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6th Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under - 2.3
Australia, January 20-25, 2004
Rider Diaries
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The Chronicles of Thomas Lövkvist
Nationality: Swedish
Team: FDJeux.com
19 year-old Thomas Lövkvist is a new signing for the successful FDJeux.com team, and has come to Australia to race with the team for the first time. Although not inexperienced with races of the same calibre as the Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under, this is the first time he is starting a 2.3 category race as a part of a first division team.
Stage 4: Friday Jan 24, Unley - Hahndorf, 141 km
Everything except a stage
Good evening,
Hmm… today I got a few angry looks by the Lotto-Domo guys at the beginning of the break I was in. Apparently they weren't very happy with me just sitting on wheels. I actually did take turns at the beginning, but then Marc (Madiot) told me to stop, because the break was starting to become a worry, considering Gilbert's place on the GC.
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Anyway, there were a lot of attacks from that group, and they really started as we passed the finish for the final lap. I didn't have much choice but to go with them, and after a while Marc came up and told me I had free hands to do what I wanted to. For a while I was taking turns at the front with Jaan Kirsipuu, and he just tore me apart every time he went to the front! Every time I saw him head up there, I just thought, "Here we go again!" and I had to get out of the saddle just to get back onto the last wheel. Finally we did catch the group we had in front of us, and then the attacks got even worse. Kirsipuu attacked, and so did I. He got away, and I made a second attempt. I got maybe 25 metres, and then we reached this little short rise that I had completely forgotten about. I quickly threw in a smaller gear, but as I looked back, the whole peloton were coming at me with my boys at the front and I was just parked at the roadside.
At least I've got a little bit of experience in all fields now. During these days, I've been in a gruppetto, I've been working at the front for my team, I've been in a breakaway, and I've attacked on my own. I guess only the hardest thing remains, to win a stage! On the more serious side, I think this race is a good one to start out with for me, because here I'm able to follow. I wouldn't want to be dropped every day in my first race. I just hope that some of these riders are having some form, so that I'm just not fooling myself!
I quite enjoy all the people that surround this race. They are so excited, and some will just ask for my autograph, not knowing whose autograph they are actually getting. They do recognise Baden and Matt, but after that, they'll be happy with just anyone, so I've signed some autographs already. There's also a lot more people along the roads here than what I'm used with from the races I've ridden before.
Another thing that freaked me out a bit today was getting used to the bike I'm riding and all the things surrounding it. One thing in particular that came to my mind today was the road grip. The stage had a few hilly parts, and I just didn't know how far I could lean the bike without loosing it. It probably has a lot better grip than what I think, but I guess there's only one way to find out…
Tomorrow's supposed to be the hardest stage, but I'm still eager to get there. It all depends on what my legs are like of course, but we do have a second place on the GC to defend. Second is nice, but first is even better, I reckon. Jonker seems solid, but you never know. I'd say we should attack him, but in the end of the day, it's Marc's call.
Funniest thing today was probably the horse. We were just riding along, minding our own business when we heard a lot of noise. Breaks locking up and sirens coming on. We all looked up and saw this big horse coming towards us. He went on the opposite side of the road, so we all got through alright. Actually, maybe the horse wasn't the funniest part - I think it was the desperate girls who came running down the road two hundred metres behind him!
Talk to you tomorrow.
