The days to my next race, Varnamo GP, went really fast. On the race day Anders told me that I was given a free role for this race. It was fantastic, now I wasn't forced to help the team leader. I could almost do whatever I felt like. Todays race profile suited me better than in Stockholm, the race got two tough hills in the end.
I just rested in the middle of the peleton the whole race until the hills. When we reached them I went up a bit in the peleton. The first hill went great, I was feeling strong and many riders fell of. With 12 km left of the race and 1 km left to the second hill we were just 10 riders in the first group. On the second hill Fredrik Ericsson (our leader) attacked. 5 others countered him and they created a group including 6 riders in front. I didn't have the power to counter, right now I was so tired. My group didn't catch Fredriks group and Freddy took a 3rd place, Lucas Persson (Collstrop) won. I stayed with the second group and finished 9th. After the finish I couldn't believe it, I FINISHED 9TH !
Team Manager of Team IKEA-Bianchi
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Today it was time for my third race this season. The whole race is flat, so I will probably attack in the beginning, trying to creat a good gap. That was exactly what Anders told me before the race, so I tried an attack with 145 km left of the race. But just when I got 2 or 3 metres on the peleton I just fell to the ground. One second later another cyclist crashed into me and rotated over me and fell hard to the ground. No, no, no. It can't be true, I've started a mass crash, I thought. Almost 50 cyclist was involved, it was so embarrasing. But I was really lucky because no one got hurt. But now I had screwed my chances of getting a Pro-contract, or?
Mattias Westling (my team mate) won the race in a tight mass sprint. After the race I didn't feel to well, it was my first real setback as a cyclist. I hope it wont screw up my cycling career.
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Five days after Gotene GP I got a strange call on my phone.
"Hello", I answered.
"Hi", I could hear a voice say.
"Who are you?", I asked.
"Bradley Owen", the man answered.
"Ok, and what do you want me?", I said to him.
"Ehhmm..."
"What?"
Then he stopped the call.
What was that? I didn't know that guy, Bradley Owen.
Team Manager of Team IKEA-Bianchi
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The next day I got an E-mail from the same man that phoned me yesterday.
From:
To:
Hi, I'm sorry for my strange call last night. My name is Bradley Owen and I'm manager for the Brithish registered cycling team, Rapha Condor Recycling.co.uk. I have scouted you for a while and after your 10th place in Varnamo I'm really interested in signing you to my team. What do you say? You are a real cycling talent and you should fit perfectly in to our team. Please contact me as soon as possible.
Bradley.
What!? I couldn't believe my eyes, it was so great that I couldn't describe my feelings right then with words. Are they joking with me, or is it true?
Team Manager of Team IKEA-Bianchi
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The day after I got the E-mail from Bradley Owen I talked to Johan about the offer.
"That's great!", was the first thing he said.
"Yes, it's unbelievable. Shall I E-mail Bradley today?", I answered him.
"Yes, of course. I know how it is, after my trip to France with Francaise De Jeux."
"Ok, great, I will do it today." I finished the conversation.
Later that day, I sent Bradley an E-mail. From:
To:
Hi, thanks for the E-mail. I'm really flattered about that you are interested in signing me, and I would love to join your team.
Call me.
Alex.
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5th of May
It's the 5th May today an it's time for Tour Of Gothenburg to start. I haven't heard anything thing from Bradley after our contact via E-mail a few days ago. Maybe they are not going to sign me now, maybe they have changed their mind? All I can do is just perform well in Gothenburg.
Tour Of Gothenburg
TOG is a stage race including 3 stages. The first one is suited for the sprinters, the second stage is a 15 km long time trial and the last stage is a hilly one.
Stage 1
We took it easy on this stage until the sprint. I relaxed just in the middle of the peleton the whole race.
Peter Lundblad won the stage ahead of Mattias Westling (Cykelcity) and Jonas Holmkvist in a tight sprint finish.
Stage 2
Today it was time for some TT. I rode really great. I was just 2 seconds down to Johan Lindgren at the first time check and at the second with just 5 km to go I had just lost 1 more second to Johan. But the last 5 km of the stage was hard for me, I was so tired. Loosing 10 more seconds to Johan (who won the stage), but I was statisfied with my result, 4th. This is the overall standings with 1 stage left:
The stage started with an attack after just 2 km. 3 riders created a gap. But they were caught with 35 km left, 15 km left to the first of the two hils in the end. I was just relaxing in the pack until 25 km was left of the stage, the first hill in the beginning of the race wasn't so tough, the pace was bad so I could take it easy. But now it was time for some action, 20 km left and the first real hill. After just 200 metres of climbing Sebastian Balck (MA Speedwear) attacked, he was just 26 seconds down on Johan in the GC. Now our team started to relay hard in the front of the peleton. Many riders fell of the pack, including Stevenson and Johan Lindgren. Now our hope was Freddy and me. Balck got caught and the first hill was over. Just 25 riders was left in the front group now. Kalle Sandell, Fredrik Ericsson, Jonas Bjelkmark, Andreas Stillfors and me was the riders from Cykelcity. It was now 8 km left of the stage, right now it was 6 km flat and then the stage finishes with 2 km hills.
