I will keep posting here from time to time, mostly things that aren't 100% relevant to cycling.
I'm of to Argentina on Thursday, wish me luck!
A blog by Tomás Metcalfe about professional cycling (what's left of it!) in Portugal.
Sunday, 15 January 2012
Wednesday, 16 November 2011
I will be a cyclist in 2012
I've come to a deal with my current team to continue. I'm not thrilled but at least it should be an interesting year. I start right in mid-January with the Tour of San Luis in Argentina.
I'll give it my best shot again.
I'll give it my best shot again.
Tuesday, 15 November 2011
A climb up to Foia, next year and plan ahead.
A climb up to Foia.
Today I did a little test up Foia. This a 7.5km climb that rises from 450m to 900m. It's got a shallow gradient and you usually get a head wind going up it. I forgot how chilly it gets just 900m up! I did it in 20.27m which was good. I've only been training for two weeks after two months off. In the summer I could do 3x sub18m up the climb! So there's a lot of work to be done.
Next year.
No news yet, regarding cycling next year. It's funny though, I can't help feeling calm about things. I had a word with a friend about things, he told how much a certain cycling team are paying people and I just thought that that wouldn't do. So if I get a similar offer, it will be ciao aí (bye there).
Plan ahead young sports person.
There a couple of kids who want to go training with me, or do go training with me. I might make it a point that only kids working doing an apprenticeship or studying may train with me! Seriously, it seems like a game when you're 20, but when you want to actually make a life, it's very unlikely you'll be doing it pedaling a bike.
Today I did a little test up Foia. This a 7.5km climb that rises from 450m to 900m. It's got a shallow gradient and you usually get a head wind going up it. I forgot how chilly it gets just 900m up! I did it in 20.27m which was good. I've only been training for two weeks after two months off. In the summer I could do 3x sub18m up the climb! So there's a lot of work to be done.
Next year.
No news yet, regarding cycling next year. It's funny though, I can't help feeling calm about things. I had a word with a friend about things, he told how much a certain cycling team are paying people and I just thought that that wouldn't do. So if I get a similar offer, it will be ciao aí (bye there).
Plan ahead young sports person.
There a couple of kids who want to go training with me, or do go training with me. I might make it a point that only kids working doing an apprenticeship or studying may train with me! Seriously, it seems like a game when you're 20, but when you want to actually make a life, it's very unlikely you'll be doing it pedaling a bike.
Sunday, 30 October 2011
Tic-toc, tic-toc...
It's coming up to the end of October and I haven't had one word from any team about cycling professionally in 2012. I can't wait for ever. Already this I've made big sacrifices this year and really I'd be disappointed to quit without having made a boat load of cash in the Pro Tour. They say domestiques earn well there, if this guy is anything to go by I'd say they're right!
Previously I thought the lack of interest was for being stranded at the corner of Europe in a peloton famous for a rampant doping problem, but evidently the doping problem has been adressed and this year unlike previous years I have had people help out and try to get a team for me else where in Europe. I don't know why there is no interest. I could say the lack of results, but my winning "Equipier do Ano" (domestique of the year) kind of explains that, doesn't it? Okay in cycling, there is a huge team element... blah, blah, blah. -It's a small bell, but I'm ring it!
I love sport and am training like it's a normal pre-season; running and doing strength training exercises. But I am wondering where will I apply it?
Previously I thought the lack of interest was for being stranded at the corner of Europe in a peloton famous for a rampant doping problem, but evidently the doping problem has been adressed and this year unlike previous years I have had people help out and try to get a team for me else where in Europe. I don't know why there is no interest. I could say the lack of results, but my winning "Equipier do Ano" (domestique of the year) kind of explains that, doesn't it? Okay in cycling, there is a huge team element... blah, blah, blah. -It's a small bell, but I'm ring it!
I love sport and am training like it's a normal pre-season; running and doing strength training exercises. But I am wondering where will I apply it?
- Fun running? -God forbid, but like death it comes to us (athletes) all.
- Ironman triathlon?
- Mountain bike stage racing?
- The hour mark? -Hour p.b., I wont get ahead of myself here.
- British time-trail championships?
- Something totally mad like a HPV (not herpes but human powered vehicle) record.
- Something totally mad like the RAAM -it's got a big prize which appeals to my sense of greed.
- Something totally mad like cycle round the world with a huge beard?
- Free Diving?
- Fell running?
- Quit? -No, I am happy tilting at wind mills.
Which one shall I go for? Votes please!
My closing words are a genuine thank you to everyone who has helped and supported me!
Monday, 24 October 2011
My Birthday Suprise.
It's unusual to have anything directly cycling related happen during the off-season. Here there is no track racing or cyclo-cross, just the odd mountain bike race.
I had my birthday on the 22nd. I am 27 and feel like I'm hurtling through life much too fast. I wish the days were twice as long!
