The Marion Clignet Diary 2000
End of year Bash with Laurent Jalabert (and friends)For a few years now, Laurent Jalabert's fanclub has organised an end of the year bash so all of the riders can get together and the public can meet up with them as well. We hardly see each other during the season since our races rarely coincide, so itis nice to catch up with each other at the end of the year. We usually start the festivities on Saturday mid-morning with lunch followed by a 50 to 60 km ride with whoever wants to come along. Since this was my last official ride I was invited to officially hang up my bike (hook was provided) on the podium afterwards. Seeing as we rode some in the rain and it was a bit cold, after being introduced to one and all on the podium it was a bit of a race back to the hotel to warm up. Once a bit warm we (Didier Rous, Cathy Marsal, Stephen Barthe, Stephan Goubert, Nicolas and Laurent Jalabert, Philippe Louviou, Gilles Maignan, etc.) went to Laurent's father-in-law's house for the 1st round of appetizers followed by round two at the local Town Hall a short while later. From there it was onto dinner with about 400 of Laurent's fans with an awesome band that kept us going until 6 am. For those who had the courage, next stop was coffee at Laurent's in-laws and then off to a friend's house out in the mountains of L'aude to hunt pheasant. The man who owns the domain makes a nice red wine which usually accompagnies our festivities. After hunting it's lunch time and then off to the send off of a local rugby game. From there it's bedtime. As for my official blitzing to celebrate my career end, havent really done it yet...saving the best for last.
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