Thursday, May 31, 2007

FDB Insurance RAS Stage 8, Dom Rollin's Turbo Diesel Power and the end of the RAS, very nice!




The threats of nasty weather for the last stage were diminished by the shy Irish sun that showed up to lighten our spirits. Our plan was to keep fairly mellow for the first half of the race and then try to attack the yellow jersey to snag it back. A small break or 3 including David McCann took off rather early and zee German’s began to set tempo.
They hired the zee otha’ German team to help them control things which made us rather fed up. So we began to attack over the third climb on the stage. We put quite a lot of stress on them to make them loose their organization. Dom Rollin turned on the turbo and was off and another poor old rider made the bad decision to get on his wheel. Dom kept a 15 sec. gap ahead of us for about 20km, in which zee Germans could not reel back. Once we hit more twisty roads Dom was out of sight and was on a solo effort to catch the breakaway a minute up the road. The gap grew slowly; I got on the radio and told Dom, “Zee Germans are loosing powa’!” Once he closed into the breakaway, McCann slowed things up to wait for him, to add the horsepower to the break. It worked. They gained up to a minute and forty seconds, virtually placing Dom in the yellow jersey. The German Suunto Team and Stevens teams continued to drive the pace, giving us a easy ride in the pack to keep us fresh for getting Jesse up the road on the finishing circuits, seeing that most of the German domestics would be blown by the time we’d arrive.
McCann began to attack the breakaway and dropped one of the Aussie riders, which did not work well in our plan as then they began to help the chase. Once hitting the second to last KOM the field dwindled rapidly but the yellow jersey managed to follow the wheels. Jesse gave it a go on the last lap, but zee German had yellow feva’ and it was too late for us.

The race went very well for us. It being Kodak Gallery/Sierra Nevada’s first International race we were all very pleased and hope we can continue jumping across the pond for competition. We’ll focus on recovery now in Philadelphia and we will be prepped for the Triple Crown.
See you then!

FDB Insurance RAS stage 7, Aggression, a lull and some more Aggression



With the stage profile mostly ascending for the first 40km, the pace was rather relentless. We took part in it; of course, as it shows we’ve showed up in good form. Dom would string out the field with his huge turbo diesel engine, and then one of us would launch an attack to keep pressure on the yellow jersey. We kept on like this for a while, but everybody was on board with fresh legs from yesterday’s short stage. On the first long descent there was a nasty mid field crash that took our teammate, Josh Thornton out of the race. Josh landed straight on his head, going about 70kph. Not a scratch on his body, all impact to the helmet. He was rather shaken up, but started feeling a bit better in the evening.
The field settled down during the middle kilometers of the race, a good thing for me as I was having some stomach issues and puked profusely every time I drank a sip from the bidon. I went back for some coke to try to settle the stomach; I was the last rider in the field for about 40k’s just hanging on. Good times. I started to come around for the last quarter of the race, and moved up steadily leading up to the last KOM. I went on the attack with a Glen Bak,(Murphy and Gunn) and David McCann,(Irish Nat. Team) I was hopeful it would stick, as we hit them at a good time, but my personal attempts of going for a stage were shut down by the chasing Australians. Once caught, I attacked again with 1km to the KOM, I was able to get over the top first and keep the pace up. The descent was too open and not technical enough for me to stay off. I was caught soon enough. The rain made things a bit stressful descending with the whole field but we stayed up front to keep Dom out of trouble and set him up for another stage. The “Dominator” took over early with about a kilometer to go and took his third stage victory, to the disappointment of the rest of the field. Did I mention I was getting tired, one more stage.

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

FDB Insurance RAS Stage 6, Getting Tired...




“Would you like some fries with your mashed potatoes?”

Yes, indeed. The routines of food at stage races can be rather hard mentally towards the end of the week. Chicken or beef, 3 differently cooked types of potatoes on the table and over cooked carrots and broccoli. Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3…the same is served. It does start to crack you a bit. We did add a drink to the menu tonight however, Champagne! Dom Rollin went off early on with the right breakaway and rode away from the group of 15 or so in the last few hundred meters and took his second stage victory. “Very nice…”

The pace was fairly steady for us in the pack, and to be honest I was rather happy to be taking somewhat of a break after yesterday’s massacre. My legs hurt, back, neck everything. I woke up in the middle of the night last night to use the bathroom and could hardly walk to the toilet. I was praying it was 2am or still early enough where I wouldn’t awake the day in that sort of state.

