2012 Tour of Friendship Stage 5 - Ace of spades...

So, I enjoyed my 1/2 Leo beer the night before... I got this in the BAG!  Right?  Right?

ah....ha....

It is "GO" from the start.  Women in the front.  For the first time in 5 days, we actually get to race against each other...not man/wife teams...not M40 and holding on to the peloton... but estrogen against estrogen...

Let me tell you,

Nothing more dangerous then a group of peri-menapausal women on a bike!  Let alone, let them race!

BEST racing day yet!

I had a target on my back as big as TEXAS.  I was teh Ace of Spades...  Being the idiot that i am at times... I failed to think that I'd be a target...whose going to get 4 minutes out of me on a flat course...

Well, that was the goal.

IT was fast and furious from the gun.  New rules.... if the Juniors or Ladies go...no other group can help bridge (jeepers...that's a nice rule to EVENTUALLY HAVE!)..

Siw is determined to reclaim her 2nd place... I would to.

There was no rest for me.

I didn't dare take a water bottle....

I raced smart... I led one attack, there was one earlier by Katherin, but no one would help her.... I have bad feelings about this...

So, I attack, from the outside... I grab Katherine and say, "30 sec rotation....I don't leave you hanging...we make a break"...

eventually, we are caught!

Its blood, sweat... and no water for 60km, average speed nearly 40kph.

I get caught in the wrong position before the sprint... come in 4th... (but kept my 2nd in the GC)....

I blame only myself for the poor sprint... got a little dodgy at the end and nearly went down..

Cross the finish line congradulating Siw on yet again, another fine finish... we all laugh about the race.  Even though I had a target on my back, it by no means means we are not friends off the road.... its racing!

2nd for the Tour...

Am happy...
Am happy!

I give my trophy to the Club Quan 7 XeDap group.  I don't know what they think of it... but they understand my appreciation to them for letting me ride with them!

To D7 riders along the Nguyen Van Linh highway.....this ones for you!  Thanks for letting me be the 'white' girl and accepting me....

2012 Tour of Friendship Stage 4 - Give it all I got

So, there was this 'hill' advertised... we disected it... studied it... and just before bedtime learned that the idiot that posted it.... was way, WAY wrong.  There was no 500m climb, no 300m descent in 1.5km, it was just a steady hill.

Out with the M40 again, they put women on the front.

I am feeling even more relaxed.  Just hang with the group, I can do this... I know what I did wrong yesterday and today is all out...no stops, I'd rather puke and fall over than be conservative.  What do I have to lose?  I am 3rd in GC at this point.... all I can do is strive for better....  It would take a lot ot lose the 3rd, and I'd rather lose the 3rd by trying than not by doing anything at all.

Fairly uneventful...first 30km or so.  Small undulating hills, few bumps of bikes... a scream from the back of the pack...

The hill is there... we are on it... its a very low incline and very steady.

Siw is pulling back...her breathing is very hard and labored....she's sick.  Now it is just me and Anne-Marie.  She's got a peloton of ANZA guys not to mention her husband.  The boys surge... we both fall back, but she thinks I have completely dropped.  When she spots me she screams...her husband helps pull her back to the group... I get in there too...

Okay...not giving this up!  Ride it to the hill, give it everythign I have... I won't take 5 minutes out of her, but I can certainly try.

Then the down hill...  I grab a water bottle from another rider, but there was a surge... not in the right place to be....

My meager 57kph average over the 2km downhill was no match for the group... I had dropped.  Unbelievable!  UNBELIEVABLE and such a stupid mistake.  I should have never taken water unless I had positions to give... I didn't!

I grab on to a Phillipino guy who dropped because of a technical issue and he pulls me, we try to get back to the group.  We are offered a van pull, but it is illegal.  I am NOT doing anything illegal!

Then, the snap, when you realize its over.  We chased for 30km, they were always in sight... but there were some healthy surges that our two man group just couldn't catch.

Now, it is hot...

