Friday 25 October 2013

Sun on Sunday - fingers crossed!

At  last, a news report that made me smile!

This morning, Velonation are carrying a very encouraging report on Our Andy, in which he says that next year's Tour is going to be good for him.

Well, look at it - five mountain finishes, just what Andy is good at, and only one, shortish, time trial. Excellent! In fact, very good indeed, as the time trial comes right at the end, by which time the usual TT specialists will be exhausted from the climbs, so they are unlikely to do spectacular times. Which means that Andy and Frankie will lose less time against them.

OK, he's going to be in a "new" team, and new teams usually have teething troubles, but at least he will be with management he trusts, a DS who knows him well, and team-mates that he already knows,  so it will be a better "first" year than for many start-up teams.

Frankie sounds as though he is also all revved up and raring to go: he's obviously already tired of people asking him about the cobbled section (last time he rode it, he broke his collarbone) and he says "That is past. I have long since finished with this topic."  *laughs*  Go, Frankie!

Andy said:
 
"On Sunday if the sun is out I will start the first kilometre in preparation for next year. I will give it full throttle."

Fingers crossed, Schlecklanders one and all, for good weather in Luxembourg over the weekend.

At least, I assume that they are training in Luxembourg? *looks around, questioningly* Anyone know where they are training these days?

Oh, and hey, the Tour starts in England next year, hmm, Leeds: let me see, if they start at Leeds... and have to get back to the south coast for ferries, channel crossing etc... they'll have to come through the middle of the country... yes, there is a chance that I will be able to wave at Andy as he goes past!

4 comments:

  1. Who knew Team Europcar had their own special dining truck? http://youtu.be/ASaxlKI4MmA (Or am I just really, really far behind in all the latest news?) By the way, I hope you weren't badly affected by that horrible storm earlier in the week!
    Bris. Gal

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  2. At least, I assume that they are training in Luxembourg? *looks around, questioningly* Anyone know where they are training these days...

    At the end of November - a three day team-building camp in Belgium, then a two week training camp in Spain.

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  3. Three days team-building, eh? Is that RadioShambles team-unbuilding, or the new Trek Factory Racing (still not thinking much of that name!) doing real team-building, I wonder? I don't know if riders are "allowed" to go to their new teams before the end of the year, anyone know?

    Oh, the storm was somewhat over-reported, at least it was in Schleckland, and it was no worse than any other rainy/windy night. But thank you for your concern!

    Coug

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  4. Glad to hear that last week's storm wasn't bad in Schleckland. Take care Coug!
    Kat

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