Stage 8
Today’s stage was pretty epic really, A break quickly established itself after about 20k, so I was back on the front for more tempo riding. My legs were pretty wasted from riding the front the day before but I was still keen to ride the front and help the team as much as I can. So there were six of us driving the front, two from my team, two Marco Polo Boys and two Rock Racing Boys. It was pretty awesome to say the least being the guys driving the bunch along, and as we speed through the towns they crowds out to watch us were incredible and the nose deafening. It was just like what you see on the TV when watching the Tour de France (Which I must say I have really missed seeing live) After about 50k riding on the front with head wind and slightly uphill the hole way we had bought the break back just in time for the climbing to begin, As soon as the road tilted skywards Myself and Sergio from Rock Racing were yelling Groupetto at the top of lungs (Groupetto is the group that gets together on the climb to make sure they can make the time cut) Thankfully the group formed quickly and it was time to admire the landscape for once. To say the least it was amazing!!! I was gutted I didn’t have my camera with me. On the descent off the mountain we could see the valley below full of yellow flowers and fields and across the valley were even bigger mountains covered in snow So all in all it was a pretty scenic day today which was great. Just a pity that when you’re racing you can’t really stop and check everything out.
Stage 9
Thankfully today there was to be no riding on the front for me as Rock Racing now had the Yellow jersey with Tyler Hamilton, so it was up to them to defend it. That meant my job was pretty relaxing just keeping the guys topped up with water before the climbing started. So it was another nice relaxing day checking out the great scenery. That is until we hit the climb The first part was switch backs for a few Kilometres then it just dragged on and on over the Mountain, before a wild decent in to the city below and the finish of the stage.
We had our first transfer today 40k back to Xining. Our van driver was obsessed with the horn on the car and was tooting at everything that moved even though it wasn’t even on the road.
For some reason they use the horn here for everything, but mainly we reckon its just like an indicator or headlights, you just swing on the horn. Well after a pretty tough day this was getting on our nerves, Dave and Eric complete blew up at the guy, and we had a nice silent trip after that fortunately. Eric told me to use the BB gun if he sounded the horn again.
Poor guy must have been lost without his horn, must have been like taking a dummy off a baby.
Stage 10
Today was the last stage, a circuit race around central Xining. I woke up pretty early and was feeling pretty crap!!! After way to many visits to the Thunder Box and thinking dam I’ve made the whole tour without food poisoning and I get it before the last stage!!!!!!! GREAT!!! Well it wasn’t to bad and for the first half of the race I was pretty comfy, but the pace started to take its toll on me and by the end I was just trying to keep my stomach down.
The crowds again today were amazing, and at the finish we were treated like super stars, signing clothing and books and having photos taken with everyone, didn’t matter if you won the Tour or were dead last you were a superstar. Some guy wanted me to hold his baby so I could have my photo taken with him.
Well for me it’s been pretty amazing, considering back start of June it was just a dream to be doing all of this. And I’m pretty stoked as my prep for the hardest two races back to back of my life were done on little more than a few runs a club race a duathalon and a couple of longish rides. All after having a week off sick after the Taranaki tour.
Now it’s back to New Zealand for the Auckland 1000, and a few weeks of training and racing around the country before the Tour of Thailand which starts in September.
Till then
Josh