I am cramping...

I am miserable.  But I ignore the pain, there will be time to feel it later.  If I acknowledge any pain, I might as well just give up.  It must come with motherhood, you can easily ignore and postpone pain as there are much more important things then yourself on the line.

We get to the dam climb... parts are steep, I really question if I even have the strength to climb up it.  For the last 20km, everything has been geared around focusing on getting to the top of the climb.  I know I have 2nd for the stage, and depending on how much time I am ahead of Siw, I could take 2nd in the GC.  It depends.

 I have yet to figure out why I was smiling... I hurt so bad...and I got dropped....AGAIN...quite embarassed...

It was my 2nd, 2nd place for the Tour thus far.... fairly happy though one day would love to stand on teh top fo the podium.... Got my long sleeved - NVL-7 jersey and khaki skort...

Now, 2nd in GC with 4+minutes to lead...

Should be easy to keep....

Celebrated with a beer.... just had a good laugh and really enjoyed myself that evening...

2012 Tour of Friendship Stage 3, Redemption...? No.

Putting the day before behind me, realizing I have nothing to be worried about and relax... I am hoping this will be my day to shine.

Training on our bridge had gone well, so I thought... went to VT twice to climb the mountain there and I am a confident climber... I never doubt myself, I NEVER worry about how I feel, I just go for it.

We pull out of the resort and it is game on.  We immediately drop four girls.  They had no idea what hit them.

It was fast, I was a bit surprised.  The undulating terrain was a constant surge/slow/surge/slow

And as advertised, at 39.0km came 'the hill'.  3km with 8% average (or something like that...)  As usual, not in the best spot for climbing, but .... hey.... I am a climber, right?

O

M

G

Apparently

NOT ANY MORE!

I am doing all I can to hang, but I don't.  The leader is out of sight, I am not passing all the big boys I used to two years ago, this is NOT easy.

Is it the HEAT?
Is it the fact I rode  SOLO for 85km yeaterday w/ a head wind
Is it that our training area SUCKS?

I am shocked....and a weeee bit mortified to be honest.  I can't believe what is happening... I am climbing in slow motion... Now I aim to pass Siw Haller.  If I don't get a lot of time on her, she'll drown me int he down hill and obliterate me on the flat... I manage to muster enough energy to put 30 seconds on her, but haul ass down hill.... sadly, my @$$ is too slow.... 1/2 way down, she catches me w/ a string of guys... I can't even hold their wheel.

Eventually, I get back on.  We are four then six people.  I see Glenn, my Hong Kong expat, Mui Ne buddy, Paul Dalton who we had a few jokes together earlier...  This is great.  We just ride to the turn aruond...

In the middle of this, I realize.... it will be Siw and I for the last 20km.  I am trying to figure out how to beat her with this.... its a flat finish....she's the queen of sprints and I am the queen of mediocraty!  What am I going to do...

I am sure she's thinking of how to drop me.

After the turn, I fall back a little to see what the game plan is...dare she go alone without me?  Dare she not? She does as I thought, not go at it alone.  Maybe she could have dropped me but with some of the hills, I doubt it.  She opts to keep me.  Okay.

We will finish together.... but I know the sprint is a bit out of my reach.

and it was...

3rd....

Redemption?  No...not at all!

At the awards dinner, I simply say to Alex, "TEACH ME HOW TO SPRINT"!

2012 Tour of Friendship Stage 2: 85km ITT

We take off from The Rich Hotel.  We are set in with the M40's again.  Hmmmm, how do I feel about this?  My riding has improved, I should be able to hang with them once I get in a groove.  I fight in Vietnam to keep good position, so I hope it pays off here...

For the first 25km, fairly uneventful.  There is a surge and my poor positioning caused me to fall back for a bit.  I bear down and put myself in the middle of the group.  That will be ENOUGH of that.  

We are on the right, then the lane gives out to gravel.

I bunnyhop to the paved road along with the group.

thud...

thud...

thud...