I first celebrated my Birthday with my family on the 21st which was good fun, then the following day I went with my girl friend to Tavira where we celebrated with some friends. Luis Silva, one of my team mate is two hours younger, so we usually celebrate together.
Te following day I was awoken to a doping control. I was amazed at the timing. "Will have drunk a lot of alcohol the day before affect the test?" I asked. To which they said "no". I was just thinking that I do not as of yet know whether I will even be a cyclist next year. However the "vampires" must think I will be, so I took it to a good omen!
Doping test done I went running in the mountains. 16km up and down the hills and in the rain, it was great craic.
I had my birthday on the 22nd. I am 27 and feel like I'm hurtling through life much too fast. I wish the days were twice as long!
I first celebrated my Birthday with my family on the 21st which was good fun, then the following day I went with my girl friend to Tavira where we celebrated with some friends. Luis Silva, one of my team mate is two hours younger, so we usually celebrate together.
Te following day I was awoken to a doping control. I was amazed at the timing. "Will have drunk a lot of alcohol the day before affect the test?" I asked. To which they said "no". I was just thinking that I do not as of yet know whether I will even be a cyclist next year. However the "vampires" must think I will be, so I took it to a good omen!
Doping test done I went running in the mountains. 16km up and down the hills and in the rain, it was great craic.
Monday, 19 September 2011
The Volta a Portugal Stages 9 and 10
Stage 9
The Torre stage "broke the engine", but I could see this was a general thing for the entire peloton and my maximum heart rate of 170 wasn't something exceptional.
The stage started in the worse possible fashion: I had a mechanical problem durring the neutralized section of the stage and barely got back to the bunch before the flag dropped.
We were told to let a small group of six go, with no one from the top 15 in said group. Because of the nature of this type of stage and the fact that a group could arrive just about everyone attacked. To add to our problem João Cabreira was making it very hard for us as he kept jumping (he was in the top 15). I suffered so much on the first climb of the day that I wasn't sure I would make it over in the lead group. I did make it over and Cabreira did get in a group of about 12-13.
Now came the part at which I excel at: Controlling a break. I can do this pretty much by myself and after the "warm up" on that first terrific climb of the day I found my legs. Me and two team mates were able to control the race for about 140km. Cabreira duly broke the "engine", I had to congratulate him on "beating on the little guy" because the only people he was causing problems for were I and the other Tavira domestiques. I believe this was the fastest stage in the race due to Cabreira.
My team mates controlled the rest the final 12km into the finish and we defended the lead perfectly. The race was won in impressive style by Jabob Rathe.
Stage 10
I don't like complacency: A race is only won when you cross the finish line. And indeed the last stage of the race proved complicated as Caja Rural were desperate to get someone in the breakaway.
I had recovered my legs by this stage, feeling better and with the finish in sight we brought order to the bunch and had a few kilometers to celebrate and drink some champagne. Still the thought that a fall or a puncture could ruin everything lingered in my mind. These feelings were only amplified by all the treacherous roads we passed. On entering the final circuit in Lisbon we had to cross a series tram lines between very uneven cobbles. This broke my nerve and with my job doen I dropped to the back of the bunch and just chased back on every time someone fell, or dropped of. I was lucky I was strong enough to do this! I finished in the bunch in 32nd that stage, safe and sound, Volta completed, a Volta I helped in a big way to win.
"Stage 11"
Needless to say, after winning the Volta I just wanted to eat and drink and be merry. Unfortunately other people had other ideas. We were carted round from ceremony to ceremony and that big greasy meal I had dreamed of, those pints of beer cool never really materialized. This was the 11th stage of the Volta a Portugal which no one acknowledges!
We were however treated like heroes. There were so many people in Tavira that the whole centre of the town was full. We toured round in an open top bus, got interviewed, put on stage, filmed on live television; the works, I had never seen anything like it, not even when David Blanco had won the race.
So although it's tough, one must be patient and give people your ear and be paraded round the place. It's just another job for the cyclist.
These celebrations went on for about 10 days. We went on national TV, and a whole series of events in the Algarve. This time as I had rested and eaten I didn't resent them. I actually rather enjoyed them.
Video of Stage 11
Since then
I have done nothing much cycling wise. I still ride nearly every day, but only an hour or two. It's weird I have no racing baring a track festival on the 5th of October but I still have a tremendous desire to ride my bike.
Although next year is still a quagmire, baring some unforeseen I will be a cyclist.
I can't wait for next February, to be on a start line on cold morning fit and ready to race. I already miss it enormously.
The Torre stage "broke the engine", but I could see this was a general thing for the entire peloton and my maximum heart rate of 170 wasn't something exceptional.
The stage started in the worse possible fashion: I had a mechanical problem durring the neutralized section of the stage and barely got back to the bunch before the flag dropped.
