It was last stage of Giro del Trentino. I rode in the breakaway. We just passed the last mountain with big gap to the bunch and started very fast and dangerous downhill...
Next thing I remember is I lying on a bed in hospital and my family is around me. "You are back, baby!"
It took two months to come out of hospital and three more - to recondition to my old fitness. And, when I was ready to come back in business - the season was already over for Flaminia. Moreover, general manger was new guy - Omar Piscina. When I came to him and asked if he will renew my contract, he answered, that he could do it but if I will be only a mechanic, not a rider. I beckoned to myself and sent e-mails to all continental team I knew.The only teams, that answered were Designa-Kokken and LeTua. Both of them wanted to give me salary two times lower then I received in Flaminia.
It was the time when I rode to Moscow, where I wanted to sit on a plane to Denmark, when my cell phone ringed:
- Max? It's Giuseppe Saronni. I've heard that you recovered from your crash and want to come back in cycling. Is it right?
- Yes. I'm now heading to negotiations with possible team. - Really? Which team is it?
- It's Designa Kokken.
- Well, it's a strong team, but I think, it's a step back for you after Flaminia?
- It is my only opportunity.
- You know, maybe I will give you another. What do you think about team Lampre?
- You are serious?
- Yes. We rebuilding our team and want to have more young riders with potentional. So, what do you think, could you came to my office to talk about it?
- Giuseppe, I think, I will return my ticket and buy another - to Italy right now.
- Good. But get ready for working very hard.
- I always ready
Next day I was already a part of Pro-Tour team. My teammates were winner of Giro d'Italia, Amstel Gold Race, Giro del Lomabrdia Damiano Cunego and World Champion Alessandro Ballan
As my fitness was good in the very start of the season, my first race is the Pro-tour opening, Tour Down-Under in Australia. We came here two days before the race start and feel all the heat of Pro-tour. I mean that here you don't meet with temperatures lower than 35 degrees. Just two days and you have sunburn.
The race is for sprinters and Lampre's leader is Enrico Gasparotto. We also have Marcin Sapa here as his main domestique. All others (and me) are team-mates.
Anyway, the first stage started with my attack at summit. Although the race is for sprinters, there are some climbs here and I have some places to attack. Nobody wished to catch me and today I finished as leader of mountain category. As I won points I came back to bunch at once and tried to help Gasparotto.
Attacking at first hill
Some guys attacked soon but we didn't bother, peloton had his fast pace and with 20 km to finish gruppo was compatto. At last kilometers we tried to accelerate Enrico, but he failed to sit on Sapa's wheel and finished only 4th. But Polish champions was magnificent today. When he saw that his leader isn't with him, he just proceeded to accelerate and no one could beat him today!
Marcin Sapa takes it!
My first race for new team, teams first race in the season and we had such a victory! I don't have words to describe my feelings about it!
Now I think about fight for overall mountain lead. For this I need to loose some time tomorrow and try to manage to breakaway the day after. There are another 3 stages with the same amount of points that today's had. So, don't await me to do something at finish tomorrow.
- Hello, Max! Thank you for came here!
- Nice to meet you.
- You just returned from Australia, where you took part in Pro-Tour race. We already know that you've won mountain classification there. What are your feelings about that?
- It's very important for me, as it was my first race after big break. But, you know, Tour Down Under isn't a very prestigious race, especially for climbers; and that's why my result shouldn't be classified as very huge. I think, I need to be proud of my team mate Enrico Gasparotto's overall victory. All the team had a hand in it and so am I.
Usual picture in Australia - a win for Lampre - NGC
- How it all was?
- Well, the race is for sprinters, so all stages happened the same way. In first half some riders broke from the bunch. In last half we chased them and catch up at last kilometers. Then sprinters did their work. First four stages were won by my team Lampre. First stage was won by Marcin Sapa, all others - by Gasparotto. 4th stage was very tough, there was a climb at last kilometers, and some riders attacked there. We were already wasted by chasing a breakaway, so Enrico had to counter-attack them by himself. He succeeded and won that stage. After that we just needed to finish at last stage.
Gasparotto took penultimate 4th stage
- Let's return to your own result. How could you become a "King of mountains"?
- At first two stages mountains with points were placed at first 20km. At that time there weren't any breakaways and I just attacked at summits. After that I just returned to peloton and done my work as domestique. As I won two mountains I needed to look after Dion, my main rival. At third stage he tried to attack, but I countered him and he gave up. So, I took my prize jersey not by strength but by tactics.
I am on a podium in Adelaide
- Anyway, it's fantastic result for you and for whole Penza! We now have another very good rider!
- Ha-ha! It flatters my self-esteem.
- What next?
- I don't know. I am not a star in my team, so I can not be sure about my racing schedule. Maybe I will race something in Spain or Trofeo Laigiueglia in February. My results will answer if I would compete in Paris-Nice or Tirreno-Adriatico. - So, we have a possibility to watch you on Eurosport?
- Yes. If I will race there, you'll see me. I won't be tiresome, I promice!
Tour Down Under GC: 1 Enrico Gasparotto Lampre - N.G.C. 16h52'14
2 Jerome Pineau Quickstep + 12
3 Andrea Tonti Fuji - Servetto + 16
4 Luis Leon Sanchez Caisse d'Epargne + 47 5 Marcin Sapa Lampre - N.G.C. + 1'34
6 Mark Renshaw Team Columbia - High Road + 1'39
7 Martin Muller Team Milram + 1'45
8 Sylvain Chavanel Quickstep s.t.
9 Tom Leezer Rabobank + 1'46
10 Wes Sulzberger Francaise des Jeux s.t.
... 112 Max Belaschov Lampre - N.G.C. + 10'10
Points: 1 Enrico Gasparotto Lampre - N.G.C. 24
2 Marcin Sapa Lampre - N.G.C. 20
3 Hilton Clarke Fuji - Servetto 16
4 Mark Renshaw Team Columbia - High Road 14
5 Michael Albasini Team Columbia - High Road 12
Mountains: 1 Max Belaschov Lampre - N.G.C. 32
2 Mickael Buffaz Cofidis - Le Credit en ligne 16
3 Luis Leon Sanchez Caisse d'Epargne 16
4 Renaud Dion AG2R - La Mondiale 14
5 Anthony Geslin Francaise des Jeux 12
