'Dale

“Because in the end, you won’t remember the time you spent working in the office or mowing your lawn. Climb that goddamn mountain.” — Jack Kerouac

Veels geluk, Lou-Lou - after many setbacks, becoming a dad and adjusting to that new life chapter, suffering during the Ardennes with a fracture, and rough team politics, he broke away on a apparent suicide attack from the breakaway with 137 kms to go. What a ride by the former double World Champ! Reminiscent of Peter Sagan on one of his final days of glory at the Giro a few seasons ago. There was a line of fellow racers who wanted to congratulate him at the end of the stage yesterday. If that is the general sentiment in the peloton, that says a lot. Today is a pancake flat stage. Not much to see here, except that mountain of a sprinter in Jonathan Milan, named Jonathan by his mother after she read Richard Bach’s “Jonathan Livingston Seagull” during pregnancy. He pushes that Trek Madone with such force and torque and rock & roll that it seemingly can qualify as a quality assurance stress test of Lidl-Trek's team machine. Tomorrow is a twisty, flattish race against the clock. Will Tadej back off by 23 watts, conserve his powers for Sunday's queen stage, allowing for national here, Ganna, to trump? Ons sal moet sien. Note To Self: Sunday afternoon, couch, healthy lunch, pastries, coffee, legs up, my wife is going to have lunch at her cousins', and all eyes on the screen. More than 220 kms and 5200 metres of vert. She is the queen stage.

Winter is coming…

Hehehe

These cool, chilly and foggy autumn mornings, priceless 🍁

32 degrees in autumn 🍁

5 rest day thoughts: 1. Defending strategy for UAE until Rome? Not sure. I think the team is more ambitious and the maglia rosa will want to dominate the mountain stages with his extraordinary capabilities. Week 3, Dolomites, tifosi, uhm, the GC leader will be very tempted to not conserve for le Tour and show off that awesome jersey. 2. Phew! In Hungary, Lidl-Trek’s Thibau Nys is another ‘import’ from cyclo-cross who is demonstrating seriaaas racing pedigree at 21 years old. Alongside WVA, MVDP and the super Slovenian, he is sure to entertain for many seasons to come. 3. The fast descent into Naples in the finalé was very dangerous with potholes. Lots of concerns were raised at the race, in news headlines and on podcasts. Rider safety remains a tricky and complicated area in the sport. Do the organisers care or is it just too impossible with racers pushing the limits and gains on their aero machines, skin suits and wider tyre choices or is it just too much road surface to cover or a bit of all the above? 4. My favourite part of week 1 - watching the break win. And win again... 5. I am keeping an eye on the steady Colombian time trial jersey in Martínez. After serving as a mountain sherpa at Ineos’, he is slowly repurposing himself as a GC contender. It’s an important Grand Tour that can truly elevate the 28 year old’s career arc.

Three things in life - your health, your mission, and the people you love. That’s it. - Naval Ravikant

The race of truth today, with a 6.6 km climb at the end after 34 kms. The TT will likely set apart the podium contenders from the best-of-the-rest. Pogačar’s last performance against the clock, if I remember correctly, was an effort clouded by illness or exhaustion, during the Tour de France 2023 edition. It was the time of the extraordinary effort by the flying maillot jaune in Vingegaard. In light of this, I imagine this will be an important performance benchmark for team UAE, who has really elevated their time trial capabilities across the team in the last while. After an intense first week, many of the pure climbers, like Quintana, have already slid down the ladder or is out of the race, like Michael Woods. Meanwhile, the Stelvio is 2 weeks away and in a beautiful winter’s coat still. Here’s hoping for no routes shortened or mountain passes shut down. (Pic sent to me on Wazzap, sauce unknown)

Never skip Weights Day. If you are older than 40, really don’t skip Weights Day.