We were told to let a small group of six go, with no one from the top 15 in said group. Because of the nature of this type of stage and the fact that a group could arrive just about everyone attacked. To add to our problem João Cabreira was making it very hard for us as he kept jumping (he was in the top 15). I suffered so much on the first climb of the day that I wasn't sure I would make it over in the lead group. I did make it over and Cabreira did get in a group of about 12-13.
Me doing my job.
Now came the part at which I excel at: Controlling a break. I can do this pretty much by myself and after the "warm up" on that first terrific climb of the day I found my legs. Me and two team mates were able to control the race for about 140km. Cabreira duly broke the "engine", I had to congratulate him on "beating on the little guy" because the only people he was causing problems for were I and the other Tavira domestiques. I believe this was the fastest stage in the race due to Cabreira.
My team mates controlled the rest the final 12km into the finish and we defended the lead perfectly. The race was won in impressive style by Jabob Rathe.
Stage 10
I don't like complacency: A race is only won when you cross the finish line. And indeed the last stage of the race proved complicated as Caja Rural were desperate to get someone in the breakaway.
Ricardo risking everything :-P
I had recovered my legs by this stage, feeling better and with the finish in sight we brought order to the bunch and had a few kilometers to celebrate and drink some champagne. Still the thought that a fall or a puncture could ruin everything lingered in my mind. These feelings were only amplified by all the treacherous roads we passed. On entering the final circuit in Lisbon we had to cross a series tram lines between very uneven cobbles. This broke my nerve and with my job doen I dropped to the back of the bunch and just chased back on every time someone fell, or dropped of. I was lucky I was strong enough to do this! I finished in the bunch in 32nd that stage, safe and sound, Volta completed, a Volta I helped in a big way to win.
The team on the podium in Lisbon
"Stage 11"
Needless to say, after winning the Volta I just wanted to eat and drink and be merry. Unfortunately other people had other ideas. We were carted round from ceremony to ceremony and that big greasy meal I had dreamed of, those pints of beer cool never really materialized. This was the 11th stage of the Volta a Portugal which no one acknowledges!
We were however treated like heroes. There were so many people in Tavira that the whole centre of the town was full. We toured round in an open top bus, got interviewed, put on stage, filmed on live television; the works, I had never seen anything like it, not even when David Blanco had won the race.
So although it's tough, one must be patient and give people your ear and be paraded round the place. It's just another job for the cyclist.
These celebrations went on for about 10 days. We went on national TV, and a whole series of events in the Algarve. This time as I had rested and eaten I didn't resent them. I actually rather enjoyed them.
Video of Stage 11
Since then
I have done nothing much cycling wise. I still ride nearly every day, but only an hour or two. It's weird I have no racing baring a track festival on the 5th of October but I still have a tremendous desire to ride my bike.
Although next year is still a quagmire, baring some unforeseen I will be a cyclist.
I can't wait for next February, to be on a start line on cold morning fit and ready to race. I already miss it enormously.
Sunday, 28 August 2011
Since the Volta a Portugal em Bicicleta (Grandissima).
It's nearly two weeks since the Volta. I'm back up to 74kgs, from the 70kgs I had during the Volta. I've trained very little, but well. I have only one race left on the road, it's a circuit race tomorrow. I hope I can get around okay and maybe get a few euros to take home.
Although bike racing hasn't been at the fore front of my mind, I've been working hard and I've been quite stressed -just the way I like it.
Bike racing has this thing, that it's thrilling. There is nothing like it anywhere. It's got everything: high speed, challenging, self-sacrificing, a "brother in arms" type camaraderie even with the opposition. It's dangerous, very dangerous, the money is shit, but it's something I love. When a cyclist isn't bike race they need some way to get their "fix". It used to be nights out on the tiles, mountain bike races and any other crazy sporting events that were going. But now I want to build a life and having this as my objective also has tantalizing challenges that keep my "thrill buds" quenched.
The first challenge I guess is that I want to continue racing. The fact that my season ended in mid-august is something that hurts me. It's the same for most of the Portuguese peloton, but I really would like to keep things rolling well into October. I'd love it if I had a Tour of Britain of a Tour of Bulgaria like previous years. Those years I would finish and really feel like I needed the rest. To continue racing I need a contract for 2012. There are interesting developments in this regard, but I will not sell short and if I don't get something that justifies the effort, I will switch back to another sport at which I have previously excelled. So you'll see me on a bike in 2012 no matter what happens.
The other challenge is that I've had to move out of my first real home: My adorable cottage in Pé do Cerro. I will miss this place so much. Here I lived in peace, at a pace of life that suited. The place did me good and I excelled in everything I had to do. Ironically I can say that the difficulties that forced this decision are passed, but I promised never to allow those difficulties to return, so I let that decision stand. I will Pé do Cerro and the friendly people of Santa Barbara de Nexe. I will miss the interesting spring flower, the miles of paths through the "Barrocal" and the wild life: the rabbits, chameleons, snakes, the hedgehog -even the mouse in the closet. I will miss walking and running with Cruella though the countryside. I am going to Alfanzina, the family home to live with my aunt and my grandmother.
