Day three and all's well! We're halfway now, but tiredness is making its way through the peloton.
Etoile de Bessèges - Stage 3
Once again, this is a stage favoured for sprinters, but only those who can get over a hill properly. Lots of mountain points are to be earned today, a total of 48. Given that the current leader in the classification has 20 points, you can understand the importance of today's stage.
Plan of the Day: It's simple for me today. I need to bite through the pain and get those mountain points.
The Race
Once again I was near the front at the start. The first points could be scored only 7 kilometers after the start, so it was essential to grab those!
I managed to grab them, and thus take the lead in the classification.
Fortunately I sidetracked him into wasting more energy. For the intermediate sprints, unimportant to me, I tricked him into sprinting hard. I would just sit in his wheel, saving more energy.
And so I grabbed the full amount of mountain points!
And there my job ended for the day. I immediately let the peloton catch me, I wouldn't waste any more energy in the breakaway then necessary.
Warming down, while the peloton gets ready to sprint in the background.
Jens Keukeleire took the victory for today, again a strong sprinter.
And that's that! I checked it, I triple-checked it. If I can finish the race without any accidents, this jersey is mine! Only 20 points can still be earned, so I'm in the safe zone. With two more flat stages and a time-trial, I hope to grab the mountain jersey in my first ever pro race.
This is amazing. It's not just the jersey, but the respect you get from the audience and even the peloton, wow! I'm really happy right now. Though I'm extremely tired, too. Two consecutive days in the attack (and both times only a duo) really takes its toll. Luckily I don't have to keep up with the pace in the coming days, only the mountain points count!
I better go rest!
Henry
Edited by Ian Butler on 01-12-2013 11:40
Henry shows some very smart riding early already. He knows what he wants and he knows what he's capable off and he's eager to get it. Hopefully no crashes happen, but it looks good for his first mountain jersey. Looking forward to another interview with Radio B.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
Shonak - The days of Merckx are over, even strong riders need to be smart now, wanting it all is not possible Henry had some good luck in getting in the breakaway fairly easy twice and he took full advantage! Thanks, I'll try to do another Radio B interview
Jesleyh - It wasn't a plan, but with such a FGHT and ACC stat, I can't help but to use it to its fullest advantage
Selwink - Thanks! Doing our best
Thanks for the support! I must say I'm really, really enjoying playing right now. It's been a very long time since I enjoyed playing like I do now. I'll be taking this Sunday to my advantage and play a little more, because tomorrow is another busy day. Expect another update today
I haven't been blogging the rest of the race simply because I didn't have the time. Podium ceremonies are lots of fun, but it's exhausting, really!
Etoile de Bessèges - Stages 4 - 6
For me this is just about finishing the race. I couldn't hope for anything more in my first pro race as to take home the Mountain Jersey! The audience seemed to cheer twice as hard when they saw the jersey. Some even knew my name, how about that!
Just two more flat stages and a time trial and that jersey was mine!
The Races
I rode around with a big smile on my face constantly. My job was done.
Stage 4 saw an exceptionally strong Jonas Ljungblad, finishing 2nd in a strong sprinting field!
Stage 5 once again had Jonas on the podium. He's really growing in form!
All that remained was the time trial. It was my first professional time trial and I hope it was my last. It was absolutely terrible, I was so tired. When I had to do the final climb, I had absolutely no energy left.
But it doesn't matter, I finished, and thus took the Mountain Jersey!
I can't say it enough, this was a perfect start of my professional career! Lucien Van Impe even called me to tell me himself how happy he is with this jersey.
This result might get me a leading role in some of the upcoming races, even! Though I need a few days to come back to my senses. Things have been wild, and I'm pretty tired now.
Jonas Ljungblad
Unfortunately, Jonas Ljungblad told us he is riding his last season. Come October this year, he will retire from cycling. Our management have already offered him a job at the team as a sprinting coach.
Vuelta a Mallorca
Marco Pinotti continues to surprise everyone and took an amazing 4th place in Mallorca. Our team is leading the continental rankings at the moment, with quite a gap to the rest! Manresa also continues to perform very well!
General Classification
1
Michele Scarponi
Lampre - Merida
14h33'34
2
Alejandro Valverde
Movistar Team
+ 1'15
3
Luis León Sánchez
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 2'07
4
Marco Pinotti
Citigroup Pro Cycling
+ 2'11
5
Chris Froome
Sky Procycling
+ 2'23
6
JoaquÃm RodrÃguez
Katusha Team
+ 2'31
7
Sergio Henao
Sky Procycling
+ 3'08
8
Franco Pellizotti
Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela
+ 3'41
9
Andy Schleck
RadioShack - Leopard
+ 3'57
10
Gorka Izagirre
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 5'02
11
Diego Ulissi
Lampre - Merida
+ 5'06
12
Mattia Cattaneo
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
13
Chris Horner
RadioShack - Leopard
+ 5'56
14
David López
Sky Procycling
+ 6'26
15
Leocadio Manresa
Citigroup Pro Cycling
+ 7'02
Interview - delayed
I've been offered a more extended interview with Radio B, but unfortunately I had to decline. Tour Med is starting real soon and I can't afford to get thrown off schedule right now. They told me they understand and we agreed to delay the interview. Though just this morning, I thought I heard my name on Radio B...
