All I got time for is a few photo updates, sorry bu you have to wait a day or so for a report or three. In the meantime have a look around the photo pages, more updates as soon as I get them.
Here is three gallery's for ya, Worlds #1, and Worlds #2, and believe it or not, Worlds #3
Or you can check out most of the good stuff from the season here here.
30 September 2007
28 September 2007
World TT Championships.
The morning of the Women’s TT dawned with dark and rainy looking skies. There was a 45% chance of rain, according to the 15 or so internet weather sites we could find. But from the look, you could say it was a 100% chance. We got prepared, and loaded up the truck, only two girls today, Susanne of course, and for the first time for Worlds, Emma Johansson.
By the time we got to the course, the sun was starting to come out a bit, the clouds were leaving, and my anxiety was starting to wane a little. There is nothing worse than a hilly, winding TT course, rain, and unstable bikes, with very skinny smooth TT tires. Almost brings tears to any mechanics eyes just talking about it. Nothing more upsetting than seeing your rider slam full tilt into the barriers on a sharp corner, or seeing them slide down the wet road for a few hundred meters until they come to a stop. Just the thought of all that carbon and paint getting scratched, and ground off on the road surface, (oh and the damage to the rider of course). So I started to relax a little, and the sun came out even more to dry up the last wet patches on the course, phew.
Emma on the starting ramp, ready to roll.
First up was Trine for Denmark, looking good for her first Worlds as well. Her half way split was respectable, and she was looking great until the second lap. The last 1.5 km are all up hill, so you got to save something otherwise you might not even make it up to the finish. Emma was next on the road, and this was the rider I was following for the day, and I finally got to look at the whole course. Susanne was next, with Klas in tow. Then Mirjam and amber, all in the last 10 off the line.
Emma around one of the many corners, she looks in control, thank god.
Emma was looking good for the first ¼ of the first lap (of two), she had good speed in the corners, and a good speed in her legs. Near the halfway mark my heart stopped for a minute when she took a corner at high speed, over some railway lines. She looked like she was going to loose it, a bit of wobbling, and some great action on the bars to pull the bike back into line. I started breathing again as she got back into her rhythm, and continued. At the halfway point she was sitting in 9th place, not bad, but there were all of the faster riders starting behind her, so she would have to pick it up very soon if she wanted a top ten. Amber was storming through the course, but she was down a bit on the current leader Hunka Kufanagel, but looking good all the same. Mirjam was also looking good, and Susanne was well down at half way, recording a 33rd place, she would have to pick her game right up if she wanted a top ten.
Emma came through the finish sitting about 15th, but there was about 15 riders still on the course, most of the fastest ones were still on the first lap. I rushed back to the truck, set Emma up on her trainer to warm down, and ran to the TV to see the last few riders on the course. Susanne was looking good, but at the halfway point she was in 34th place, but she always starts slow. She managed to pick it up in the last half and came though the chute in sixth place. I was stoked, but there was a few more good ones on the road. Next up Mirjam, riding for the Netherlands, she knocked Sus of the sixth and put herself one place in front. That was fine as it is another team member, so it’s not so bad. But there was another five riders to come through, and as you would expect they all came in front of our girls.
Mirjam up the hill for the second lap, looking sweet and in control.
Amber had been in the hot seat in third place for most of the day, but she got shunted to 4th at the last moment. Mirjam was 11th in the end and Susanne 12th, with trine 27th and Emma (Sweden) 26th. So not a bad start to the week, now the road race to come. This we will have more luck with.
Susanne on the secong lap, a bit out of focus, but it's all I got.
By the time we got to the course, the sun was starting to come out a bit, the clouds were leaving, and my anxiety was starting to wane a little. There is nothing worse than a hilly, winding TT course, rain, and unstable bikes, with very skinny smooth TT tires. Almost brings tears to any mechanics eyes just talking about it. Nothing more upsetting than seeing your rider slam full tilt into the barriers on a sharp corner, or seeing them slide down the wet road for a few hundred meters until they come to a stop. Just the thought of all that carbon and paint getting scratched, and ground off on the road surface, (oh and the damage to the rider of course). So I started to relax a little, and the sun came out even more to dry up the last wet patches on the course, phew.
Emma on the starting ramp, ready to roll.
First up was Trine for Denmark, looking good for her first Worlds as well. Her half way split was respectable, and she was looking great until the second lap. The last 1.5 km are all up hill, so you got to save something otherwise you might not even make it up to the finish. Emma was next on the road, and this was the rider I was following for the day, and I finally got to look at the whole course. Susanne was next, with Klas in tow. Then Mirjam and amber, all in the last 10 off the line.
Emma around one of the many corners, she looks in control, thank god.
