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Lucas Euser's Tour of California diary

As he enters his third year of competition as a professional, 23-year-old Team Slipstream Sports powered by Chipotle rider Lucas Euser will keep Cyclingnews updated with his and the outfits progress each day at the Tour of California. It's the youngster's second Tour of California, after he contested the Tour last year where he finished 49th.

Index to all entries

February 19, 2007

Prologue - The muesli margin

Before I give you any juicy insider details, I have to congratulate my teammate (and roommate) Jason Donald for having the ride of his life. The guy is an amazing person, not to mention an absolute machine on the bike.

He was the first guy off from our team and set an absolute blistering pace that beat the time from last years winner. That made us all think 'Wow. Either the course is way faster this year or this guy is going to be on the podium'. As you can see by the results, the latter was confirmed after two and half hours of listening to times that weren't even coming close!

Needless to say this was a breakout for not only himself but for the entire Team Slipstream squad. Additionally we had impressive finishes by Taylor Tolleson, who posted the fastest time for the Under 25 guys, claiming the best young rider jersey, while Tom Peterson gets Team Slipstream's most improved rider 'award' after a great finish and taking second in the KOM prize.

Jason Donald (USA) Team Slipstream
Photo ©: Mitch Clinton
(Click for larger image)

I know a lot of you are asking yourself 'Who the heck is Jason Donald and more importantly what in the world did that kid eat for breakfast?' Well, the former track star and, more impressively, former garbage man didn't just eat his Wheaties this morning!

So as you all know there is a bike race going on, but what you don't know is the competition doesn't stop at the bike race - it's never ending.

Every team wants to the best on and off the bike. From having the best bikes, to having the best mechanics work on them, to beating the other cars back to the race hotel, to looking the best and to, most importantly, who has the best 'food box'. You see, we are traveling all over the world, racing our bikes and food, ever so important to a bike racer, is essential and not always abundant. Even worse, sometimes it's not even eatable.

To remedy that situation our wonderful soigneurs put together our 'food box' - which is stacked with delicious goodies spanning from a plethora of cereals to the multiple jars of Nutella, that is an ever so pleasing sight after walking the buffet line and seeing the cold ham, cheese, and bread for breakfast. Now, I don't mean to be picky but someone who grew up on French toast and my mums ever so famous German pancakes (ironic names since I've had neither in either of those countries), I require a little bit more to eat then cold ham and cheese.

So in the race to have the best team out there, the Team Slipstream/Chipotle soigneurs have a little something up their sleeves they like to call muesli. I know you all know what muesli is and that is why I am revealing our secret - because you all know there isn't just one kind.

Team mate Big Will throws it down.
Photo ©: Rob O'Dea
(Click for larger image)

Feel free to make your own or buy it from a grocery store, but I guarantee you won't even come close to this stuff. It was pretty much the greatest muesli ever - if it were a bike I'd be taking it off some sweet jumps right now, if it were a football I could through it over them mountains. Okay, I'll stop the Napoleon quotes, they're a little outdated, yet will last a life time!

So to answer you're question, Mr Donald ate the greatest Museli known to man this morning and if wasn't for a little guy in blue he'd most likely be "pissing excellence" tomorrow morning (can name that movie quote?).

Team Slipstream powered by Chipotle has officially kicked off our season here in the States today, and we have done in style. And to shut down any rumors that might be forming out there, our new anti-doping program is in full effect. In accordance to the testing protocol our entire team was tested the day before the race confirming the team's fight against doping in the sport and revitalizing all the real reasons we love riding our bikes.

I'll be posting updates daily, but right now I've got to get ready for a big day ahead of me, for the sole reason that we aren't going to just roll over and call it a good day, we're in this for the real thing. Be ready to see some major action over the next week.

Stay tuned.

Lucas Euser
Team Slipstream powered by Chipotle