...even Henry Vergnaud, world's leading sissy. Just kidding, Henry, lots of love. So, even Henry Vergnaud could...
I should find out what those guys are smoking, must be good stuff!
Well, world`s leading sissy AND winner of the Mountain jersey of Etoile des Bessèges. Credit where credit is due, Radio B.
Good races so far for the team. Maybe a couple of victories later on will change Ljungblad's mind from retiring? All the best for Tour Med. Maybe another mountain jersey?
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
Shonak - I'm sure Radio B will air a public apology A mountain jersey in Tour Med will be tough, as he'd need to be in several attacks. Also, the competition will be hard. But never say never
duxili - Thanks. Really glad you like the reports! But what do you mean about revealing the strategy before the race?
sutty68 - Always a nice jersey to take home, especially on a debut race!!
It's quite a flat race. Some hills in the middle but that shouldn't stop the sprinters from taking it to the finish line.
Plan of the Day: No real plan for today. First the DS asked to show him how well I can do on the GC, but then he decided to let it go. Partly because Contador, Quintana... are here and partly because it's too early in my career, he's decided to just leave me free for this race in the end, which suits me!
The Race
Warren (Barguil) is racing his first stages of the season, so what better way to build up form than going in the attack? He secured us the Mountain Jersey for at least two days! (time trial tomorrow)
Gaudien attacking halfway the stage had a huge impact on the race. At first the peloton looked like it didn't notice he was gone, then suddenly the pace went way up! Everyone was hurting bad!
The peloton was reduced to an 80 man group pretty soon. Only three of us were still on board. Besides me there was Zabel and Augustyn. The pace still didn't drop.
I was happy to be part of the front group and just went from wheel to wheel. Things were moving so fast, I didn't have time to think or look who was where. The final kilometers were nearing and it looked like it would be a mass sprint with a 80-rider peloton.
But then Bardiani took control of the race in a harsh manner. By some accident, I was on Modolo's wheel when this happened. Suddenly I noticed four of us had a gap to the peloton.
I couldn't believe the chance I was presented with. Though with Modolo in the group, it'd be hard to profit from this situation. As he looked behind to see the gap, I looked him in the eye, a split second. He looked pretty beat. But then again, all of us were. It wouldn't be a usual sprint, that's for sure.
I knew I'd never beat Modolo in a straight forward sprint, so I went for the surprise. Go early and create the gap before he starts his sprint. It was suicide at its best!
Modolo must've been paying too little attention, because he didn't react immediately to my sprint. Could I have a chance after all?
Every fibre in my body was aching. The line seemed to far and it didn't look like I was coming any closer. But still nobody rushed by me. I expected to see someone flash by me any second now. Where were they?
Nobody came, and suddenly, the finish line was right there in front of me. I had made it!
"Whaaat?! This is not happening. Am I dreaming?" I didn't even consider the possibility that I had just won the opening stage of Tour Med. It was too unreal. But I was immediately surrounded by a bunch of people. I was guided away from the press, to somewhere more secluded, so I could come to my senses.
The DS came into the tent. "Henry!" That's all he said. He took my by the shoulders and shook me quite hard. He was just standing there, smiling, laughing. His fat mustache waving in the air, his big yellow teeth right in front of my face. Shaking me so hard I thought I'd die. But I was already gone. It started to sink in: I won my first professional stage. That's when I collapsed, my legs unable to support me. They had done enough for one day.
I could write an entire book about my emotions today. But I will only say three things.
One: I'm the happiest person on earth. Today was a tough day and I never even hoped to take a victory on a finish like this against a sprinter like Modolo. But I did it, and it feels amazing.
Two: Tomorrow I'll have the worst time-trial ever, because I won't be able to sleep tonight. So I'll have to enjoy this jersey as long as I have it, it can be gone pretty quickly.
Three: Because of my success in Bessèges, Radio B put a journalist on me to follow me in this race and do a profile on me. It'll be released a few days after Tour Med finishes. I guess I've given them something to write about, haven't I?
Amazing first victory, and wonderfully written. Great segment on his situation throughout from the finish to the Analysis. I really like Henry and congratulations! Henry should definitely enjoy it while it lasts, leader of Tour Mediterraneen sure is something for a new rider.
Howver, judging by his last TT it is probably unlikely that he will perform so exceptional tomorrow as he did today. But maybe the jersey will give him wings?
Edited by Shonak on 02-12-2013 14:01
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
Shonak - Thank you! I'm glad you liked that little part that went on in his head. I was actually so surprised with the victory myself I needed to write that down to let it sink in
I'm afraid his TT skills won't stand up to Contador's in a 24 km time trial But he'll enjoy the ride in yellow!
Etoile de Bessèges - Stage 3 
Henry had some good luck in getting in the breakaway fairly easy twice and he took full advantage! Thanks, I'll try to do another Radio B interview 
Vuelta a Mallorca 
But he'll enjoy the ride in yellow!
