The big man from our team has done it again. He?s won the Tour de France prologue. I'm pretty sure that it?s because he?s rooming with me. The last time he won a stage in the Tour we were rooming together as well so I figure that I must have something to do with it?

It was a great day for the team. Everyone?s spirits have been lifted as we now move on to what we are here for, the TDF, and leave behind the events of the past few days. It was nice to be out there today and I enjoyed being a part of the TDF once again. It is truly an amazing event and even with all the problems of the last few days, the fans still turned out today to support us all and for that we have to thank you for sticking by us.

For me, I had a bit of a long day. I was called to drug testing after I rode and that took forever with all new testing protocols to follow which include two blood samples as well as urine. It took forever while they did some of the tests and then we had to check off all the numbers for each sample against the corresponding testing form to make sure each number was written down right, bla, bla, bla. The whole process was pretty confusing and by the time I was done, although I was among the earlier race finishers, I was one of the last to leave course. Has to be done though.

Anyway, so when I got back to the hotel, I got a massage and was back in the room when the circus arrived: Thor was back with a crowd of people in tow. As soon as he came in the room, it went from a quiet phone conversation with Carole to absolute chaos with TV crews, team-mates and staff members. It was more than mad enough for me. I didn't think that we could fit so many people into a small hotel room. Well, actually maybe we could?ve if I wasn't such a messy prick and had my shit scattered all over the floor?

My race was ok. I think that I started a little slow from all accounts, but finished one of the fastest. Little bit of a miscalculation on my part but I was pretty well rooted by the time I crossed the finish line so that?s the most important thing as it means I gave it everything.

Anyway, tomorrow the team will go out to defend the yellow jersey. In one way the pressure is off because Thor has already done something good for the team. On the other hand, we have to be ready for the stress of defending the yellow jersey for a few days. For me though, whether we have the jersey or not, nothing changes. I still just have to make sure that I?m there for Thor in the bunch kick. It?s my other team-mates who have the hard yards ahead of them tomorrow. They?re going to have to control things but I?m sure that having the jersey will help them rise to the challenge.

Julz

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