Flat on the front.  35km in to the race...85 to go.

And...what goes through my head.... one of my daughter's iPod songs:

Riding solo....riding solo... riding solo......sooooolooooo

I get a switch very quickly, but the pack is long gone.  I ask for a push, NO... I try to get behind the motor cycle for a pull, NO!  I try to draft off of trucks.... NO

Okay... well, its early.  I can't catch the group, I have to find my comfort level and resign to work hard.  I know with more then 70km to go at that point, there is a very good chance many other girls will fall out and I can just pick them off... 70km a lot can happen.

And it did...

I passed three fairly quickly.  The fourth hung on my wheel.  Okay, I got 5th, my GC will be smashed...no chance for anything better then 5th.  I make the woman rotate but not long.  She can't hold the speed, but I really needed some rest.  We pick up a few others... but eventually, they can't hold... I can't be bothered... I take off.

Its always a tough decision.  Stay with the small group and rest so there's a chance for the next day... or just take off and try to preserve something.

At the end of the route, a 10km out and back.  I pass the finish line so I have 20km to go.  I see Alex with Nick and he gives me the thumbs up.  At that point, I am humiliated...I start to cry... all those weeks of training...and it comes down to a freakishly hot day, flat tire, and not being pushed back (I was suppose to, it was stated very, VERY clearly the night before).  

I just do what I can do to finish.  Hopefully everyone sucks at climbing and somehow, I shine a bit and I can take some time back.  Those are my thoughts, get to tomorrow, put this one to rest.

I cross the line... put my bike on the truck... get lunch... Now I have to tell everyone what happened.

Alan Grant told me: "Get a stage win tomorrow, Tina!"

I eat with the Spice girls... "You can work with us, you are strong!"  Maybe, but now tired.

I never see Alex and glad...I'd just cry and I was already humilated and I didn't want to admit it...  I just shrugged it off and laughed with everyone else.  What could I do... I got a flat.  I didn't plan it.  Really, it was my fault, I know better then to be on gravel... if I were better placed in the group perhaps it wouldn't have happened, but then again, maybe it would have.  

I take the bus back to the hotel.  Alex meets me and has taken care of getting me a room, ordering me a massage.  I was so relieved, last year, often there weren't enough rooms.  

Had a shower, pulled myself together and started to think about the next day.  What else could I do.

When Bobby returned my wheel, I asked him, "Hey, aren't we suppose to get a push back to the group when we get a flat?"

"Yes, that didn't happen?"

"No, today or last year".

"Your time will be adjusted"

Suddenly, I was back in the race.  I got the same time as the last girl in the group to cross the line.  It was a full minute behind the winner, but I was really relieved.  Worried that the other women would be angry, I didn't ask.  I explained to them that I didn't get a push, Bobby adjusted my time... I didn't ask...  but reminded them I was exhasuted now...  They seemed to feel the adjustment was the right thing.

aauugghh....

live and learn.

Luckily, I came to the race with the attitude of having fun... and even with the day's event, I was having fun.

2012 Tour of Friendship, Day 1: ITT? REALLY?

So, I have NEVER done an ITT.  NEVER.  Well, if you count the Thursday rides in Taiwan where we'd go 1/2 way around the airport one at a time...  course, I always lost.

7 km Individual Time Trial...you, the wind, the road, and a clock.  Go all out, then give more!

11:08, not a stellar time, but good enough to place me #2, 2nd only to the gal who specialized in ITT, brought an ITT bike, suit, and pointy helmet.  

AM HAPPY!

After day 1, team "NVL-Seven", 2nd place in GC.

In search of a mountain...

With this years unbeleivably intimidating Tour of Friendship coming in just two short weeks, I am desperate for some real climbing.  The race profiles show pitches of over 20% in some places and 10% as an average! 

My little Phu My Bridge is 4.8% at best....

So... off to Vung Tau, there is a hill with some steeper pitches and for teh effort, its the best climbing that can be done here in a day.