There is no such thing as security. People climb to the notion in ridiculous fashion, when all they are in fact doing is passing the buck on to someone else. Six years living on the edge and a week in coma taught me that life is to be lived to the maximum and to do this one cannot be risk averse. It was with this in mind that on Friday I got up and set up a business. Of course it's designed so that I can be professional athlete and own it without a problem. Hopefully it'a a way I don't have to spend from now till December wondering how I am going to sustain myself. Hopefully it's a way to share the place I love, through activities I adore, while I can "build a life" through it.
And that's it. I will write up things relative to the Grandissima a bit latter.
Although bike racing hasn't been at the fore front of my mind, I've been working hard and I've been quite stressed -just the way I like it.
Bike racing has this thing, that it's thrilling. There is nothing like it anywhere. It's got everything: high speed, challenging, self-sacrificing, a "brother in arms" type camaraderie even with the opposition. It's dangerous, very dangerous, the money is shit, but it's something I love. When a cyclist isn't bike race they need some way to get their "fix". It used to be nights out on the tiles, mountain bike races and any other crazy sporting events that were going. But now I want to build a life and having this as my objective also has tantalizing challenges that keep my "thrill buds" quenched.
The first challenge I guess is that I want to continue racing. The fact that my season ended in mid-august is something that hurts me. It's the same for most of the Portuguese peloton, but I really would like to keep things rolling well into October. I'd love it if I had a Tour of Britain of a Tour of Bulgaria like previous years. Those years I would finish and really feel like I needed the rest. To continue racing I need a contract for 2012. There are interesting developments in this regard, but I will not sell short and if I don't get something that justifies the effort, I will switch back to another sport at which I have previously excelled. So you'll see me on a bike in 2012 no matter what happens.
The other challenge is that I've had to move out of my first real home: My adorable cottage in Pé do Cerro. I will miss this place so much. Here I lived in peace, at a pace of life that suited. The place did me good and I excelled in everything I had to do. Ironically I can say that the difficulties that forced this decision are passed, but I promised never to allow those difficulties to return, so I let that decision stand. I will Pé do Cerro and the friendly people of Santa Barbara de Nexe. I will miss the interesting spring flower, the miles of paths through the "Barrocal" and the wild life: the rabbits, chameleons, snakes, the hedgehog -even the mouse in the closet. I will miss walking and running with Cruella though the countryside. I am going to Alfanzina, the family home to live with my aunt and my grandmother.
There is no such thing as security. People climb to the notion in ridiculous fashion, when all they are in fact doing is passing the buck on to someone else. Six years living on the edge and a week in coma taught me that life is to be lived to the maximum and to do this one cannot be risk averse. It was with this in mind that on Friday I got up and set up a business. Of course it's designed so that I can be professional athlete and own it without a problem. Hopefully it'a a way I don't have to spend from now till December wondering how I am going to sustain myself. Hopefully it's a way to share the place I love, through activities I adore, while I can "build a life" through it.
And that's it. I will write up things relative to the Grandissima a bit latter.
Saturday, 13 August 2011
Etapa 8. Seia-Torre 182.8km (4.5 vertical km)
This stage was worrying everything could be won or lost. I had quite an arduous task, which was to get over the climbs and help in the in between bits, then rest for the final climb. This went very well and everyone on my team performed their role perfectly. We won the stage and improved our lead in the GC. Job done, but we still have 330km till Lisbon!
Thanks Ricardo Mestre for being a good leader.
Thanks Ricardo Mestre for being a good leader.
Friday, 12 August 2011
Etapa 7. Sabugal-Guarda 35.3km +.6 k accent
Today we had a longish time trial.
I was in rest mode and that is what I did keeping my heart rate well bellow threshold the whole way. In fact, including the minute just before and a few minutes after my average heart rate for the exercise was 147BMP. Which is good! It leaves me fresh to help defend the yellow jersey my team mate Ricardo Mestre earned today.
Ricardo went a good deal faster than me of course, in fact he went a good deal faster than anyone. I never imagined he would dominate this TT in such a way.
Anyway, once tomorrow is over I will feel more relaxed, although things will be fairly tough all the way to Lisbon. My luck is that I am feeling quite good.
I was in rest mode and that is what I did keeping my heart rate well bellow threshold the whole way. In fact, including the minute just before and a few minutes after my average heart rate for the exercise was 147BMP. Which is good! It leaves me fresh to help defend the yellow jersey my team mate Ricardo Mestre earned today.
Ricardo went a good deal faster than me of course, in fact he went a good deal faster than anyone. I never imagined he would dominate this TT in such a way.
Anyway, once tomorrow is over I will feel more relaxed, although things will be fairly tough all the way to Lisbon. My luck is that I am feeling quite good.
