Cadel Evans just took over the leader’s jersey at this year’s Giro. Cadel got into the race lead over a decade ago, in 2002, thus wearing the pink jersey, right after he quit MTB racing. I was positive that he was going to crack. He had that in his personality back then, completely cracking under pressure.

I knew that he was going to have serious problems because I’d raced against him for a long time, on and off-road. Cadel was obviously a cycling prodigy when he was young. He was unbelievably great when he was a junior and U-23, racing off-road. But, he had some issues handling pressure. When the pressure got serious, many times he would completely collapse. I saw it numerous times in MTB races that weren’t even that important. He took the lead in the Giro, 2002, towards the end of the race, and nearly had it in hand, but he was too green to finish it off.

But that was the old Cadel, or maybe more accurately, the young Cadel. Since then, he has won the World Championships and more importantly, the Tour de France. He really doesn’t have to prove himself anymore. So, he rides with that confidence that he’s attained through the years.

I have no idea if Cadel will win the Giro this year. It is way too early to say it’s a done deal. But, if luck is on his side, he stays healthy, upright and focused, he seems to be on the right track to have a stellar result. It is going to be an interesting race to follow.

On the podium today.

Riding in pink in 2002. Tyler Hamilton is behind him.

Racing in Vail when he was just a kid.

I don’t usually have Sunday mornings to myself. I’m nearly always at a race, so not racing is sort of a luxury, even though I’d rather be racing. Today I had to get up a little early because I’m riding out and meeting my team mate, Brian Jensen, and doing a long gravel ride. Actually, Bill and I are going to meet Brian and ride 7 hours. I don’t need to ride 7 hours on gravel, but Brian needs some company, so we volunteered. Brian needs the miles because he’s doing the Dirty Kanza 200 in two weeks.

Today is the last day of the Tour of California. Trudi is packing up as soon as the stage is over, which is early, around noon, and driving a BMC team car to Chattanooga, Tennessee, for the Pro Road Championships. She is planning on coming through Topeka to say hi to Bromont, me and the cats. It’s a pretty long drive.

Yesterday, my friend, Gwen Jorgensen, won the ITU WOrld Trianthlon in Yokohama Japan. She won the event last year too, so that course must suit her pretty well. She and Pat Lemieux(all around good guy and Gwen’s fiance) have been jet setters recently. Over Easter, they were in South Africa and now in Japan. I checked out Gwen’s website to see if she wrote up a race report. She hadn’t updated it yet, but there was a recipe for some oatmeal concoction. It is strange, because I made the exact same breakfast a couple days ago, minus the eggs mixed in. That is what makes it strange. She has other foods she can try too. Obviously, food is a big deal for her. Her blog only has three catagories, food, racing and updates. Anyway, if you want to check out the oatmeal, click here.

I feel bad for Gwen and Pat. I hate the jet lag coming back from Japan. They’re probably flying back to Europe, but no matter which direction you fly from there, it is a long way and really messes up your sleep.

Okay, I’d better get going. I don’t really have any food to carry with me. I ate steak and eggs, with raisin toast this morning. I’m trying out a few new things to see if it helps with riding more consistently. I’m not really into eating red meat much, but for experimentation purposes, I’m doing it. I hope to even out the ups and downs on longer rides. We’ll see.

Gwen winning in Japan last year.

Grilled steak last night for this morning.

My bowl a couple days ago before adding steel cut oats. Pretty much the exact opposite of steak.