So, as you all know, my first pro-contract was Astana, and a very good team it was. Back then they were very strong. A team built around powerful Italian Vincenzo Nibali, a climber like me. I though it would be great to learn from him, along with the great support he had, think Jakob Fuglsang and Tanel Kangert. Then there was a wealth of other talent. I can't think much of it at the moment, after all it was 5 years or so ago. But there was Kessiakof, Guardini, Iglinsky, Rolland, oh he came later did he? you remember it better than I my friend! Anyway, I didn't feel overawed in anyway, in fact I was quietly confident I could surprise a few people and excel early doors.
The sponsors had big expectations, so only the cream of the crop was allowed onto the team, and to think, my first contract was World Tour. At the time it seemed like a blessing, how wrong could I be? The first blow was when they announced their system, it works on how good they reckon we all are at what we do, it was the biggest shock to me, not a single stat in the 'good' zone! Even the sprinters could climb as well as me.
Still, not to be deterred, I put myself forward for as many race days as possible, hoping to get that first scent of pro racing. And I got it earlier than I thought.
My first race was the Tour of Gabon, the first race of the season. But things didn't go as well as I though they would. I was there as a Team Mate for Maxim Iglinsky. That was fair enough, after all he was one of the big favourites.
I got to the start line very early, determined to be at the front. Though as you can see my cyclist's tan needs a bit of work! That was the least of my worries. Pro racing just wasn't for me. I know it was early doors, but I struggled hopelessly. Every day I fell off the back, hearing the DS cheer on Maxim over the radio as I pedalled for all I was worth, but dropped back anyway. Maxim came second, I came in with the Grupetto.
But I'm sure he can go on, it's all about Wilskracht(that means willpower in English, but you probably knew that )
Edited by Jesleyh on 07-11-2013 15:24
From what you have wrote so far this sounds like it will be a very long story, at least 2/3 seasons long. Will be interesting to see if Walter makes an appearance.
The Hobbit wrote:
Yeah, hence choosing it. Everybody knows but Jesleyh
At least I think they do...
Cunego59, are you thinking what I'm thinking you're thinking?
Well ... some kind of a big reveal to a journalist, a shady team like Astana, the seemingly insurmountable struggles in the pro peloton ... I guess even Jesleyh can add that up
Gonna be really interesting what you make of it. The retrospective is a nice feature.
Yes, this is really a tour of dodgy teams, three of them in total, for once I've planned something in advance! Thanks for the complement type thingymajig.
I'm afraid Walter won't appear in this, but Dennis might be an alternative reality (less successful) appearance in Walter, yet it might be possible to get less successful!
My next race was to be the Grand Prix de Lugano. It's a Swiss hilly race and I'd be domestiquing again! It still felt great, and I didn't care about my abject failure in Gabon. In fact, after the race I was more fired up than before. I was determined to live up to my surname, an odd one it might be, but I knew it represented me quite well, as it was my never give up attitude that had gotten me there, wasn't it.
So is this another classic story of a big comeback from humble beginnings?
No, not really But you'll see later. Can't you tell me, I promise not to ruin the article.
Nah, I want to see your face... And this way I'll look better.... Carry on..
I will thank you very much.
However soon after Gabon there was something that got me down.. And it didn't exactly come internally. The squad had seemed rather closed in Gabon, always getting me to run errands or generally excluding me, if only I knew from right back then. It seemed reasonable at the time, i mean I was new right, it's only natural, until they get to know me better.
So I travelled back, confused, but not surprised or dejected, I know I made it sound bad, but I wasn't even last of the team, well second last and I get the idea he wasn't trying. Yeah, he was only a TTist too, and as a climber I should have beaten him, but still, I mean, oh shut up. Anyway, the team itself was rather disturbing.
Normally after a poor debut you'd get a pat on the back and tonnes of commiserations from the manager, the DS and the training staff. At Astana there was none of that. It was if they'd expected me to fail, and were pleased it had happened. I am not a big fan of the standard procedure, and would be frustrated by it if it wasn't there, but the coldness and silence with which they regarded me was really scary.
By the time Lugano came around I was glad to get moving again, as much as I loved the Netherlands, this was a dream. I was travelling the world, and mixing with my childhood heroes! However there was a sour taste in my mouth, and it left me thinking deep into the night, that day I could have done a lot better, even as a youth in a big squad.
So as I said, we flew to Swtizerland in good spirits, if a bit miffed. But the records show your next race was the Tour of the Med?
Oh yeah, I must have blocked it from my memory, [smiling] And why would that be?
Ah, well it didn't turn out so good...
Going into the race i was in great shape, best of my career even! So I decided to do something with it, and maybe get a few KOM points, as i didn't want to spend the whole race domestiquing for Grivko.
Here is my attack, and my team mates were there at the front cheering me on. Before long I looked over my shoulder, people were bridging the gap!
They came up to me, only to blow straight past! I was left in no mans land as they got away for the rest of the day!
I tried to come back, but just wasn't strong enough! This was a really sobering experience, I came to Astana hoping to win a GC, and I couldn't even get in the break!
I tried to muster up a sprint, I'd been ok there at a junior level, but this time I was shattered completely. I came in near the back, and stayed there for the rest if the tour. Grivko performed well, 5th I think. he was 6th
Look mate, if you're gonna say all this, what's the point of me even being here, why don't you go write my biography? I was assuming, since you arranged an interview, there'd be something special you wanted to say...
And your right, you really did earn your degree in..... Sports Journalism
Yeah, that.
Anyway, after the Med, I didn't have to wait long for my next disappointment.
Edited by The Hobbit on 10-11-2013 11:22
The Grand Prix de Lugano was the turning point of my career, and not for the better. I was given a domestique role for the race. There would be no more attacking like in the Med. I had been told of, saying I'd made a fool of myself and the team, it's a good thing something like that didn't happen in a big televised race. My role would be dictating the pace sand putting of potential attackers.
I did a decent job, and we had a strong team, led by Gasparotto, so we fancied our chances. So we come to the descent of the second to last climb. A lampre rider is trying to get away. I push really hard, I was going faster than ever, leading the peleton, it was the stuff I'd dreamed of! Then I felt something crack, it was my ankle. The pedals weren't done up properly and I'd gone over on it. I careered into the barrier, thankfully managing to stay up right. I quickly got into my groove again.
I could use that as an excuse for my poor performance, but to be fair it had no effect. The intensity of pro cycling numbed the pain, and I'd felt a lot worse while in the saddle. Whatever the situation, this happened...
I was dropped like a tonne of bricks as soon as we went uphill again, despite being a climber, I couldn't hold it, and let go, leaving the team with a lot of work to do. They weren't helping much, as soon as I was back, they put their feet down, and smashed the peleton into little pieces, I was in the furthest back one.
We did well, but left Gasparotto isolated too early, so he managed only a solid 4th. This should have made me happy, but it didn't. I flew straight home to have a look at the physio, I knew it was going to be bad, by now it was swollen badly, but now I see that wasn't the worst of it, there was more to come in the next few months.
Noooooo, you broke my streak of consecutive story posts, I though it might be a record
Kidding, nice to see there's at least one follower. The ankle will not be too bad, but it's all about how he recovers.