Thursday, 11 August 2011
Etapa 6. Aveiro-Castelo Branco, 215.6km + 3.015 vertical km
Today I had a rough day. It was 42ºC and I drank and drank in order to fight the heat. This was fine for the first 3 hours, but I then got a very upset stomach. I had terrible pains and could not eat or drink. I went to get water at the car and inform the boss, to which he replies that I must go to the front soon and get to work reeling in the break. I wasn't happy with this, I was really uncomfortable. What was more sad about this was that I was well. But I and two team mates were able to cut the break aways advantage from 7:50 to 3:00 in about 30kms.
Then I was caught up behind a fall. An old team mate, Alejandro Marque broke his wrist. I was quite sad about that. Chasing back on was not an option as by the time I was free of the carnage the peloton was a good 500m away and in my sorry state I didn't feel like suffering!
The stage was won by Gavazzi of Lampre, which was good since Lampre haven't really shown themselves much till today.
Then I was caught up behind a fall. An old team mate, Alejandro Marque broke his wrist. I was quite sad about that. Chasing back on was not an option as by the time I was free of the carnage the peloton was a good 500m away and in my sorry state I didn't feel like suffering!
The stage was won by Gavazzi of Lampre, which was good since Lampre haven't really shown themselves much till today.
Wednesday, 10 August 2011
Rest Day, Volta a Portugal
Today has been painfully boring. One does nothing on rest day, which is harder than it sounds.
I woke up earlyish, or should I say my room mate woke me. He must be the type that can't stand being alone or something, as I still had another 30mins to sleep. I found this extremelly annoying. I had a huge breakfast of eggs, bacon and sausages; not your athletes breakfast, but I go well on it and it's what I eat nearly every day at home. Given my job, it's better to be a bit fat (4% body fat vs. 3% of a GC contender).
I then went training. I went alone because I had already recieved my go slow orders for the Time Trial (TT) and it was the TT the rest of the team went to see. I just didn't fancy all the fafing about, given whatever I do in the TT will be wrong (too slow, too fast, etc, etc). Ironically our sprinter is set to go fast, for the purpose of time checks.
I went to an amazing place right up a mountain. It was called Linhares. I had these incredible stone streets, it was like cycling into the middle ages. I felt I was in ancient Lusitania. I hope to explore this area well one day.
Out side of this I have just been bored out of my mind. I've just looked at e-mails, the Facebook and did some stuff so that I can transfer my www.cyclealgarve.com to a new server where I will rebuild it in the week after this race. I'm also trying to get to grips with excel, which is quite painful!
I stare at the phone occasionally and think of calling the one or two contacts I have on other teams. I really would like to continue cycling, but not here.
I woke up earlyish, or should I say my room mate woke me. He must be the type that can't stand being alone or something, as I still had another 30mins to sleep. I found this extremelly annoying. I had a huge breakfast of eggs, bacon and sausages; not your athletes breakfast, but I go well on it and it's what I eat nearly every day at home. Given my job, it's better to be a bit fat (4% body fat vs. 3% of a GC contender).
I then went training. I went alone because I had already recieved my go slow orders for the Time Trial (TT) and it was the TT the rest of the team went to see. I just didn't fancy all the fafing about, given whatever I do in the TT will be wrong (too slow, too fast, etc, etc). Ironically our sprinter is set to go fast, for the purpose of time checks.
I went to an amazing place right up a mountain. It was called Linhares. I had these incredible stone streets, it was like cycling into the middle ages. I felt I was in ancient Lusitania. I hope to explore this area well one day.
Out side of this I have just been bored out of my mind. I've just looked at e-mails, the Facebook and did some stuff so that I can transfer my www.cyclealgarve.com to a new server where I will rebuild it in the week after this race. I'm also trying to get to grips with excel, which is quite painful!
I stare at the phone occasionally and think of calling the one or two contacts I have on other teams. I really would like to continue cycling, but not here.
Tuesday, 9 August 2011
Etapa 5. Oliveira do Hospital-Viseu 150.3km, 1.97 k accent
Todays stage was much easier than any of the previous. Our rivals Barbot were knackered after the tit tat (mainly driven by them) of the previous stage. Today I felt good. It was hot (38ºC) but I like the heat. The only challenge is drinking about 1.5-2L of water per hours. If you can manage that you, you can perform well even in extremely hot conditions. I didn't have much to do, just occasionally get water and a brief stint pulling on the front. At the end I felt good, but I punctured about 10km from the end when the peloton was flying along at high speed. I got back on and thought job done, but then there was a series of splits in the bunch on the final decent and I got stuck there... At 90kph and trying to conserve as much energy I wasn't going to bridge that gap! I must have lost a minute or two today.
