the yellow jersey from Cadel’s shoulders. It shall now be worn by the very talented Frank Schleck. But with the five riders behind him all within 49 seconds, the race is completely open. Christian rode once again like a potential Tour winner. I wish I could have watched it all.
I think this year I’ll be purchasing the Tour resume DVD so I can see what the old boy has been getting up to. My job is to be Christian’s shadow for as long as I can, making sure he is always safe and sound till he has to engage his mind and cross swords with the other GC riders. It’s amazing how much energy he needs psychologically for those moments. That’s something many people don’t realize I think. The physical demands are huge no doubt. But I’m seeing in Christian the massive demands required of him psychologically to push himself that hard. I will talk more of that. In the mean time, I must draw my rest day to an end and tuck myself into bed in preparation for two brutal days ahead.
The Alps await…
Oh, and thank you to everybody who took the time to comment. I read all of them. I don’t expect to be getting 100 comments for every entry I write! But it is lovely to know I hit the right note with so many people in my previous entry. It is always going to be a subject close to my heart and so will always provoke a personal response. Some people may not like that, but it is good to know so many people do.
David
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on Monday, July 21st, 2008 at 5:04 pm and is filed under Garmin Web Site, Rider Diaries and tagged with Christian Vande Velde, Danny Pate, David Millar, Tour de France.
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Great Job David… my month of July is all about the tour… I love to watch, and I love the heart that this team has. Best of luck to everyone in the final stages.. I will be cheering for the whole team!
A fan from Canada!
David,
It’s your life. You’re living it. The pain, the suffering, both on and off the bike–it’s yours. You own it. It belongs to you, and to you alone.
But those of us who watch your pain and suffering, and grasp just an inkling of what it may feel like to you, may begin to grasp what dedication, commitment, and sacrifice feel like. We may never soar up an Alpine climb, or blur reality around us in a battle against time itself, but watching you, we can gain a sense of what those transcendent moments might hold. And, in doing so, we can also begin to understand the temptations to which so have succumbed in striving to reach those moments–and we can appreciate that much more your commitment to purifying this once-beautiful sport.
That’s what’s so powerful and compelling about your story and the story of this team, and that’s why I believe in it. That’s why I point out the Garmin-Chipotle squad to my kids at every opportunity. The storyline–sacrifice, commitment, temptation, purity–is the same, in cycling and in life. We watch your efforts, and in them, we see life reflected back at us.
And, by God, we want you to win. Because in your winning, we see a chance for all of us.
Godspeed,
Kup
David
Thanks for the brilliant writing. My class of eight and nine year olds love reading your updates. In each post you generally provide several talking points. Consequently, in the last few weeks we have discussed doping, cheating, serving punishments, nutrition, exercise, how cyclists go to the toilet and much more. Unfortunately, we break up tomorrow for the summer. So my class and I won’t see the Tour to a succesful conclusion (for Slipstream!). I hope my kids continue to read you updates during their holiday. Best wishes from everyone in 4F at South Parade Primary School, Lincolnshire, England.
Keep up the good work with everything you do.
David,
Thanks for blogging. Your entries are intelligent and fun and have become a bright spot in my week. You and the rest of Garmin -Chipotle have made this tour such a joy.
Keep up the good work!
Rae
Hey David, I’m still bummed out about your chain breaking at the Giro. You really deserved to win that stage. Then the Cholet time trial…ARRGH. I really want to see you win one. Me and my little cycling club of slugs in nyc will be cheering loud for you and the rest of the team till Paris. Good luck!
Hi David,
Thanks for the diary spots. It’s great to be able to read up on how you are doing out there in France, and you can be sure that some of us are still desperately trying to spot your race number on the live feed on TV.
Many years ago I used to be the technical querries moderator on your old itsmillartime.com website (I still have my old IMT baseball cap which I was proudly wearing in London last year), and I can honestly say that I’ve followed you through many years of some superb highs and of course the lows.
I was as distraught as a lot of us were when you were caught doping, and to be honest I thought that your ban was probably going to be the last we were going to see of one of the UK’s most talented cyclists. Thankfully you proved the doubters wrong, even though from reading your own personal memories of those hard times I can see it must have been close for you whether or not to return to the sport.
What has won even more fans over to your side David has been the way that you have handled yourself since coming back from your ban. You came clean as to your misdemeanours which is something I think no-one else in the world of cycling (or athletics Mr Chambers!) has done, and your anti-doping stance should now be something that is lauded for all up-and-coming cyclists to take.
I would love to see Garmin-Chipotle become the team that all other teams follow in the push to make cycling a clean sport. Every other damn sport in this world might like to constantly point and laugh at cycling and call us all druggies and dopers, but I can’t wait for the time when our sport is verifiably clean and they all have to take a long hard look at themselves. It makes my blood boil when people like Darren Campbell slag off cycling for the doping when Athletics is as tainted.
Keep up the good fight, and best of luck for the whole team for tomorrows stage over the mountains up to Alpe D’Huez, and all the very best for the TT stage on Saturday.
All the best,
Huw Jones
P.S. I’m now married to a wonderful Kiwi who I’ve converted to a dedicated cycling fan. It made her day when she found out that Julian Dean was riding for your team. Please wish him the best from a Christchurch girl lost in Norfolk!
David,
I’m incredibly impressed with your writing. It’s a joy to read your blog. In all the years I’ve been following the Tour, this is the closest I’ve felt to the experience, and it’s all thanks to you. I know it’s been a hard race for you, but your contributions, both on and off the bike have been greatly appreciated.
Slainte Mhath
hi david. seems you’re having another good tour. great blog, nice to know what is going on from a rider’s perspective, good luck to you and christian for tomorrows haul over the galibier and up l’alpe! mind the dutchmen! hup, hup!
chris
Great opening line! Remind me to always have a Kiwi on my team, staff, working group, etc!!
Now get some sleep… tomorrow awaits!
I’ve got to say, Team Garmin-Chipotle is putting on an amazing performance. Keep up the diaries David, they are very interesting and help restore faith in cycling for me.
I wish the team the best of luck and I wish Christian to have the best possible performances on the remaining days.
As always, it’s a real pleasure to read your entries. So many of us post comments because what you’re writing is so good and stirs up all sorts of emotions.
Good luck for today – I did the same route last year in a car – and it terrified the pants off me!!
Go Team Garim-Chipotle!
Great stuff David – even more impressive that you have the energy to write!
Good luck in the TT and helping to get Christian onto the podium.
Another great entry. The insight you provide is such a welcome change to the mystery that has encased cycling for far too long. Amazing job on the tour so far and best wishes in the last week and in the time trial!
On a personal note, I would like to thank you for your 2007 “Fallen Hero” entry. It is simply the most moving reality check I have ever read. You do such an excellent job of capturing your emotion and the gravity of the situation. You are a true inspiration. Again, thank you.
Cheers,
Ben
Link:
http://www.bicycling.com/article/1,6610,s1-7-123-16313-1,00.html
i am 14 and you are my favorite rider
i think you are amazing and i love the diaries
well said dave well said
It’s a shame the ol’ bastard of a race is over. Will miss your daily musings. But you don’t have to stop just because le Tour is over. Keep firing away! We’ll keep reading, that’s for sure.
Kia oro and see ya on the flip side!
Gutsy performance by the whole team, the whole Tour.
)
Garmin Chipotle truly is a professional cycling team for the future and I, for one, am truly THRILLED–GO ARGYLE!! (yep–we chics do indeed dig the argyle