Jittery Joes' general classification rider and Cyclingnews diarist Trent Wilson started the first stage of the Tour de Beauce with a bang, launching a daring attack inside the opening kilometres of the 167km stage. But the rationale behind his attack was to be his undoing today. A broken wrist suffered in the first race of Philly week, the Lehigh Valley Classic, put him out for the rest of the week. But the doctors molded the cast around his handlebars, hoping that he could race in his season's targeted race, the Tour de Beauce.
"My wrist hurt and I felt I could pick my lines better if I went up the road," Wilson told Cyclingnews about his rationale for attacking so early. "I thought that if the bunch would give me eight minutes I could stay up the road, get a couple of KOMs and the jersey, then finish and start the race in [the jersey] tomorrow. But I only got five minutes and when they got me back the wrist was done."
As part of his process for adapting his riding style to his injury, Wilson had the team mechanic switch his brake levers from the "Aussie-style" of braking, or the right lever controlling the front brake, to what he referred to as the American or "Sepo-style" of brake controls with the left lever controlling the front brake. [Ed. - It is not appropriate to translate the Aussie slang here, but feel free to look it up]. He even had a reminder message taped to his handlebars in case he forgot on the road.
Once the pack reeled in the solo Aussie, Wilson knew his race was done. He will spend the rest of the week here in Beauce supporting his team-mates from the team car before returning to his American home in Nashville, Tennessee to reevaluate his season's goals.
(Additional research and assistance provided by Susan Westemeyer).
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