5 kms N of Durbanville, 14 degrees with a northerly chilly wind

Why do we fall, Bruce? So that we can learn to pick ourselves up. - Alfred (Batman movie) And early base training has commenced, Peoples! After passing one week of indoor training and feeling no discomfort or pain, I ventured out yesterday afternoon and this morning for a mini mini ietsie block of training. I had to summon up courage, self-belief and a big scoop of hope that it’ll work out okay for the ol’ right leg, keeping the pedal force steady and the terrain fairly non-technical and bumpy. My walking gait has improved quite a bit since yesterday as the cadence and pedalstroke feels like an effective and natural drill in mobility and strength, as long as I keep it simple for now. My daily physiotherapy practice continues until my follow-up consultation with my surgeon on the 23rd. This is my last sharing on this thread as I am not dwelling in the past. However, I am remembering the past and have bought a Garmin Varia, will be spending more time on the trails when training solo (bought baggies and trail jersey to signify a refreshed course of action) and will be training on the road far more often with companions and chommies. All of these strategies are for reducing the risk surface area for my Life in sport. Grateful for the caring life-reset-and-return-to-sport conversations with my spouse. And so privileged with my soul searching retreat time in Colorado and many heartfelt strategic talks with my mentor. Be safe out there whilst rolling your fietse, Peoples. 💟

Two and a half weeks since that high speed crash, Remco is on 32” tyres to keep the shoulder from unnecessary road vibration on his first few base training rides. “Shoulder still feeling stiff and uncomfortable after 3 hrs of road training…”

The journey back to B bunch and Saturday’s Fight Club century rides begins with a single pedalstroke at the local gym.😐

Analysis may reveal why TP is going for the Giro-Tour double: Total 70 kms of individual TT which is one of his strengths. Riders like Dunbar, Quintana and Carthy will likely be dreading these days as several of the pure climbers on the roster. Average stage length is 20 km less than 2023 and 15% less vert than 2023, the least since 2010. And, of course, simply audacious and ambitious, the Slovenian superstar and his team wants to keep on keeping on with their nr 1 status on WT scoreboard and defy historical odds. Meanwhile, Peter Sagan returns to the road for training after his 2nd heart surgery with Conti team, Pierre Baquette Cycling, at the tour of Hungary.

What an ambassador for the national jersey

There’ll be rain, snow, sun, and anything can happen in 3 weeks of racing. It’s gonna be intriguing. And Gee gets his customary snip before every Grand Tour.

Behind the scenes - always intriguing 🎬

Mini victory after 2 months off the bike: Testing Simone’s new carbon hoop upgrade around the ‘hood. 🤩

“A warrior does not complain or lament anything, and sees challenges as neither good nor bad. Challenges are simply challenges.” - Paulo Coelho 8 weeks on: After my retreat in Colorado, reflecting on all things Life, I am safely back in the warm lap of Mama Afrika, where the people are so friendly. American culture is so harsh and machine-like. Africans, however, brings the soul and smiles - from petrol attendants to the tannie that I buy my melktert from here in Durbanville. I am now 100% weight bearing on the right leg, mostly free from crutches and moon boot, and have to carefully manage my step count daily to avoid overuse. My daily routine also incorporates elevation, ice sessions and daily physiotherapy exercises. My weight has dropped to 67 kgs and I have seemingly lost about 2 kgs in muscle mass. Time to head to gym on Monday for some much needed functional strength work and some cardiovascular training on the stationary bicycle. I collected Simone today after she was fitted with carbon hoops. Her alu wheelset was moertoe after 5 years of mostly autumn and winter miles when the snakes are sleeping and the trails are green. Base training is imminent! Lucky man, I am. Now just to add more patience and grace with myself and oodles of gym time. 💟

The race machine that will do the Giro-TdF double. Alberto Contador even suggested in a recent interview that should Pogačar succeed that he should attempt the Vuelta too.

In memory of Eva, who took me to 10,000 km and 100,000 vert in 2023 - an important performance goal for me at the time.

In memory of Eva, my first road bike with disc brieke 💋

The 4th Monument on Sunday is imminent. Highlighted as a super duel between the rainbow jersey and the Swiss Army knife like performer in Pogačar who is such a threat over so many variable courses, one day races and Grand Tours. The competition in the Women’s peloton is also very thrilling with regular performer Vollering not as dominant after last year’s Ardenne Classics. I have an eye on the Gravel Rainbow Jersey who took her first road victory in 5 years. It is not spring right now in northern EuroLand; it’s wet, freezing and slippery on the tarmac. Respect to the classy and everlasting Ash’ after another solid performance at FW:

The leg strength and hip flex support by Matt. Great to see him in mix as his racing in the USA resumes.