It’s 10pm right now and still rather light outside. The scenery up here in Northern Ireland has been spectacular, and with the nicer weather today it was actually a bit enjoyable. We head to New Castle tomorrow on a 160km+ stage, with bad weather expected in the days to come it will be no parade to the finish. Come on legs.

Our bikes and equipment have been holding up supremely under the stress and weather it has been handing over the past week. Randy, our new mechanic has meshed in well with the team and has set up our fleet of Kuota’s equipped with the latest from SRAM with precision. All needed to handle the rough and nasty conditions this race offers.

FDB Insurance RAS Stage 5. Hell of the North Perhaps?





Howling winds, dark skies and pissing down rain. As if the stage profile wasn’t daunting enough, right? “Living the dream…”
The Irish Murphy and Gunn team and Zee Germans put it right in the gutter from the gun. By the time we reached the base of the first KOM the field was ripped to shreds. Cresting the second KOM a group of 40 was established, “These are the men of the RAS!” is transmitted through the P.A. of the lead car. After seeing cross eyed and wrestling over my bike trying to hang on for dear life, things finally settled and we all made the selection. The rain continued, the wind battered us and after a bit of a settling, attacks began again. A group of 6-5 established a few minute lead, and we were forced to set Thornton, Walters and I rode on the front, relentlessly with no help through the grueling tempo once again. It was just 3 of us, as we kept Jesse and Dom fresh for the final. narrow bumpy roads. While heading down the final KOM’s I found myself descending a 8ft. wide road at 80kph, pouring rain and urinating in my shorts as my bladder was about to explode otherwise. Walters was having trouble of his own yelling, “I can’t see a F&%# thing!!!” After the race he said on the downhill he couldn’t keep both his eyes open at the same time. The epic Memore Gap was upon us, Ireland’s most famous climb. Starting along the coast it turned inland and ascended wickedly at 18-26% for 3km!! NO JOKE. We set Jesse up nicely while the rest of us, still managed up it rather well considering our long effort on the front, seeing that we still made it over with most of the guys from our group. It was a bomber descent to the finish, where our nerves were left back at the hotel to keep up with the pace. We limited our losses today, to Jesse being down by 36sec. Not too bad considering the brutal stage, and small numbered roster team to keep things under control. I imagine we’ll rest well tonight, and tomorrow we’ll be switching to attack mode from defense mode, seeing the we are all healthy and fit and highly ambitious to win this race.
As K. Stockton our director would say, “Game on.”

FDB Insurance RAS Stage 4. Defending Yellow






I’m trying to think if I have been on a team where we were defending a leader’s jersey, but can’t recall right now, probably because I’m smashed from today’s brutal 5th stage. Yes, that means I’m delayed by a day on my reports. Truth is, it’s been hard to find the energy after the tough days. Yesterdays stage 4 was a tough one, seems as though the Irish have been kicking up the speed higher and higher as the stages add up. We were well prepared though and battled the numerous attacks from the get go, rather good considering there is only five of us. At one point I found myself in a breakaway with GC contenders that was gaining time quickly, K. Stockton quickly told me to wait for the field and join my teammates to chase them down. Of course, one has those selfish thoughts of thinking hey this breakaway will stick. But cycling is a team sport. I returned to the field and we settled in to a strong chase to shut off the opportunity of a dangerous break. Soon after regaining control, 5 riders went off on the attack but were not too serious on GC. We maintained a tempo to the finish. At the 20km mark, as we were reaching the Atlantic coast we drove the pace hard and started splitting the field to bits, (a good feeling). In the process we captured the breakaway with 5km to go and set Dom Rollin for a 2nd place stage finish, securing his point jersey a bit more and keeping Jesse safely in Yellow. The run into the finish was amazing. In the last 20km the roads were rolling and twisty, cutting through the rugged terrain of Ireland’s Northern coast. This certainly made things easier mentally setting tempo, rather than being on some mega U.S. highway.

FDB Insurance RAS Stage 3. Cold Breeze, Things to come?

