^ Well done team - Steph, you are a machine!
Nice photos, too.
Early bird pricing ends Sunday night if anyone is considering giving it a crack.
Well, weather this year was absolutely spot on, just a cracking day to be out riding a bike. But the weekend started with the Coppi Dinner on Saturday night, where my brother and I ended up sitting with Carlos Sastre for dinner. Such a legend, it was great hearing stories about his win up Alpe d’Huez in 2008, especially his pre-stage chats with the team and Bjarne Riis. Carols was completely silent and super calm while the team chatted strategy for 30 minutes, then when Bjarne asked Carlos to speak up he said “Bjarne, I have my sandwich, I have my coke, everything is tranquillo. We will win, no worries” He said Bjarne had steam coming out his ears!
Yesterday’s ride was great, just cruised with my brother to Marysville, where we bumped into Carlos again. Ended up riding with him for about 20 minutes through the gravel section, and then the three of us stopped for a bite to eat as I was starting to hunger flat. He skipped the final climb and headed straight back to Warburton while the two of us hit the top of Donna, then we chatted with him again back at the village, joking that I beat his time up there. But he said it was ok, as Marianne Vos did his climb for him as she did it twice!
Only hairy part of the day was getting the speed wobbles at 70km/hr coming out of Marysville. The whole bike started oscillating wildly - thought I was going to die, but stayed clear-headed enough to clamp my legs on the top tube and dampen the vibrations.
Other than that, banger of a day!
6 Likes
Sensations intensify
1 Like
I am absolutely ded after that story. incredible.
3 Likes
Ze moment presents itself in all sorts of ways
also how pro is cutting a ride short when youre not feeling the sensations. None of this suffer nonsense. Tranquillo only.
Always tranquillo.
The 2008 Alpe d’Huez stage is on youtube. It’s worth watching.
bet Cadel forgot his sandwich and/or coke.
Imagine if he had a vegan donut and pie
grand champion 2005-2011
still mulling this extreme sensations weekend over. Maybe I get involved next year.
Hello! By get involved, do you mean ride it, or are you just going to bring ham and cheese sandwiches to hand out to riders? Pretty good chance that I’ll be back again next year, sandwich or no.
nah I’ll ride it I reckon. will bring sandwich and coke plus srs sensations.
If this happens there’s a strong possibility I’ll take part.
Count me in! Tranquillo sensations for all
tranquillo only!!!
1 Like
James - it’s this weekend. You in?
sad I missed it, wasn’t able to make it. Lock in next year!
Twas another pretty damn good day at GDD this year. Managed to sit with the guest of honour at the Coppi Dinner for the second year in a row. Was good chatting with Gerro, though he did have a crack at old mate Carlos Sastre (the guest of honour last year) as being the reason he missed the 2009 TdF with Cervelo Test Team despite winning a Giro stage and finishing top ten in all the Ardennes classics that Spring. Apparently Carlos wasn’t happy that Gerro had gone and trained with Lance Armstrong in Aspen, and thought he might not be fully committed to Carlos. That snub was enough for Gerro to break his contract and sign with Sky for 2010.
It was also great hearing about his MSR win, and hitting over 1000 watts three different times on the descent of the Poggio just trying to hold Cancellara’s wheel. It’s worth going back and watching that finish.
The GDD course never gets old - so stunning riding through there.
2 Likes