This is ridiculous!


First words outta my mouth after finishing Philly in 6hrs13mins. 257k on my dashboard. Long day at the office.

I really enjoy this race...have done since the first time I did it with 7up way back in the day. Its so long...the dynamics of the race change nearly every hour. I have DNF'd this race as many times as I have finished it now. Most years I have lined up well under prepared having just stepped off the velodrome after a worlds campaign. The very thought of even riding 260k made me laugh...as if to say...DREAMING NOEL.

Last year was the first time I thought I had a chance of winning this thing one day. I remember telling someone...maybe mum and dad...that I will win this focker one day. It is a race that suits my racing style. Last year I finished 7th? ish...im pretty bad with exact results sorry...but all i know was 600m from the finish I am celebrating cos I saw my team mate Chris Wherry solo winning the race. It was hard to switch the head on and sprint for 4th place after seeing that.

This year our team plan was to get myself and Karl Menzies in the front group to the finish. This happened to work perfect. There was a little cause for concern about 180km in because we missed a pretty big break that CSC had inititated. Thanks to some hard work from team mates and other teams that missed it we rejoined on the 8th time up the "wall".

Coming into the sprint I had Karl get me to good position. He is such an awesome bloke and soooo strong he rode beside the Toyota and CSC trains in the wind protecting me till it was time for me to hit out. The sprint took off on the right hand side of the road and I hit out up the left hand side. Head wind and slightly uphill so I decided not to shift into the 11 sprocket and sprinted in the 12. It turned out the best. I won by a wheel and I was so happy at the finish. Maybe a little over the top happy...whoops.

That last week of racing was so good for my morale and the teams morale. I had worked so hard for this week. I had done so much training and to have not one but two of the biggest wins in America was a dream come true.

Next up for me is nature valley. A 5 day stage race. Generally alot of crosswinds so lets the strongest man win.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2006/jun06/commercebank06/?id=results/commercebank064