2 worlds or not 2 worlds
Hey guys,
I know its been a while since I sent you all an update, but I have been busy. But then I haven’t done much, if you know what that means. And I don’t mean as far as doing so much riding that I haven’t had time to do anything esle……. Its a very long story! hope you have some time?
Anyway, the Ronde Van Narmen (tour of Narmen) did not go at all to plan! The week leading up to it did not go at all well! I had to do some races for the team that were in towns where the major sponsors of the team are based. It was compolsery for every rider in the team to attend. Anyway I knew that it probably wasnt a good idea for me but when its in the contract I can exactly say no Im not going to do it. That week with the tour starting on saturday made it 4 races in 7days. Thats not really normal for anyone. Doesn’t matter who you are.
Anyway the reason I didnt update you and let you know how the tour went because because for me it didnt go anywhere. I struggled through the first stage, and lost 10 mins to the winner, but then I was still 2:30 in front of the main peloton. What happened, was a group of 30 went up the road on the first big climb and every major team in the race was represented in it so no one in the peloton was going to chase it. I was the only person from my team to make it and that was ok. Until 60km into the stage when things for me took a turn for the worse, I had no strength what so ever and I just felt like going to sleep. So I got dropped from that group. Never quite got caught by the pelaton - but nearly.
The second day went even worse! I got dropped on the 1st climb and 20 km later was to far behind the race that the officials pulled me out of the tour. That was the tour over for me.
The following week I went to doctors and had blood tests done 3 times to find out what was wrong. It turned out that I had just officially COOKED myself, and my body shut down. I took a week and a half completely off the bike and the biggest ride for the last half of the 2nd week was 1 hour. So basicly I had 2 weeks off.
Here is where it gets interesting, John (my coach) and I drew up a plan that left me no time to at all to get up to speed for MTB worlds in Scotland. I had 2.5 weeks to get up to speed after a 2 week break. It doesnt happen! So the thing I dreded to tell anyone……………. I pulled out of the NZ Mountain bike team for this years world champs, and Im putting all my time and energy into preparing for the Road World champs at the end of September. I felt that was my best option!
I dont really see the point in going to a World Championship unless you are being the best you can be, and with the luck I have had with MTB this year it was looking like this race was going to be no different.
At the moment I am in Limoux (bike NZ base in france) doing my base training down here. This way I kill two birds with one stone. I get my hill training as well as my endurance training done at the same time. Everything after the two weeks off seems to be going very well and Im back on track.
The only thing left for me to do now is get selected for the team. Its going to be a gamble tho……. Jacques (NZ road Coach) knows I wasn’t good and I had been run down, so hopefully I done enough during the season. I wont have another chance to prove that Im good enough before the team is selected, but with the top five, and top ten in the two U23 world cups I think my chances are up there. Well im hoping anyway.
The team will be named on the 4th September so i will know then and let you know with in a couple of days what the story is.
If things dont go as planned, I will come home early, that way I can have my break and start training for races like tour of southland, lake taupo etc.
If I do make the team however, I will still compete in these races but I dont think I will be going any good.
Well thats all thats happening with me at the moment so will send you another email when things start happening.
Salute (see you in flemish)
Clinton
