OK.  I’ve been down to The Tour of Southland  a few times.  And there have been some epic days.  This was one of those plus some. 

The time trial is around a park.  It was super windy with storms blowing in off the coast.  One minute it was almost sunny and then hail and rain and wind.  I got an OK weather break or I would of been way worse than in the 70’s. 

2 hour break and then an 80 km stage that finishes on a wall.  A 2 km wall.  But, that wasn’t a problem compared to the weather.  These races go from the gun.  I mean before you clip in.  And the wind was more.  40+ I’d guess.  Within 10km the two best teams went to the front before a sidewind corner and I saw the threat.  Long story short, I made the front group of 13 that rode away from the field.  Only to be dropped after an hour of so.  If I was well, it wouldn’t of been a problem at all.  My lungs are about done.  I rode for a long while by myself, in the 38 degree rain and sleet until a big group of 40 guys came up.

That group was going considerable slower than the front.  Like 5 mph.  So, it wasn’t hard to stay in it.  Going out to the town of Bluff, you have to ride 15 miles out a narrow stretch of land.  That is when the weather got really nuts.  The wind was howling and then it started hailing.  Hard.  It was crazy how hard it was hitting our bare skin.  It stung.  I think our group might of broken up some, but can’t be sure what happened.  I know a lot of guys got blown off the road and a few crashed.  But, I have no idea how many.  Anyway, about 5 miles from the climb, Brian took off with one other guy and put a fair amount of time on us before the bottom of the climb. Maybe as much as a minute.  But, I haven’t seen the results, so I can’t be sure.  I was around 5th or so of the remaining guys.  Has to be somewhere in the late teen’s, but like I said, it was pretty hard to keep track of things.  I do know that we lost a massive amount of time, the last I heard was 7 minutes, to the leaders.  Nothing I could of done about that. 

Anyway, went to the pharmacy and got some medicine.  Hopefully, I can track down the race doctor before bedtime.  I’m not sure my lungs can take a 100 miles of this again tomorrow.  I’m pretty sure the weather is not predictable here.  So, maybe it will be 70 and sunny. 

OK.  That’s it from here.  It is so strange that Monday is over here and it’s still Sunday in the states. 

Check out The Tour of Southland or cyclingnews.com for the massive time gaps!

I’m really not sure what I’m doing down here.  I thought I knew when I left, but things took a 90 degree turn and I need to think it out.

Went to the race doctor last nite for a hour.  I guess I have a sinus infection in my chest or something like that.  I’m now taking antibiotics for the millionth time this season.  I thought it was the best course considering my ultimate goals this winter.  I guess Henk Vogels was there before me.  I talked to him for a while during the race today and he suggested that I quadruple the dosage for the first couple days.  He feels 50% better already.  I feel 75% worse.  But, that is usually how it goes with me and antibiotics.

Today’s stage was 170km.  Rolling, a few KOM’s, but nothing longer than a couple K.  Of course, cold, windy, and rainy.  There is no easy racing here.  The peleton is edgy always because of the wind and chances of crashes always. 

These guys start from the gun.  There were 3 points sprints in the first 2 miles of the race.  Instantly into the gutter.  I just about quit less than 10 km into the race.  I was 80 guys back in line with no control of anything.  My lungs are the size of peanuts and I am severely lacking motivation.  But, my main problem I figured out on the drive back after the race was the amount of concentration it takes during these races.  I had a wicked headache and didn’t have any ablility to concentrate.  And you have to at all times.  When you’re racing in the wind, gutter, rain-there is no time just to ride long and daydream. 

Anyway, I didn’t quit.  Brian was determined to make the front group today.  He made a bunch of good moves, but missed the real move.  I saw it going, but no one can understand what I”m saying on the radio.  My throat is so sore and I have virtually no voice, so the race radio for me is for information only. 

Anyway, the field split a million times into small groups.  Brian and I made each split in the front.  The most important split was with about 60 km to go after a KOM.  It got down to 15 or so of us.  But, I flatted a km later and waited way too long for a wheel.  I was in no man’s land and screwed.  But a couple miles later, the race leader was standing on the side of the road with his wheel off.  I noticed the front group all stopped and relieved themselves, waiting for him to get back on.  Very fortunate luck for me. 

The front group of somewhere between 5-8 guys, didn’t contain anyone of danger for GC, so the stayed off the front all day.  I was 5th in the sprint for whatever place we were going for.  There are 20 paying places each day and I figure why ride 4:30 in the rain and cold just to roll across the line. 

So, tomorrow is a double stage day.  First, a super hard stage up the coast.  Then an hour off and back in the saddle for a 80km dessert stage.  Should be just what the doctor ordered!  Til then.