Team Cyclingnews.com - 2005

Team Journal Entry - April 11, 2005, by Kane Oakley

Battered and bruised

Hi All,

It has been a big week! Snow White has come and taken one of the team members. We are not sure when he will return; we've been searching for him on our rides and have had a few sitings - there'll be some photos coming soon of him and his new friends. The house is in a sombre mood at the moment, due to the bad weather, and after the race in Drenthe we are a few dwarfs down.

Ronde van Drenthe (Holland) - into the team bus and cars for a fun three-four hour drive. Typical Aussie/Pom style at dinner and breakfast; "Make the most of it." Most ate too much (you greedy dogs, that will learn you!), and we had a few funny looks after leaving breakfast with hands/pockets full of food for post-race and trip home. Haymish won the best sandwich award.

The race was epic, stop-start the whole day, crash after crash. Also, to our collective joy it snowed; I loved it until 10 blokes hit the road to get a closer look at the snow. I locked it up and slid 15 metres into and onto a couple of riders. One being a ex-team member from last year, Harro. I dropped the elbow and said "that's what you get for selling your soul" (only joking, he's a good mate).

Crash Incident report:

* Lee - broken collarbone; three places.
* Cam - badly bruised knee.
* Daniel - high voice after bad top tube knock.
* Tom - dirty and bruised up.
* Munge - lost a few freckels on the road. Plenty left.

So to sum it up we had an unlucky day. I had a job to look after Glen for the day. I took two good falls for him, and he stayed upright the whole race! My job done. hahahaha. Haymish, Glen and I didn't ride in the best position and this resulted in finishing 30-40km early. I found it very hard to get to the front. 40kms of cobbles made the ride tough; riders leaving gaps trucks could drive through, but you get that on the big jobs.

-How do you like the sound of single file in the gutter 50km/h after cobbles?

-I'll have a strong double cross wind with that, thanks!

-All day sir?

-All day!

This hurts legs. No good results to report, but very good for character building.

Today was a nice easy recovery ride and brew in Aarschot, on me pat! Then a hard afternoon watching Paris-Roubaix.

During the week we made a trip to First-Class Nutrition, which turned out to be very benefical. Nick (boss of First Class) gave us a well informed lecture on the right nutrition and supplements we need. Protein powder is a big hit in the house, the dwarfs are shaking up protein drinks all day. Very nice! Nick is very nice to supply us with this and plenty of race drinks and gels that taste great. Lee, Sven and I sampled the new apple gel, it was good enough to put on a home cooked pork roast. Hopefully now with these First Class products we might get some first class results. Thanks Nick.

I have started to collect some photos, but due to new 10 minute restriction on the computer it makes it a bit hard. McFly is starting to eat too much. Next week the team will travel to Germany for a race. More bonding and story telling in the van - sounds good. By the way, I have started to shape/custom my hair like a prized hedge. The boys have been going down the road for a 15 euro Belgie special. Average! I took to my head with a pair of 5 euro clippers and it has come up a treat. Will be growing and styling it into a Boosichot Custom Mullet, best ever.

Well that is it until I hear more stories from the house. Keep it upright and don't try and lick snow off the road. You will come off second best.

Kane "Munge" Oakley