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The Stuart O'Grady Tour de France diary
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During the Tour de France CSC speedster Stuart O'Grady will be giving us his regular inside look at the daily goings-on in the peloton and the team hotel. An Olympic gold medalist on the track, O'Grady is a rider to watch in the sprints and long breakaways, and one of CSC's best hopes for a stage win or even the green points jersey.
O'Grady has had a rollercoaster ride at the last few Tours, wearing the yellow jersey in 2001 and green in 2002, but never quite managing to hang on to green all the way to Paris. In the last couple of years he's shifted his emphasis away from sprint speed and remodelled himself as a Classics and long breakaway expert.
After winning cycling's toughest one day classic Paris - Roubaix this year, Stuey has achieved his goal of winning one of cycling's Spring Classics. That's not to say that he intends on hanging up his wheels just yet though. After a brief break from the rigours of pro cycling after his win, Stuey began winding his form up again for the Tour, a race that has featured on his schedule since 1998. This year he returns to line up for his 10th Tour, this time maybe not with the goal of returning home with the green jersey but you can be sure that he will be right in the thick of the action from day one.
July 10: One for the team
Today’s stage was one of the most bizarre I have ever ridden. We were happy to let a break go and keep it under control. But the strong head wind, and the length of the stage, saw a huge game of cat and mouse being played.
The break-away was playing the game well, but we were confident we could reel them in at any time. However, when the fresh attack occurred with only 40 kms to go, and they regrouped at the front, suddenly it was panic stations. We didn’t want to lose the coveted jersey by making a hasty decision. So we began the chase, but the sprinters teams were trying the big bluff. It’s like they didn’t have faith in their sprinters. So it was going to come down to the wire. And guess what it didn’t work. Fabian showed why he is the most powerful rider in the Peloton by launching across the short section of pave and winning the stage. Justice prevailed for team CSC.
What an animal. Winning the stage in yellow. Does it get any better?