Emma was looking good for the first ¼ of the first lap (of two), she had good speed in the corners, and a good speed in her legs. Near the halfway mark my heart stopped for a minute when she took a corner at high speed, over some railway lines. She looked like she was going to loose it, a bit of wobbling, and some great action on the bars to pull the bike back into line. I started breathing again as she got back into her rhythm, and continued. At the halfway point she was sitting in 9th place, not bad, but there were all of the faster riders starting behind her, so she would have to pick it up very soon if she wanted a top ten. Amber was storming through the course, but she was down a bit on the current leader Hunka Kufanagel, but looking good all the same. Mirjam was also looking good, and Susanne was well down at half way, recording a 33rd place, she would have to pick her game right up if she wanted a top ten.
Emma came through the finish sitting about 15th, but there was about 15 riders still on the course, most of the fastest ones were still on the first lap. I rushed back to the truck, set Emma up on her trainer to warm down, and ran to the TV to see the last few riders on the course. Susanne was looking good, but at the halfway point she was in 34th place, but she always starts slow. She managed to pick it up in the last half and came though the chute in sixth place. I was stoked, but there was a few more good ones on the road. Next up Mirjam, riding for the Netherlands, she knocked Sus of the sixth and put herself one place in front. That was fine as it is another team member, so it’s not so bad. But there was another five riders to come through, and as you would expect they all came in front of our girls.
Mirjam up the hill for the second lap, looking sweet and in control.
Amber had been in the hot seat in third place for most of the day, but she got shunted to 4th at the last moment. Mirjam was 11th in the end and Susanne 12th, with trine 27th and Emma (Sweden) 26th. So not a bad start to the week, now the road race to come. This we will have more luck with.
Susanne on the secong lap, a bit out of focus, but it's all I got.
Worlds 2007
After a month of trying to catch up with some race reports, I have decided to write these up at a later date. There are some good stories,some wicked races, and some awesome photos, (most of these you can find on my flickr site already) to come. In the meantime, I will keep you up to date with the current progress and as time dictates, and will endevour to go back and fill a few holes in. So now I start from Stuttgart where the World Road champs are happening, the current situation.
After not being to this city before, I was rather excited at first, but after arriving and seeing the layout and traffic that this city is famous for, I now know why I have not been here before. Finally a city that matches Auckland City, for it’s extremely bad roads, and highway layout. This is strange, as it is the car capital of the old world, with the oldest car factory in the world, Mercedes Benz (also home to the Porsche factory as well), thinking that they had the first roads as well, you would thought they would
have got it right from the start. I felt right at home sitting in traffic that was at a standstill, roads that have not been designed for the amount of traffic that wants to use it. Highways that start and finish nowhere, roads that take you though the busiest part of the city, it was crazy. Sitting in the truck for an hour or two to travel less than 20km, felt like the long journey back into Auckland city after a days work. The big difference is though there is no aggression on the road, no road rage, and no multi lane changers making life more difficult. More than an hour, and moving less than 5km, the poor GPS was working overtime to find a better way around the city. I had to find four Hotels, looking for four nations, to drop all the bikes and equipment for our Girls, then to find the Swedish hotel, my nation for the Worlds week, as usual.
Amber warming up on the course.
The Dutch hotel was first, for Mirjam, five bikes, many wheels and assorted bits and pieces. Easy as it was first on my list, and there was only one town in the city with this name (There are often two or more areas with the same name, and street names in Germany, just to keep you on your toes. Next up the other side of the city for the Danish Hotel, Trine’s TT bike, road and wheels etc. This was in a shit part of the city, and entering the small streets, I was wondering whether the truck would make it through. I didn’t fancy the idea of reversing a few hundred meters through winding streets with a pile of angry Germans on my ass. I found Trine, dropped off the stuff easily and then proceeded on my delivery route. I decided that the USA team can find me, and gave them a time which I would be at the hotel, a few hours later than what I thought I might me there. After some more Auckland like traffic, I found the town with the Swedish hotel in an hour or so later than I thought. I just made it in time, the USA mechanic just arrived as I did, I off loaded all Ambers stuff, bikes, wheels, and assorted trophies, and bits she was taking back home after the Worlds. I was done, just one bike for Luise in the German camp, but I would give it to the team on training day, as she is only doing the road race on Saturday, it was no rush.
Hey it's Trine, but she was too fast for the camera.
Working for Sweden, for the third year in a row, was getting easier, I knew all the staff, and all the riders. Of course and our own champ Susanne, in which Klas is always looking after her bikes. The team was a lot smaller than the last few years, but things change quick in this sport, and riders come in and out of form as you well know. I had two Elite woman for the TT (one last year), no under 23 men for the TT (two last year). One Elite man, Gustav Larsen for the TT (two last year), but he had his team mechanics from Unibet with him for the TT, so no work here. Three elite women, for the road race (six last year). And three for the men’s Elite road race on the Sunday, maybe two. So not so much work as previous years, but all the same, almost the same work load.
