Pamplona Bayonna

Well first race back was a set of two criteriums in Vittoria on Saturday night, bit of a laugh realy as we found out part way through that these races are rigged and the winner is already decided before the race begins. Pretty Gay I reakon as racing should be about battling it out and the strongest or smartest wins. Any way good laugh as we had no idea about the rigged winner and my Polish Team mate who we call Vortek or "The Vortex" (Not spelt Vortek the polish spelling is incedible) went about doing what he does best and eliminating everyone in the sprint (first race was an elimination race, which means last rider across the line each lap is out) He ended up 2nd and the funny thing was he eliminated the guy who was ment to win. People wernt to impressed about this and we got a bit of an earfull for it and hounded in the points race, but we decided to be spitefull and attack them anyway. I ended up roling acros the line perhaps 6th or 7th.

Pamplona Bayonna was the big race of the weekend. A nasty 138k from Pamplon, Spain to Bayonna, France. Which meant a nasty traverse through the low Pyrinesse. Thankfully being my first race back it was downhill since we were racing out to the coast. Probley would have to describe this race as being simliar to Round the Lake Taupo race or K2 or both mixed together. I think the only flat part of the race was the carpark we rolled out of in Pamplona. I was pretty pleased with how I went being my first race after a week off. I suffered pretty bad up the climbs and the last 30k was taking its toll. Found out why when we got home as I had picked up some wire in the back tyre and was slowly loosing pressure through the whole race. Oh well.

Not sure how many started must of been at least 100, and only around 50 finished. I rolled in 44th.

I have 9 weeks left here now and at least 15 races. SO looking to make the most and I hope I can go home with some nice fast legs for the NZ summer

Josh

Rest over, Up and Away

Well my rest is done, and im feeling a lot better for it. Iv been turning the pedals for around 5days now and feeling good which is tops. Hopefully I can turn the fast on and finish this season with a bang. Even managed to get joined by top Casse Depargne pro tour rider Jose Vecente Garcia Acosta yesterday, this guys on another level and super nice dude as well so hopefully can go out for som emore rides with him later as one of my team mates and good friends is mates with hime

We took advantage of the rest to go and join in with the San Fermin celebrations, and even got to see the bulls run which was pretty cool. The hole week long party is pretty undescribable but the entire town center is just one HUGE party. Theres some pretty funny sights to been seen as you can imagine with people drinking solid for a week. A lot of people asked me what spain was liek after the soccer win but to be honset with the San Fermin celebrations going on you wouldnt have known.

First race back is a Criterium this friday in Vitoria which should be an interesting affair and then the Classica Pamplona Bayonna on Saturday. Bayonna is in France which means crossing the low pyrinesse, so that should be a good hit out.

Anyway time to fly as the rain and thunder is coming and im using the internet in the court yard after ours got blowen up by a lighting storm

Josh

Extra Day of Relax

Well, I have been feeling a bit smashed and tired the last week or so and not training or raceing well, so have decided to have a few days of the bike to reset the body. Comes at a good time after tomorows race we have two weeks till the next race which gives a chance to relax and then get some good training in to the legs. In the words of Alberto Contador at the tour presentation "if you sleep one hour more than next rider, then at the end of the tour you get extra day of relax". So thats pretty much what ill be doing over the next few days, getting my relax on.

And good thing to as there is a lot of racing between now and season end so ill be pretty worn out come home time.

Josh

Another day of Poridge Veins

Well its been a few days since my last race and havnt been to excited about putting anything up. Again im plagued by the inability to sleep. Which as you can imagine is making things pretty dismal at the moment.
I was determened to get through the race however and had to go pretty deep. Its kinda dissaponinting as a lot of the courses we race on suit me quite well. But oh well will just keep plugging on.

Highlight though is the Tour d France has now started and since we dont have to get up at midnight like back in NZ the afternoon is dedicated to watching the racing live. Its all pretty exciting really. Deffanatly being here and living the life of a pro bike rider have to say I have a hole new respect for these guys.

WEll thats all for now, San fermin is now so hopefully one day we will go and check out the running of the Bulls

Josh