The race was a sprint finish. Our sprinter Samuel Caldeira came 8th. He was spared from our earlier work which was to mark Barbot which annoyed me, because usually who picks up the tab is I. The race was won by Andrea Guardini
The race was a sprint finish. Our sprinter Samuel Caldeira came 8th. He was spared from our earlier work which was to mark Barbot which annoyed me, because usually who picks up the tab is I. The race was won by Andrea Guardini
Monday, 8 August 2011
Etapa 4. Lamego-Gouveia 182.4km + 3 vertical km
Todays Stage was particularly tough. The beginning was ferousiously fast. My job was to get into the groups and I did this very succesfully, but for some reason nothing stuck for the first 70kms. Eventually, after a lot of energy expended a break got away and I wasn't in it. Oh well. The rest of the stage I just tried to save as much energy as possible. I dropped of the bunch on the final climb with this intent.
My team mate Nelson Vitorino came an excellent 2nd. José Toribio won from the break.
Etapa 3. Viana do Castelo-Senhora da Graça 150km + 2.96 vertical km
Yesterday, we had a relatively easy stage. I was supposed to rest, but yet again I was put on the front working -on a day I was told I should rest. So that was typical. Nine guys on a team and I pick up most of the bill. The “leaders” did okay however on the final climb, while I rested, keeping my heart rate nice and low all the way up.
I can't wait to leave and pull my “British” money and my “British” talent away. Note, I am not in anyway “nationalistic” I was born to an “Irish” mother and a “British” father in Portugal. In Gattaca, the main character derides and works against “Genoism” -discrimination based on ones genes, and I say, 'if only!!'.
Portuguese cycling is ever more jingoistic, ever more poor. This is not for me I am afraid. I love racing my bike and I love Portugal, but being treated like a foreigner in the country I was born in is a bit much. Racing bellow my standard and being incessantly held back means I cannot work with these people: 5 years and not a single opportunity – merely the opportunity to work. And I am very good at my job.
If there's light at the end of the tunnel, it's that Hernâni Broco who won on “Monte Farinha” was treated for years and years as a worthless “worker”. Even been excluded for many years from the Volta squad when he raced on Liberty Seguros. So there you have it, someone treated no better than a work horse is now having his pay back.
Parabéns Hernâni.
Ricardo Mestre came second and my team David Livramento put in a tremendous attack which could have succeeded, but it didn't unfortunately as he was caught 400m away from the finish.
Saturday, 6 August 2011
Etapa 2. Oliveira de Azemeis-Trofa 184.4km + 3.75 vertical km
Today was rainy, cold and very dangerous. I had quite a lot of bad luck initially, including a near miss with a fall (I did a 180º spin, but kept it up; you'd have to see it to believe it) and a puncture, which was in fact just an under inflated tire; I was feeling paranoid after the spin.
So yeah a lot of high speed chasing and some climbing at 45kph pretty much right from the gun. When I got to the bunch I saw a break up the road with a climber team mate and jumped across. Things looked ideal for the break to stick, for the first 40km things did turn over nicely. But from then on, the others just sucked my wheel and I took every mountain pass and all the wind in my face for 60km. Eventually 125km Caja Rural took over. I was knackered and didn't force too much. I am wary of the tremendous length of the race and I knew that break wouldn't stick; I did my duty in forcing the teams behind to be worked over. But what I really wanted was David Livramento to win or place high on GC to provide an x-factor to the race: the guys got real talent.
And that was it! It was an easy race for those on the wheel. I worked my balls of. I finally bonked (after going slowly for a long time) on the final climb. But a 60km solo across those mountains in that rain was excellent.
Sérgio Ribeiro, who is in scintillating form won the race on a tough 6.6km mountain top finish. I came in 14:05 after. Over leaders did their job well also and all placed in the top 10. Things are looking good.
So yeah a lot of high speed chasing and some climbing at 45kph pretty much right from the gun. When I got to the bunch I saw a break up the road with a climber team mate and jumped across. Things looked ideal for the break to stick, for the first 40km things did turn over nicely. But from then on, the others just sucked my wheel and I took every mountain pass and all the wind in my face for 60km. Eventually 125km Caja Rural took over. I was knackered and didn't force too much. I am wary of the tremendous length of the race and I knew that break wouldn't stick; I did my duty in forcing the teams behind to be worked over. But what I really wanted was David Livramento to win or place high on GC to provide an x-factor to the race: the guys got real talent.
And that was it! It was an easy race for those on the wheel. I worked my balls of. I finally bonked (after going slowly for a long time) on the final climb. But a 60km solo across those mountains in that rain was excellent.
Sérgio Ribeiro, who is in scintillating form won the race on a tough 6.6km mountain top finish. I came in 14:05 after. Over leaders did their job well also and all placed in the top 10. Things are looking good.
Friday, 5 August 2011
Etapa 1. Trofa-Oliveira de Azemeis 187.7km. Volta a Portugal.