From Russia with Love.... I board the noisy HydroFoil for a $10.  Easy trip down teh Saigon river to the Ocean and dropped off at Vung Tau.

 The other side of the Industrial Park.

 My Phu My Bridge....how I don't miss climbing IT today....

 The top of the hill, the "Lighthouse Hill".  It is a 2.3km hill, probably 2.5 from the main road, but the first stretch is really dodgy.  The last bit is also really bad, rough road, broken harsh pavement and very narrow.

 WHOA....what is that in the background?  Trees?  Blue Sky?  OMG...  its nature!  Where are the 24 wheeler trucks?  Where's the exhaust?  My lungs are in SHOCK!

 So pretty!

 Peaceful..

 Serene....

 I am still smiling....  sweated through at least 4 water bottles....  super hot and windy..

 But, I gott'r done!  Eight climbs, 1050m.  I knew I didn't climb 'well', but nothing was a struggle.  I tried harder gearing trying to come up with some idea of HOW 24% would feel. 

 My hostess, Ms. Sang (Mr. Thang's girlfriend) cooked an AMAZING meal for us and her middle daughter.  Quite honestly, it was THE best Vietnamese food I have ever tasted!  I met her at the HTNA tour.  She travelled along with the team.  She was so helpful and clearly, very delightful.  when I told Long I was coming for some mountain training and unsure if Alex could come, he arranged for Thanh to meet me.  He also looked after me during the ride.

 Traditional style eating, on the floor.  Sadly, I am so inflexible, I had to stretch my legs.  I was a bit embarassed.

 Thuy, Sang's daugther (came home early from work to help her mom w/ me!!) Sang, and Thanh.  They treated me like a princess. 

On the ferry at 1:00pm, home by 2:45.... exhausted, sunburned, and happy!

Happy until I analyzed my climbs.... but that's another story!

Tour of Friendship 2011, Ladies Day 4 - Diggin' Deep!

*** T hanks to Thai Airways team's facebook page for the following pictures!! 

 Waiting for literally 1 hour to start.  Useful information say.... the night before!

 Digging deep....the last 200m of the last climb of the last day!  Not enough....Franzia girl is just ahead of me, and I can't get her....Michele not far in front of her...what when wrong?  My climbing....where is it....  Looking at the photo, I really think I got it all wrong...

 End of day two..... 135km, 1560m of climbing, the smile should be obvious.

 I can't imagine what is going through Christina's head.  I have NOTHING to loose this stage (well, I do, if I crash, flat, or get super dropped) so trying to stratigize w/ Christina on how to get her a win....

Serene....could be my daughter... but what a sweet girl!  

Its over.... the relief is monumental and I don't know why.  I really questioned whether I would race again or not.  The nerves just got to me.... gagging on peanut butter in the morning....  So happy to get the GC #3.

Tour of Friendship, Ladies Day 3 - Complete Disaster!

This was MY stage....My stage to shine.  The one I waited for, the one I trained for.  This was the stage last year that gave me the time back I lost on the flat with a bike issue.  This is a Tina Taiwan made for me stage!

I wasn't nervous at all.

But, I was a bit tired.  It took quite some time to sort out our room situation.  We ordered massages (actually hired about 8 girls from Bangkok to follow us around to get massages) and it took a considerable amount of time to get it situated.  I didn't get my massage until 9:30pm...  my legs were quite tired.  I am not confident I had enough water to drink, nor the right 'recovery' stuff. 

We were told we'd ride out with the Juniors and Masters.  Someone must have complained because we were originally to ride out with the M40's again.  I was looking forward to this as I knew the pack would be stable and slightly more conservative as they had 90km more then we did.  There was a lot of wheel sucking to be done on the climb.

So, we take off with the Juniors and Masters.  The Juniors surge....  fast/slow..... on/off... it just goes on and on and on... finally a good surge that lasts a respectible amount of time and a couple drop, two of the women and a couple of the old guys.

