Fernando Alonso tried but even he couldn't get me on an earlier flight to LA.
Due to the war LA residences have been fleeing the city at a historic rate.
Thus, limiting the number of arrivals going into the LAX airport.

So, Alonso got me into Spain and out to Chicago instead.
He did it so fast that I accidently left my bag on his private jet,
luckily I still had my passport and nothing of importance was in my bag.

That's not entirely true but I'm just happy to get out of France and
onto my next race which I'm also happy the race organizers didn't cancel.
"Sports allow people to ignore the chaos happening around them in the world."

That reason was good enough for the mayor of Chicago to keep the race on.

August 2-4, 2017 : Tour of Elk Grove



My 1st time ever racing here, in fact it's my 1st time ever in Chi-Town.



One of the smallest startlists I have competed against this season.
Unsurprisingly, only the neutral friendly Danish send a team from Europe.



Old "pal" Craddock is back. Hopefully we can get along and play nice this tour.

--- *** --- *** --- *** ---



What a basic tour this is. Bonus seconds is the name of the game here.
A prologue, and then the same flat circuit for the following 2 stages.



A good opening run is a must. Mine is only average.
I finish the day in 11th, but only 15 seconds off the winner.



Craddock gets bragging rights again by finishing 7th, +8".



Winner? Jesse Sergent. Riding for my first professional team Bissell.
What a long time ago that was. I can only wonder what would have happened
if Chloe's dad hadn't assault me which in returned got me kicked off the team.

I'm not the best sprinter. With the sprinters here, probably not in the top 10.
But, the only way I'm moving up the GC is through the bonus seconds.



Breakaway gets caught with one sprint checkpoint remaining.
Craddock and I sneak out of the peloton and take those seconds.



The we go to the bunch sprint. I try to get in the slipstream of the green jersey.



I can't keep up. I finish 6th. Not bad, but it doesn't do me any good either.

After the dust settles from yesterday, I'm now 19 seconds off yellow.
So, I win and a little bit of help I could actually still win this thing.
How amazing would that be? A comeback for the ages.



The breakaway goes out and eliminates all the sprint checkpoints
before getting reeled back in with 10kms to go.



Let's get right to the sprint. I find myself in great position thanks to Rockmore.



I kick for the line really early, 1.7kms to go. But, it looks like it is working!



No...NO...NOOOOOOO. 300 meters from the finish line.



Next thing I know everybody is flying by me. I ran out of gas.
Just like stage 2, I finish in 6th. I was right there.

The tour is hardly a disappointment though as I finish 10th overall
and Lawson Craddock beats me once again by taking 5th overall.

I expect better out of himself to give away EXP points.

I will get a much needed stop at home in LA
(I can't thank Fernando Alonso enough for finding me a ticket),
before the next race update will include Stages 1-3 of the Tour of Utah:

Form - Mountain, Downhill

After stops in France, Spain, and Chicago I finally made it back to LA.
Home sweet home. I had managed to find a couple of hours to spend time
with Chloe, Zooey, and Joseph before I had to get back on the road.

At least that was the goal, as soon as entered the front door chaos ensued.
It was like a twister touch-downed and flipped everything upside down.



As I walked into the kitchen I saw Chloe. I tried sneaking up behind her
to surprise her but she turned around just in time and ruined the moment.

"Travis, you're home! I don't have time for this right now, I'm running late."

"Where can you possibly be going dressed as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz?
And what about the kids? Were you just going to leave them at home alone?"



"No. New Girl is having me do a late night filming session for a parody
the show is doing to kicking off the 2nd season and I wasn't leaving
Zooey and Joseph home alone, don't you check your phone?"

"No my phone has been dead since I left Spain.
I accidently left my phone charger in Alonso's private jet.
So, what's going on then? You're really starting to freak me out."

"I told you, I don't have time. I really do have to go. Just check your phone.
Oh, and could you watch my puppies for me?"



"Sure? I guess I can watch your Totos for you."
I barely finished my joke before Chloe scampered out of the door.

What was that all about? Why do I have to watch her dogs and not the kids?
Wait, where are Zooey and Joseph? They aren't here! What did she do?

There was only one way I was going to find out.
I found a spare charger, plugged in my phone, and then turned it on.

Like I said earlier, I'm leaving tomorrow morning for the Tour of Utah.
I have learned the hard way that being a cyclist comes with
a whirlwind of obstacles that you have to overcome.

Not being able to properly raise your kids is one of them.

It's heartbreaking.