Stage 1 was long and very fast. It was also dangerous with many riders in the peloton riding dangerously. I was prepared to smack a few I got so irritated with the incessant frights throughout the stage. Common courtesy was thrown out the window, no holes or danger were pointed out. The worse for this were the Spaniards and the Italians. The Italians from Lampre you could tell were not happy to be racing the Volta. The Spaniards (Andalucia) were just plain selfish, as if there were no other riders but them.
I raced quite well, I had no specific task to do, but did the normal duties like getting water, protect the leader when he'd let me. Still the race was quite hard. I finished somewhere in the bunch.
The race was won by Sérgio Ribeiro and didn't have much else of interest happen.
The full classification can be found here: www.classificacoes.net
I raced quite well, I had no specific task to do, but did the normal duties like getting water, protect the leader when he'd let me. Still the race was quite hard. I finished somewhere in the bunch.
The race was won by Sérgio Ribeiro and didn't have much else of interest happen.
The full classification can be found here: www.classificacoes.net
Thursday, 4 August 2011
Volta a Portugal Prologue
Prologues are not my thing: I am not explosive, nor especially technical, I lost a lot of time in the last two corners. I will also have my work cut out over the next two weeks, hence I was very careful tackling this 2.2km prologue.
Not to say it went badly; I was very happy with my performance. 3:26.00 I think which is 22s of the best time by Hugo Sabido, but I was still happy. I felt good and enjoyed it. It was one of those days that I simply enjoyed riding my bike. Sabido flew, watching the replay on telly I could see he's in fantastic form.
The team is okay, I see a few problems, but in general people are calm and looking after each other. The management isn't being too pushy or over powering. There are some tensions I can see building and I am sure things after the Volta will be interesting. Our new president is very good and has sorted out the clubs finances and deals with problems very well, he's a no bullshit doer, not a sayer. I hope he has the patience to continue.
Not to say it went badly; I was very happy with my performance. 3:26.00 I think which is 22s of the best time by Hugo Sabido, but I was still happy. I felt good and enjoyed it. It was one of those days that I simply enjoyed riding my bike. Sabido flew, watching the replay on telly I could see he's in fantastic form.
The team is okay, I see a few problems, but in general people are calm and looking after each other. The management isn't being too pushy or over powering. There are some tensions I can see building and I am sure things after the Volta will be interesting. Our new president is very good and has sorted out the clubs finances and deals with problems very well, he's a no bullshit doer, not a sayer. I hope he has the patience to continue.
Sunday, 31 July 2011
Sport Science Connect -www.sportscienceconnect.org
I'm studying sport science and while the course has a lot to be desired organization wise, I adore it's content. I originally studied and dropped out of Sports Technology, ironically due to not being able to hack the maths; ironic because I now fly through the more "mathsie" parts of Sports Science.
Studying Sports Science and being a proffessional athlete with experience at elite level in two distinct sports allows me to be particularly pragmatic in my analysis of sports and the science.
The Sport Scientist is the all important jack of all trades. The sport scientist is the person who knowing a lot about the diverse sciences in sport can take a bit of Biomechanics, mate it with Physiology and propose a way to ameliorate performance in the field.
Anyway, I made a site:
Sport Science Connect
The idea is simple: Tie everything together, so that real world results can be achieved. A way of blending basic sciences and applying them in the real world so to speak.
I believe in this idea, and encourage anyone to contribute.
Studying Sports Science and being a proffessional athlete with experience at elite level in two distinct sports allows me to be particularly pragmatic in my analysis of sports and the science.
The Sport Scientist is the all important jack of all trades. The sport scientist is the person who knowing a lot about the diverse sciences in sport can take a bit of Biomechanics, mate it with Physiology and propose a way to ameliorate performance in the field.
Anyway, I made a site:
Sport Science Connect
The idea is simple: Tie everything together, so that real world results can be achieved. A way of blending basic sciences and applying them in the real world so to speak.
I believe in this idea, and encourage anyone to contribute.
Thursday, 28 July 2011
Why I must change teams -take 2- or: Being the exception.
Last night we had a dinner as a team. As usual the atmosphere was great on the cyclists table, although we drank far more moderately than usual.
I recognised the scene pretty well and knew that such an event only takes place because they can't pay or they have some demand to make of us.
Anyway, after an excellent grilled chicken and some chat of started the speeches which went something like this:
"Blah blah blah, no money, pay you "amanha", blah, blah, blah."
"doing us proud, fighting spirit, pay you "amanha"
"The first all Portuguese team, well no, nearly, except Tomás, but he's an okay worker."
I am actually the best worker as voted by my colleagues in the peloton. Plus I have never been given an opportunity to race for myself.
"bla, blah, blah, we need a Portuguese winner for the Volta a Portugal, so not Tomás, hahaha!"
One man, sorry about the situation actually came up and apologized, even gave me a hug -I think he was the only person in that room who realized the seriousness of the situation...
I beamed a broad smile throughout the proceedings. It wasn't an ironic smile, it was a victorious smile. Victorious because I've thought not a few moves ahead, I am several games ahead.