Thud....thud...thud... I look back....oh... my tire looks a bit ... 'fat'.  NOT GOOD!

Its flat alright!

"Where's the neutral wheel guy?"  AAUUGGHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Finally, he stops.  Change out the wheel, and off I go.  We were told the rules were that you get a push back to the group  you fell out of, if you were in a group.  I was.... but no push.  He sped off before I could protest, but yelled quite loudly.

So, I try to overtake the riders who had fallen, maybe a group will form?

A few of the old guys are just hangin on....  one holds my wheel for quite some time.... then I say, "hey, we need to rotate here!"  we do, he falls back for my turn and then he simply falls back.

I come up to one of my teammates.  I thought she was waiting for me.  But, as it was, she was just taking it her own pace and wished me luck.

I just bear down....hoping to catch a few on the hill.

I see the very back of the peloton, but guess what.....  my wheel.... so I stop to look really quickly... (as it turned out, I eventually loose the break pad, so... )  The peloton is gone and up the hill.  thinking we only had 6km to go, it was more lik 12km.  Again...not entirely clear information!

My climb was pathetically slow.

The heat was unbearable.  I was having pains in my chest and really wondered if I would be getting heat stroke.  The water support was amazing, there was just nothing in me and I never, EVER felt so sick on a climb.

I climbed a full 4kph SLOWER then the year prior. 

Finally making it to the top, I do pass one rider, and see the next.  Thinking if I catch her, maybe a 5th place....I never do, but see her cross the finish line.

Her time:  2:22,
My time:  2:27,
The girl that I passed and watched her cross a few minutes after I finished:  2:27,
My Polar/Garmin time:  2:24...

hmmm......official times weren't even released until late that night.

Whatever....

I lost about 14 minutes on my GC, but still had a large enough time gap to keep 3rd if I didn't drop, flat, or crash tomorrow.

By this time, I was so upset with the flat, no push, no pull, bad timing, and having learned others were going to request MORE time be added to my time.... I felt really alone.

It was not a good race day.

Tour of Friendship 2011, Ladies Day 2

The profiles of the race seem to be a guarded secret.  So, luckily (after taking several hours to find a room) we are roomed with Locky and Laurus.  Locky seems to have been enlightened on the course.  He informs us:

"The course will start immediately outside the resort, no neutral/warm up area.  There will be a hill at the 20km mark that will be about 1.5km long, maybe 5% grade.  Not sure.  Then rollers and a few hills later in the stage".

Okay... if I can keep to the front, I have a chance.

I start on the front... after yesterday, no way am I getting dropped for being an idiot.  I know better!  So, I hang in the front for a while, the speed is good, moderate, and 'warm upable'.... if that makes any sense.

We get to the first hill, the undisclosed, surprise hill....  I climb, and actually, climb well.  I study the climbing of the girls ahead of me and think.... I can hang with them... I am not off from them.  I study Christina's climbing and Serene's, Gabi's and what I thought was Coleen's.  What I didn't realize was that many of the women dropped at that first 5km hill.  All but, Christina, Serene, Gabi, Zarrah, Michelle and myself got dropped.  I didn't know.  I thought we were all together, but thought Molly and Julie dropped.

Now, our group is going quite slow.  I ask Laurus what's going on...."we are letting the guys get away"...  our M40 teammates....

Watching the clock and knowing the 'unknown details of the 20km climb' were upon us.... it is getting HOT.  Christina is drinking, I better drink.

As advertised, 20.0km....we start our climb....our little 2.5km, 150m climb....  I hang in as best as I can....my position should have been at the top of the peloton to survive the climb.  I know realize my gears are not all there for me.....  aauugghh....crap!  don't have my easiest two gears.

I pass Zarrah (the Pico girl).
I pass Michele
I pass Gabi

Colin is in the van yelling, "Tina get in there..... hang on!"
I try...
I try...
I try...