It seems as though Ireland’s pasta is potatoes, baked or mashed, its potatoes for dinner again.

We have been assigned two drivers to our team due to opposite side of the road driving. Our team car driver is a riot, Simon, a.k.a. 007 want to be. He’s kitted out his Old Mercedes Compressor with bike racing gadgets; A home made roof rack that probably weighs more than the car which can hold 6 bikes and mass amount of wheels, 5 different horn buttons on the stick shift, welded radio mounts on the dash board as well as two dry erase boards to keep track of breakaway and race leaders. The list is non-stop. As Simon drove Jesse, Thornton and I to the start of the stage today, it was as if we were in a full on Bond car chase scene, and him playing 007 soundtrack did not help him be any more conservative with his lane changing. We made it in on piece though, and we were mighty entertained.

The race went very well for us today, seeing that Dom picked up the stage victory and Jesse switched his jersey color to yellow. Not bad. The day started with a bit more windy conditions and colder. We are heading towards the coast now, so with the harder stages to come I feel that they will be accompanied by a more true Irish weather. We are all feeling well, and rather fresh considering our efforts and now with having the yellow jersey it’s quite a boost for us all. This will keep us highly motivated through anything we face in the stages to come.

FDB Insurance RAS Stage 1

Funny enough, I must say the Jet lag has not been bad as expected. I think the help of getting into a quick stage race routine has been some help. Well, still was daunting task to awake at 7am thins morning for a 12pm start that was only a half an hour away. It’s simply the way it is sometimes, with bus transport of riders without enough team cars and parades to start us off for the tour.

The race went well for us today. The routine flurry of attacks at the start of the race ended shorter than normal as a small group got away very early on. We were attentive though as J. Anthony made contact with the group of 5 or so riders that slowly crept away from the field. Jesse rode well all day in the break getting a few bonus seconds sprints and picking up the KOM points. For us in the field it was rather easy, and gave us some more rest from our long trip over here. The tempo was fairly steady up the climb, but there still was only 20~ of us cresting the climb while the rest of the field did not keep pace. The field came back slowly on the long descent and the chase began, headed by Kelly Benefits whom missed the breakaway opportunity. The 3min. gap was brought back with 15km to the finish. We then got ourselves organized and set a lead out for D. Rollin. We managed things rather well, but our legs seemed to still feel poochie, (HB word) from our trip and did not have the full horsepower to hold of the charge from the rears, however Dom still managed a solid 4th place.

Overall, we are rather pleased with today. Our bike held up very well on the bumpy Irish farm roads, no skipping gears with our SRAM gruppo and our Michelin tires survived with no flats, which is fantastic considering how many guys kept going back for new wheels. We are all in good shape for the race, I hope things continue this way, as then the top of the podium won’t be so far away.

Saturday, May 19, 2007

The FDB Insurance Stage Race. Dublin, Ireland.

My Race number Haber reflection
Mi bike along side Irish Roads
Training with Kelly Benefits


Traveling headaches.

From Virginia to Ireland, bike racing is surely a world wide sport as most of us know. Although a headache at times and the various hiccups of traveling, getting the chance to see the world is one of the enjoyable benefits of life as a pro cyclist.

Travel headaches listed;
1. I was not mailed a paper ticket, team had to purchase brand new round-trip ticket on the
spot for me to fly.
2.Rollin’s baggage did not arrive.
3.Walter’s bike did not arrive.
4.The other US team competing in the race, Kelly Benefits’ rider Dominique Perras lost his 5.passport in Philly airport. Was not allowed to travel.
6.Marketing manager Rob O’Dea’s flight was delayed by a day! US Airways…

Dublin;

We were greeted with what we mostly assume the climate is here, windy and rainy. We did see Sun, however the strong winds kept bringing in sudden downpours throughout the day. It’s bed time finally after surviving a full day of travel, a heavy Irish lunch, a spin on the bikes in spotting rain and an afternoon walk to stay awake. We have brought a fantastic group here and feel strongly that we will have a good showing during the 8 day race. I’m lethargic in my thoughts and need some sleep, but wanted to get the Tour of Ireland diary started. With that I’m off to bed and hope to be peppier tomorrow.

To view race details please visit, http://www.fbdinsuranceras.com/

That's all for now.