See You At The 2006 Tour de France ...

Believe it or not but I'm up for the Big One. Today it was officially confirmed by team management that I have been included in the team for the Tour de France 2006. It has been a pretty difficult path to get there... AGAIN. Much like the last time, I think my best form will come during the 2006 Tour de France.

I think that maybe I wasn't as convincing in Switzerland as the team had hoped but obviously I showed enough and they have enough faith in me to know that I'm on the right track for the Tour. The last two days of Suisse I especially struggled with. The last road stage was a hard mountain stage and I spent much of the day battling as the last rider on the road. Grupetto was fairly non-existant as guys were pulling out willy nilly and I wasn't strong enough to stay with the small group just in front on me. Eventually, after a couple of hours bopping over the bergs by myself, I came back to a group and rode to the finish with them. It was hardly a convincing performance but the fact that I made it through the race was good. Admittedly, I did do a bit behind the car on the descents to come back but after being out there so long by myself I had to have some thrill and doing 110-km/hr behind the car down a descent with 20-mm tyres and a chunk of crafted metal between me and the tarmac, dressed in lycra and wearing a flimsy polystyrene helmet, was the best buzz I could ask for that day.

Anyway as hard as it was, I made it through and the team was happy and I felt better for fighting through it. It would have done my condition truckloads of good and I know that I'll be better for it.

Stay tuned for the Tour updates. As always I will endeavour to give them as often as possible - everyday if I can. If you're off to watch the Tour this year, maybe I'll see you there. Don't forget your Kiwi flags and banners. Love seeing Kiwiana out and about on the roads.

Keep it tight and keep it up right.

Julz

PS: If anyone has a spare Montieths they've happened to bring over with them from NZ, that would never go astray after a big mountain day (Any is good but Summer Ale is always a hit on a hot day!)

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