When I crossed the finish line on stage 3 I couldn't believe that I finished 3rd overall, it was amazing.
Suddenly I heard a voice yell:
"Alex!", why is he speaking english I thought.
I turned my head around and a saw a pretty tall man running at me.
"Hi, nice race", he said.
"Thanks, who are you?", I answered.
"Bradley, Bradley Owen. Sorry that I didn't call you. I wanted to surprise you here in Gothenburg."
"Ohh, it's ok", I said.
"Rapha Condor and Team Cykelcity has signed a deal, now we are just waiting for you to sign the contract with us", Bradley told me.
"Ok, that's great", I answered.
"I will call you tonight so we can meat and talk", he finished our conversation.
Fantastic, unbelievable, amazing, no it was more than that, I just couldn't describe my feeling just then. I can't believe in this happening.
Me and Bradley met at my hotel to talk about the contract. It was fantastic for me, much money, great bonuses and much more. I just couldn't complain. I was now a part of the british cycling team, Rapha Condor Recycling.co.uk.
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Today it was the big day, I flied to England. On the airport the team had sent Luke Rowe to pick me up. He was just one year older than me and he seemed to be a kind guy.
I can't believe that I'm a part of Rapha Condor, it's amazing. This is my team mates for this year.
We have a strong squad, Dean Downing, Chris Newton, Kristian House and Ben Greenwood should be the team leaders.
The team has started the season pretty well, with Dean Downing winning East Midland Classics and Chris Newton winning Shay Elliot Memorial. But the sponsors are not so happy.
I'm not in such a great form right now but my aim is to race good from now on and take a place in the Tour Of Britain team.
As I mentioned earlier I'm a stage racer who is dreaming of winning Tour de France one day.
My first race with the team will be FDB Insurance Ras, a stage race in Ireland, the race consists of 9 stages. Hopefully I can be in good form when I will flie home to paricipate in the Swedish Championships at the end of June.
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The first time in the team have been great. I'm enjoying every little second. Me and Luke Rowe is starting to become real friends.
Our second goal of the season, Lincoln GP was raced yesterday. The sponsors wanted us to finish top 3. Dean Downing and Chris Newton was our leaders for this race. But the race got a surprise winner in Rhys Lloyd ! My team mate. Even more fantastic was that my other team mate in the long breakaway also held on to the line, Graham Briggs ! A fantastic 1-2 for our team. This lift the teams moral, and that's great.
What a start in my new team.
Soon it's time for me to race for Rapha Condor, I'm really looking forward to race in Ireland.
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Our team.
I can't believe it, I will race my first race for Rapha Condor today.
FBD Insurance Ras is a stage race in Ireland, it consists of 8 stages. Mostly flat stages but some of them are maybe not going to end up in a mass sprint.
The first stage is flat, and it is 127 km long. It has got 2 KOM sprints, one after just 2,5 km. Bradley told me before the start to try an attack as fast as possible. So I did. Me attacking at the start.
It looked like I was going to win the KOM easy but suddenly Evan Oliphant attacked and he was closing the gap.
But I held the gap and won 10 points to the KOM competition.
I was soon caught by the peleton and a bunch of new attackers tried to get clear. But I hadn't the legs to try a counter attack.
My job now was protecting Kristian House, our leader for this race. House isolated by our team.
The break was caught with 10 km left and then I felt ok, so probably I will stay in the pack to the finish line.
Evgeni Popov, Rabobank CT won the stage ahead of his team mate, Jos Van Emden. Popov celebrating his win.
I finished in the pack and that was great news, because Malcolm Elliot, who won the second KOM sprint, dropped off when he was caught. That means that I will wear the KOM leaders jersey tomorrow, awesome!
I was shaking when I went up to the podium. It was an amazing feeling. In my first ever race with Rapha Condor.
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Todays stage is 180 km long and it's pretty flat. Bradley told me before the race to try to keep the KOM jersey.
It was fantastic to start the race wearing a jersey, I was so proud. Me with the KOM jersery at the start.
When the attacks began I countered. Attacking time!
8 others attacked with me and we created a breakaway group. Todays break, including me.
I won the first KOM sprint easiely. Another 6 points to the KOM competition.
Bradley was delighted with my riding and he told me to do the same thing at the next KOM sprints.
So I did, I won the 2nd KOM sprint... More points!
and the 3rd KOM sprint. 26 points for me today, great!
Now I could feel the pain in my legs and with 20 km left of the stage, we were caught by the pack. Me just ahead of the peleton.
I was now so tired in my legs that I just fell off the pack in less than 10 seconds.
"Great jobbed today Alex, take it slow to the finish now", Bradley said to me in the ear.
Kenny Van Hummel won the stage today. Kenny celebrating his win.
Jos Van Emden is the new leader of the race.
For the second day in a row, I went up to the podium to get my jersey. It was amazing this time too.
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