I bomb down the hill pedaling as fast as I can.....

they are GONE!

(again, insert your favorite swear word)....  Hmph!  25km down, only 115 to go!  alone....

(again, insert your favorite swear word)....

I am not angry... I just get pedalling... something will happen.

Eventually, it does, Gabi is in a group that catches me...."Get in Tina" she yells, and I do.  We work together for some time.  After turning off on the "magical mystery tour" sort of diversions of a road, there's a huge pot hole..... Gabi hit it dead on..., "are you okay?"  she gave me the thumbs up...good!  At this point, I think there are about 5 ahead of us.  Gabi said, "no, only Christina and Serene".  I don't believe her because I couldn't account for the other PICO girls, Stacey, and Coleen.

Gabi flatted.  After fixing her flat, she never caught back up.

Our group disbanded and we dropped a few, some more aggressive riders tried to catch the next group up the road..  I yelled at the front, lets go catch them... I'd take off, I figured whoever came great, but I am not going to putz around waiting.  Good decision.

I caught up with #450, Phillipe.  He had a techincal... he was 3rd in the prologue and he was trying hard to catch the peloton.  My kinda guy.

"Wow, I am very impressed with your riding".

We work together for quite a while taking in those who could work and dropping those who couldn't...

Unfortunately.... for whatever reason, my own stupidity.... muckin' around w/ my water bottle or something, I dropped.

(again, insert your favorite swear word).

Hoping to catch up or get caught, I don't.  I finish the last 45km alone.

I know I will pay dearly for that.  I also didn't know a group wasn't far behind me. Even though they'd cost me 2 or 3 minutes, it would have saved me ooooooodles of energy for the next two days.

Live and Learn....

I cross the finish line and see Alex..... humilated.... I just say, "so where's Coleen?".... "I haven't seen her?"  WHAT? come on!  surely the group of 5 or 6 stronger girls finished with the pack.

People kept telling me.... they only saw Christina and Serene in the M40 group.  I didn't believe them.

Not until about 10 minutes before the ceremony was it confirmed that I infact got 3rd place.  If I could stay upright, and with the pack...3rd in the GC was likely mine.  The spread was soooo vast amoung the women.  Remember, some got dropped at the 5km mark, and with 135 to go with or without a group, the lagging groups are never faster then the front groups.

I was 22 minutes behind the 1st group.
I was nearly 30 minutes ahead of #4.

Fair, unfair?  All women had the same conditions.... if we were only women what would it have been like?  would we have waited for those that dropped?  Or, rode off without mercy so early?  Would I still be alone?  So much decided on one stage...well, it happened last year as well.  Its Thailand, there are mountains...

 I never drink the night before a race, but didn't see any problem with a few sips....  gave1/2 the bottle to Colin.

Its racing in Thailand.

Tour of Friendship 2011, Ladies Day 1

On our way to the start line, I looked over to Paul (I think) and said, "Hmmm....looks like there could be a rain cloud or two, think it will rain?"

By the time we got to the start line, it was raining.  First, a few sprinkles, then some big drops...then came the thunder and lightning.  I asked the organizer if we continue in the thunder and lightning and she said, "sure, no problem".  O....K....  Thunder and lightning scares the crap out of me, so I wasn't excited to say the least.

We start with the Men 40's.  Our ANZA Mavs had been training like gangbusters and seeing their speeds on STRAVA made me a wee nervous.  Our peloton in Vietnam is not stable, and I struggle... and sit in the back.  I know the M40 guys are strong, fast, but stable and have etiquette.  If I can hang in, I'll get the speed by default.  The whole point of group riding, right?

Takes me a bit to get comfortable in this group.  Keeping an eye on the ladies, everyone knows everyone except  me and the Franzia woman.  All the other women are from Singapore.  The ladies cluster and I stay to the back of the cluster, keeping the wheel of Coleen or some of the others.

It starts to rain a bit, but nothing terrible.