As much as I hate to say it, there are some pretty spanky bikes kicking around.
For our own team we have Mirjam, Susanne, Amber and Trine for the race. Racing for Holland, Sweden, USA and Denmark, respectfully. And Mirjam, Susanne, Amber, Trine and Luise for the road race. Not as many as the last few years, but pretty impressive all the same. The weather for the week is looking bad, so we see what might come of it. Rain is predicted for every day of week, and temperatures falling to lows of 10’C, so it will be pretty good for most of our girls, as they come from countries which are famous for their cold, wet and windy conditions. The TT has some pretty strong competition, but we should get at least a top ten with Amber (5th last year), and a top 20 for Mirjam and Susanne. But the road race should be good for those three as well, with Amber and Susanne, especially favourites for the road course. We see what happens.
The Mercedes museum, waiting in traffic again.
After not being to this city before, I was rather excited at first, but after arriving and seeing the layout and traffic that this city is famous for, I now know why I have not been here before. Finally a city that matches Auckland City, for it’s extremely bad roads, and highway layout. This is strange, as it is the car capital of the old world, with the oldest car factory in the world, Mercedes Benz (also home to the Porsche factory as well), thinking that they had the first roads as well, you would thought they would
have got it right from the start. I felt right at home sitting in traffic that was at a standstill, roads that have not been designed for the amount of traffic that wants to use it. Highways that start and finish nowhere, roads that take you though the busiest part of the city, it was crazy. Sitting in the truck for an hour or two to travel less than 20km, felt like the long journey back into Auckland city after a days work. The big difference is though there is no aggression on the road, no road rage, and no multi lane changers making life more difficult. More than an hour, and moving less than 5km, the poor GPS was working overtime to find a better way around the city. I had to find four Hotels, looking for four nations, to drop all the bikes and equipment for our Girls, then to find the Swedish hotel, my nation for the Worlds week, as usual.
Amber warming up on the course.
The Dutch hotel was first, for Mirjam, five bikes, many wheels and assorted bits and pieces. Easy as it was first on my list, and there was only one town in the city with this name (There are often two or more areas with the same name, and street names in Germany, just to keep you on your toes. Next up the other side of the city for the Danish Hotel, Trine’s TT bike, road and wheels etc. This was in a shit part of the city, and entering the small streets, I was wondering whether the truck would make it through. I didn’t fancy the idea of reversing a few hundred meters through winding streets with a pile of angry Germans on my ass. I found Trine, dropped off the stuff easily and then proceeded on my delivery route. I decided that the USA team can find me, and gave them a time which I would be at the hotel, a few hours later than what I thought I might me there. After some more Auckland like traffic, I found the town with the Swedish hotel in an hour or so later than I thought. I just made it in time, the USA mechanic just arrived as I did, I off loaded all Ambers stuff, bikes, wheels, and assorted trophies, and bits she was taking back home after the Worlds. I was done, just one bike for Luise in the German camp, but I would give it to the team on training day, as she is only doing the road race on Saturday, it was no rush.
Hey it's Trine, but she was too fast for the camera.
Working for Sweden, for the third year in a row, was getting easier, I knew all the staff, and all the riders. Of course and our own champ Susanne, in which Klas is always looking after her bikes. The team was a lot smaller than the last few years, but things change quick in this sport, and riders come in and out of form as you well know. I had two Elite woman for the TT (one last year), no under 23 men for the TT (two last year). One Elite man, Gustav Larsen for the TT (two last year), but he had his team mechanics from Unibet with him for the TT, so no work here. Three elite women, for the road race (six last year). And three for the men’s Elite road race on the Sunday, maybe two. So not so much work as previous years, but all the same, almost the same work load.
As much as I hate to say it, there are some pretty spanky bikes kicking around.
For our own team we have Mirjam, Susanne, Amber and Trine for the race. Racing for Holland, Sweden, USA and Denmark, respectfully. And Mirjam, Susanne, Amber, Trine and Luise for the road race. Not as many as the last few years, but pretty impressive all the same. The weather for the week is looking bad, so we see what might come of it. Rain is predicted for every day of week, and temperatures falling to lows of 10’C, so it will be pretty good for most of our girls, as they come from countries which are famous for their cold, wet and windy conditions. The TT has some pretty strong competition, but we should get at least a top ten with Amber (5th last year), and a top 20 for Mirjam and Susanne. But the road race should be good for those three as well, with Amber and Susanne, especially favourites for the road course. We see what happens.
The Mercedes museum, waiting in traffic again.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)