They say a captain should go down with the ship, however guess who are the first I have identified scurrying from the sinking ship? Yep, you've got it ;-).
Starring at the obvious I thought I would compile a list of facts on why a British cyclist is an important asset:
So where is Portugal in these statistics?
Plus I only remember of one company stating an aim to invest in Portugese cycling and guess what, it's British:
http://jornalciclismo.com/novo-patrocinador-da-team-sky-pondera-investir-em-equipa-lusa
So there you have it, just a spinet of what I have to tollerate.
I recognised the scene pretty well and knew that such an event only takes place because they can't pay or they have some demand to make of us.
Anyway, after an excellent grilled chicken and some chat of started the speeches which went something like this:
"Blah blah blah, no money, pay you "amanha", blah, blah, blah."
"doing us proud, fighting spirit, pay you "amanha"
"The first all Portuguese team, well no, nearly, except Tomás, but he's an okay worker."
I am actually the best worker as voted by my colleagues in the peloton. Plus I have never been given an opportunity to race for myself.
"bla, blah, blah, we need a Portuguese winner for the Volta a Portugal, so not Tomás, hahaha!"
One man, sorry about the situation actually came up and apologized, even gave me a hug -I think he was the only person in that room who realized the seriousness of the situation...
I beamed a broad smile throughout the proceedings. It wasn't an ironic smile, it was a victorious smile. Victorious because I've thought not a few moves ahead, I am several games ahead.
They say a captain should go down with the ship, however guess who are the first I have identified scurrying from the sinking ship? Yep, you've got it ;-).
Starring at the obvious I thought I would compile a list of facts on why a British cyclist is an important asset:
- The United Kingdom is the 6th largest economy in the world. 1
- Britain ranks 4st in the world for ease of doing business. 2
- The UK has seen a 25% growth rate in 2010 for bicycle imports.3
- Britain is a market of 62M million people.4
- The UK cycle market is worth 2100000000 £.5
- Britain has a projected growth of 2.3% in 2012. 6
- 16% growth in British Cycling memberships 09-107
- http://siteresources.worldbank.org/DATASTATISTICS/Resources/GDP.pdf
- http://www.doingbusiness.org/rankings
- http://www.bikebiz.com/news/read/2010-sees-bicycle-imports-jump-by-almost-25/010861
- http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/tgm/table.do?tab=table&language=en&pcode=tps00001&tableSelection=1&footnotes=yes&labeling=labels&plugin=1
- http://www.bikebiz.com/news/read/uk-bicycle-market-to-smash-2-billion-in-2010/09995
- http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2011/update/02/pdf/0611.pdf
- http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/zuvvi/media/bc_files/corporate/BC-ANNUAL-REPORT-2010-WEB.pdf
So where is Portugal in these statistics?
Plus I only remember of one company stating an aim to invest in Portugese cycling and guess what, it's British:
http://jornalciclismo.com/novo-patrocinador-da-team-sky-pondera-investir-em-equipa-lusa
So there you have it, just a spinet of what I have to tollerate.
Why I must change teams:
I'm not happy with this team and I don't mean the cyclists -I know them well and consider each one a friend and a few close friends.
I was left waiting unnecessarily in the sun for 30 minutes after a longer 1hr delay waiting at home. needless to say I mentioned my disgruntlement to the boss (politely) upon which he got kind of heavy; accelerating and smacking the dashboard. I am an extremely tolerant person and can take a lot of shit; too much in fact, as people take advantage. Now this type of mistake is tolerable once in a while. But incessantly? No.
My reaction was completely cold and I simply went all in. I said "You continue like this and I will stop working with you this instant". And yes, I would skip the volta, perhaps even terminate my career right now without very much thought. He cooled his tempers, but I know he's vindictive so I'm awaiting reprisal.
I think the story is a bit like the pigs in Animal Farm. Something starts out well intended and then people (pigs) get corrupted by power and projects decay. I'm Boxer in this whole story.
I have to switch teams. So any teams interested, contact me.
I was left waiting unnecessarily in the sun for 30 minutes after a longer 1hr delay waiting at home. needless to say I mentioned my disgruntlement to the boss (politely) upon which he got kind of heavy; accelerating and smacking the dashboard. I am an extremely tolerant person and can take a lot of shit; too much in fact, as people take advantage. Now this type of mistake is tolerable once in a while. But incessantly? No.
My reaction was completely cold and I simply went all in. I said "You continue like this and I will stop working with you this instant". And yes, I would skip the volta, perhaps even terminate my career right now without very much thought. He cooled his tempers, but I know he's vindictive so I'm awaiting reprisal.
I think the story is a bit like the pigs in Animal Farm. Something starts out well intended and then people (pigs) get corrupted by power and projects decay. I'm Boxer in this whole story.
I have to switch teams. So any teams interested, contact me.
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