Team Training in the Ardennes
// April 24th, 2009 // A Day Down Under
Howdy readers,
I have a few things to update everyone on, and a fair bit has been happening. I did wait for a little bit so more people hopefully got to read about Jobie Dajka’s passing. I did my last two races with a black arm band on, in his memory, and will race the rest of the year with a black ribbon under my saddle.
So on a lighter note, on Tuesday, we went to the Ardennes, and did one of the best rides I have ever done. It was just brilliant. I had a ball all day, and was just getting goosebumps all day, thinking about how lucky I am to be able to be riding and racing my bike on the other side of the world!
The ride we did started in a town called Houffalize, and we rode through Belgium, into Germany, and through Luxembourg, on the way back to Belgium. We saw some amazing things, and the roads in Luxembourg were fantastic, nice and smooth, and made the climbs feel easy!
Here are some photos from the ride:
One of the guys on the team forgot his shoes, so he decided to follow us in the car for the day. He did a great job, and took us these great photos from the day.
We hardly saw a car all day either, so it made the training even easier/better.
Nicky Walker and I cruising on the back of the group.
At the end, after our last climb, I went on the attack, and then was chased all the way into Houffalize by two team mates, my roomie Mitch, and Tom, one of the team’s Pommies. We had a great finish to the ride, attacking the hell out of each other, and it was nice to finish up the 200km with a 15 minute blow-out!
Oh, and I won too… Just needed to add that for the other two in case they read this!
So last weekend, or two weekends back, we headed up to Holland for a race, Ronde van Drenthe. It was on Easter Monday, and the day after an amazing Paris-Roubaix. For me the race wasn’t anything great, in terms of results, but was something to write home about.
The race was called a “mini Paris-Roubaix” by some, due to its extented cobbled sections. For me that meant lots of flats. We don’t have any singles to race on yet, so most of the team were left on high pressure tyres. While I didn’t have the most flats on the team – Logan had five – I did have the best story. I punctured, then got back to the bunch and started feeling good. Then on the next cobbled section I flatted again, getting a new wheel, and was chasing back to the bunch again when I puntured a third time. That would not normally be a problem, except that the neutral support had run out of spare wheels with everyone puncturing so much, and the team car being unable to follow the race on the last cobbled section. I was left on the side of the road until all the convoy of the race passed, and ended up having to hitch-hike back to the finish with some spectators!
Here are some photos from the race sent to me by my team mate Matt. They are from the website: http://www.velo-image.com
Looks pretty cool racing across the cobbles, and our Cinelli-Down Under kit looks really cool too. The team website should be up and running in the coming week, and my new-look website should be running too, so I will do a post with all the new stuff, sponsors, links etc.
Here is another thing I wanted to show you, a few photos from a perfectly dry, pro kermesse we did in March. I was reading Ted King’s Missing Saddle page, and read that he was pretty dirty after a race one time, so I thought I would jump on the band-wagon and include a couple of dirty photos too:
Here is a close-up of the legs too:
Well, I hope everyone is going well, and I look forward to showing off my updated website during the week sometime!
Australia’s ex-Prime Minister Bob Hawke, once held the world record time for beer drinking, managing to down 2.5 pints in just 12 seconds.
13 Responses to “Team Training in the Ardennes”
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- Jim said: Good to know you made it back home for a bit of do...
- secret admirer i love u sean said: hey babe im your no 1 fan xxx 8======D...
- Oldie Dave said: Oct. 13, 2009 So Sorry to hear of the death of ...
- LSDsnr aka Leroy said: Sad news in the team no doubt today brother....
- François said: Hi Tommy, Great win today in Zele !! I wish ...
- Oldie Dave said: Oct. 6, 2009 Nice work mate, 19th place in stag...
- Here I am...
- Team Cinelli - Down Under!
- Team Training in the Ardennes
- Oceania Road Race Champion!
- Long Overdue Update!
Wow!!! Sounds like a great time. We miss you in the States but I am pleased things are going so well for you.
Better than a certain domestic team??
Good post. Wow, you were dirty! Can’t wait to get over there… see you soon love! XO
You did win the sprint but you for got to mention that we were behind a bus doing 20km/hr and you were saying “wait, wait, wait till the bus goes.” before starting the sprint 2sec later.
If anyone reads Mitch’s comment, it is only necessary to read the first 5 words!
The joys of training in nice weather, in nice country. And being the training champ. I read the last post as well and it is terrific mate. Not the first champion to be treated poorly by officialdom, but I wish it would be the last.
The racing reads as though you need mountain bike tyres on some roads, but would singles have been any better? I was talking with Herb the other day and we thought it would be good to read about a ‘day at the races’. Not the racing itself but all the stuff that goes on around it, from when you get up in the morning, preparation, nervousness, team chats and plans, what food you might pack, etc. etc. We rarely get to read this sort of info so most of us have no idea what a race day is like for a rider. And in Belgium I guess the crowds, the stars, the card swapping are all part of the day. It might be interesting to read a different view of a race day. Give Keally a hug for me, and stay fast. Looking forward to viewing the new superman site.
Great post! It is really awesome to read about you living your dream in the cycling capital! Keep the posts coming and I look forward to following your results! Ride it like you stole it!
Hi Darl,
The outfit doesn’t suit you as well as the orange and the green of past years but it’s ok! You may not feature on the front of the poster this time!!
Glad you are appreciating the wonderful experience of riding in Europe and living there. These places are cycling mad so it must be great to feel the support and encouragement of the locals.
Hope the team house is good.
Love Mum xx
Fantastic read Tommy!
Top post huck! Good to see the new stylin’ on your site, change is a good thing, at times?!?! But where’s your helmet you peanut??? I know your all europro on us now but landing on your head isn’t good fun, take it from me, and look how I’ve turned out! ha! Great seeing you racing some real hard euro stuff, I’m sure you will flourish in those conditions. keep up the hard work and we hope to see you climb the results board.
The Deluca’s
euro fact; Belgium is home to the world’s first Beer Academy.
Nice!!! Love the updated photo at the top!
Tommy,
Love reading the posts whilst your OS! awesome new superman position on the bike too
Pave looks interesting to race on, glad there ain’t an of that lying ahead of racing in switzerland for me.
Keep smashing the races!!!
Hey Tom, love the blogs. And I really like that photo on the top.
Keep the photos coming, it gives a great oversight of the country for those of us that are probablly never going to get there ( and the riding I guess!)
Love to Keally
Vikkixx
Tommy,
Are those “pink” socks…or just a shade of red?
Glad to hear from Keally Allison she had a safe flight, Seattle NY to Brusells! Sorry to learn about the crash, and your teammates fractured skull! All the best to him!
Keep the shiny side up mate, and go get a top 10!
Oldie from Gig Harbor, WA..we are finally moved in to our new home, lovely place, with the sea surrounding the peninsula on three sides. Yopu’ll like the riding, cooler than Roswell, GA!
Be Well my friend!
Oldie Benz