That Time of Year Again...

Hi all, <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /?>

Sorry for the lack of diary entries.  Apart from being flat-knackers, I've found it hard to find the motivation to write.  Carole has cracked the whip though and banished me to the computer...

The last few weeks have been full of highs and lows.  Following the success of Region Wallone, I was faced with the decision about the rest of my season.  Initially the plan was to do the Tour of Denmark and then go directly to the Tour of Holland with only two days recovery in between.  This would then leave only a week or so till the 3 week Tour of <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /?>
Spain.  The other option was to skip
Holland to rest and prepare for the Vuelta.  My dilemma was that | like the Tour of Holland and have always done well there.  Also, the chance at some more results looked inviting - especially it being contract time and all.  The chance to sprint against Zabel, McEwen and Petacchi is always something that I look forward to and like to chase.

As it turned out, it was the powers that be that made the decision for me.  I started well in the Tour of Denmark, initially sitting in 4th place on general classment.  But after the second day, the wheels started to fall off as I tried to fight off an ever worsening bronchial infection.  By the final day, the infection had settled in for the long haul and I had next to no strength.  I was pedalling in squares and suffering like buggery.  All I could do was try to hang on to a top 10 finish.  Which I did.  I snuck out the door with 9th overall.  I couldn't help but think about what I could've done if I hadn't got sick.  Slipping from 4th to 9th overall was pretty disappointing but I had to be realistic about my health.  In the end, I talked myself into feeling happy hanging on to ninth place. 

As for the team, well it's never easy to win the home race.  Our disappointing result certainly wasn't due to the lack of effort on the team's part.  We did what we could but for a varying number of reasons things just didn?t work in our favour.  That's cycling.

The illness made my decision to sit out
Holland easy.  I was feeling so bad after
Denmark and spent the following three days in bed coughing my lungs inside out.  A course of antibiotics seems to have done the trick and one week after the finish of the race, I'm finally starting to feel better.  Although on my bike I still don't feel super, I am improving.  I hope I can continue to improve over the final week before the Vuelta so I can go there with all the condition that I'll need to get the results I want. I certainly haven't been able to do the kind of training I wanted to in order to achieve the optimal preparation for the Vuelta.  No stress though.  That's just the way it is sometimes and I reckon I'll be ok.