The motorcycle guys start to pass out water bottles, the rain and nerves seems to hamper the ability for folks to hold onto them.... they start flying, my teammates start calling out all the dips, etc in the road.

We go through a puddle,
we enter a construction zone
we are slightly diverted to the right,
the peloton passes through a narrow lane between two parked cars....

I, along with all but 5, girls got dropped.

(Insert your favorite exclamatory swear word, I probably said it....)

I hauled as fast as I could.
The narrow bit was too long....
I pass several on my way to catching up...

I never catch, but game on..... go, go, go, go....

Eventually, I catch up with number 711, a girl named Michelle (#5 in the GC).  I say, "Hey, lets work together...  to the end". so we do.  then it rains, and pours, then the thunder and lightning.

We don't know if we are on the right road....
maybe we are lost....
the trucks are passing through knee deep pedals splashing water up and over us...
the thunder and lightning is getting louder and closer.  I count in my head.

I am miserable.

At one point, the water was so high we had to walk our bike around a huge puddle.

Finally, about 90km into it, the weather was tolerable again.  Light rain, we were off the main highway and on an only wet road.  I can do this!  I will go steady to the hill and just climb... surely someone has dropped....right?  maybe I can pick them up, maybe I am not completely out of the GC.  You only give up after you crossed the line.

My teammate is in a van and comes to my side and asks me to stop.  "Locky called (team manager) and ordered women in the van".  What?????  She said she argued but he was insistent.  The thunder and lightning was in the mountains and the conditions were very dangerous.

What do I do?  I feel I have to obey.  We offer Michelle a ride, but she says she will continue.  I don't have a choice.  Well, of course I have free will, but we have two vans for 25 riders.  If I opt to go on my own, if we are in fact on the wrong road....  I don't know WHERE I am suppose to go.... and there is NO guarantee anyone will come find me.  What if I have a flat, what if I crash....  its all at my own risk.

I text Gjermund, "DNF"....

We look for our other teammate, Julie.

We don't actually find her, and she has managed to ride to the hotel.  The storm cleared the mountain and we would have been fine.  Now I am beyond pissed, and know I have no GC.  I am angry....  I feel I should have continued, but in the heat of the moment felt what Molly was telling me, I had no choice.

As it turned out, they cancelled the race.  In the Open category, a lightning strike was within 20 meters of the peloton and the guys could feel the electricity through their bikes and handlebars (even taped and rubber tires).  When the group tried to climb the hill, they couldn't get traction.  Imagine an entire peloton of less experienced riders...  there'd be crashes for sure.

The organizers made the right decision for our safety, but did it in an awkward way.  That said, it had never been done before, so surely there will be neutralizing rules in the future.

Many riders were scooped up by the sweeper van....  we all go the same time except the girls who made the break.  They got 8 minutes less.  I felt it was fair for them.  I had doubts about what I had done if it was fair, but at the time I got in the van (at the managers orders), the race was neutralized.  I discussed endlessly with some of the guys and our acting managers, etc.  They all agreed, I got in the van after or about the time the race was neutralized... if a bus came along and picked up the peloton, it would have all been the same.  Later in the week, I would learn that some would protest that more time should be added since I didn't finish.  Quite hurt by the sentiment, to be honest.  I was the only one in GC who got picked up, but I wasn't the only one picked up and given the time, but my time was the only one being protested.

That's racing.

If we protest everything in the Tour of Friendship, then just don't go.  Last year, no one was there to mark a turn.... I rode 5km further then I needed, it cost me the podium and one place in the GC....

On Ladies day 3, they added 3 minutes to my time...but to protest.....

It's racing in Thailand.  

Tour of Friendship, 2011

4 days racing,
Thunder and lightening, torential rains, slippery roads
Hot, hot, HOT Thailand weather....
2500m climbing
Only 395km riding
14,000 calories burned
new max heart rate:  191
Oldest woman in the peloton,
Malaysian pro team there...

3rd in the General Classification!

More later....