pretty good day

Today was better for our team. We had 3 major climbs to do, the first 2 being category 2 and the 3rd category 1. Each was roughly 6km and then the 3rd was longer, about 9km. These are just the climbs published, bear in mind those bumps they call them that pop up randomly just when you think there is no more climbing. Our plan was just to be mindful that breaks would form and if one of us could get into one especially before the category 1 climb and get a head start on the climbers that would put that person in a position to possibly make it to the finish line with the front group and see from there.

After the first climb, that is exactly what happened, a Bigla girl attacked over the top and since nobody reacted to her (she was around 7 minutes down) and there was some wicked descending,(oh yeah, couple girls went over the guard rails..yikes), Alison went after her and they got a gap. For the next little while after that, the climbers and GC riders tried to get away repeatedly so although we had Alison away at the front of the race for us, it was not relaxing in the main peloton for us. The speeds were high as no one wanted to let people just ride away. So, even though we got time back on the two escapees up the climb (the second one), it would open out again when the attacks stopped. It wasn't until the 3rd cat 1 climb that the terrain caused the separation. The climbers flew up to catch Alison, she held on with them through the descents...but.....those nasty bumps right? ....she finally succumbed to one that was about 5km from the finish and came off of the climber group. The rest of the peloton was scattered in groups and came in minutes apart of each other.

It was fun to be doing something in the race even though it didn't totally work out as well as it might have. As for the rest of us, Andrea climbed in a group ahead of Tina and I and Sarah told Tina she was "taking care of the other sprinters for her" such as Teutenberg and Schleicher, one group back. We actually got to see some scenery (well only after the 3rd climb, as the first 2 we had to climb the pace of the climbers) which was sweet. Hopefully we have saved some energy for the next 3 stages to come.

No pictures today.....we didn't do anything except race and transfer to our next hotel and city, and not one of us took our cameras out as we were all chatting.

ciao until tomorrow

ps check out this video of Mario Cipollini being punked (the Italian version)
His mechanic is the show's accomplice and basically tells him as he is out on a training ride that his house had been broken into and his bikes stolen...including his World Champ ride. As he and his training partner continue to ride a camper van (the show's actors posing as the thieving gypsies) casually drives by and he spots his bikes.....a chase ensues and the showdown begins as Mario tries to beat down the garagey-type building they eventually escape and lock themselves and his bikes into. The show comes out and lets him know he is being punked before he kills the gypsies.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHUpmWPCMes

if you can't cut and paste this, go to youtube and search Mario Cippollini and it will come up.