Second Edition News for April 22, 1997

Rolf's Diary Update - LBL

8 o'clock get up, 10 o'clock two and a half hours of training, 1 o'clock eat lunch, 2:30 team meeting, 5 o'clock massage, 7:30 dinner. In between watch TV, a little computer work. That was my day today, very boring, but quite typical. And some thought that we had an interesting life. Actually I would really like to spend more time at home, since I still have a lot to take care of. But now I just have to hold on through the Henningerturm race in Frankfurt and then go on holiday with the family.

Since 1 January 97 10,488km, 32 days of racing, and slept 70 times in a hotel.

Liege-Bastogne-Liege

All bundled up warm I roll away from the start at the back of the field. Already I see riders including one of us attacking. It makes me furious, yesterday at the Team meeting I clearly said to each rider, that if they were planning something special, they should let their team mates know. I have nothing against a quick start, but please, I'd like to be near the front. Of course, Marc Streel was not with Georg Totschnig as he sped off. What kind of rider do we actually have here! If one of the young riders actually reached the finish it would be a wonder. Although I also must make an effort, for the course is really hard. Almost 5,000 metres of climbing in 263km. I roll along at the back of the field, keeping my head out of the wind, sparing as much power as possible, so long as possible. I look for Gianni Bugno to chat with. It's the first race of the season that we're riding together in. He's like always, complaining about his legs. I do too by the way, but that's all part of it. It begins to snow lightly as we pass the 50km point, Georg has in the meantime a 12 minutes lead, but 20 minutes wouldn't be enough, and the field rides unhurried. First hill, first feed zone, nothing happends. All know that the race will begin first on the Cote de Wanne.

By km 135 I begin slowly but surely to cheat my way towards the front. The jostling and pressure during last 10km before Vielsam is greater than normal - the riders are all still fresh and want to take the first curve at the bottom of the hill near the front. As the first rider turns, one is astonished, that I'm one of the lead riders going into the Cote de Wanne. Rolf, you've done well again, I can pull through the curve mit 55km/h, and I know from experience, from the 40th position they'll go 20km/h. A lot of power spared, inspite of this I lose quite a few places, but it's not so bad. After the descent one has another 5km time until the turn around point before the Cote des Hezalles, the first really steep and narrow slope. In 10th position in the curve I'm straining in the 39x23 on the rear wheel of Laurent Jalabert! After a kilometre the descent and right onto the Cote de d'Aisomont, about 6km long, but not so steep. But all know that one must stick in at the front of the descent, because there's already a crowd during the climb. At the front during the descent and at the front on the Cote de Stockeu, again straining with the 23, descent and on the Haute-Levee, the crowding, I think, has noticeably receeded. Ahead they attack, I remain in my position, too much head wind! On the following flat part I see that we're still 70 riders strong. From my team there are only the three old Italians and the old Swiss remaining, the young ones have, it seems, already gone. The Cote de Rossier is ridden up very fast, I'm somewhat near the back and have to struggle and suffer. We drop a few riders, unfortunately also Marco Saligari from us. I somehow come through with the pack, somehow I have to recover, but how? The second feed zone, I snatch my musette and chock down an Extran drink, perhaps it'll help. Somehow I have to get over the next hill, then I'm saved until La Redoute.

I manage it somehow, but begin the climb on this bloody hill too far to the rear, that's due however to my legs. Over the first two slopes I'm still with the pack, on the last slope it happends, again straining with the 23 cog I'm 10m behind over the crest, but I can't accelerate enough on the flat stretch. Bloody hell, I'm still the third rider from Casino, now I have to ride full out in the last 35km because of the World Cup points for teams. On the next hill I'm only 30m behind the last car, if I could only latch on, I could be shielded from the wind and get towed up to the group. At the hill prize line on the Cote des Forges it's already 200m and in the descent with a head wind it vanishes from my sight. Still 22km totally alone in the wind and totally knackered.

On the last hill I'm captured by my former team mate Fabio Baldato and Roberto Pistore with two from Once and Gan. Likewise the German Champion is also here and rides like a mad man. I have to struggle here as well. On the finishing climb I have to think of the sprint, since I'm the third one on the team. But first I have to hang on and second it seems laughable to sprint for 50th place. Fabio comes to me and laughs. "Devi fare la volata, eh?" "If I still can, I should." At the finish line I somehow smuggle myself by the other riders. Totally blown but at least I finished.

Translated by David Wear