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Tom Danielson had a stellar first half of 2003, winning the Tour de Langkawi and dominating US domestic races along with Saturn team-mates Nathan O'Neill and Chris Horner. Although he managed to defend his Mt Washington hill-climb title the second half of his season was limited by injury, and with the ending of the Saturn team Tom has high hopes for a Europe-based 2004 with Fassa Bortolo.
Winning the Tour of Langkawi
Well, the Tour of Langkawi is finished and I am finally back at home in Durango. Wow, that is a long trip! Over 36 hours of travel time from Malaysia back to Durango. Things have been really crazy over here since I have been home. It is nice though to talk with reporters from other countries and see each of their individual perspectives on the race.
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So you are probably wondering if I actually believed I could win this race on the Genting day or not. To tell you the truth, I didn't. The people I was racing against were idols, sort of rock stars that you only dream of meeting, let alone race against. But I knew that I came here to race my hardest so I was going to give it my all and see what happened. Another variable that I had to deal with was the pressure. There was pressure from the press, from home, from myself, and from my teammates (who had worked so hard all week so the race would come down to this stage). But I told myself that one of the components to this job is dealing with pressure and thriving on it. When stage nine came and the field entered the base of the Genting climb all intact except for one Collstrop rider slightly ahead, my legs seemed to come alive. Eric, Tim, Phil, Nathan, and Chris all brought the pace up to 50 km/h on the bottom and the field was strung out.
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Behind them, I was feeling good and confidence took over. Halfway up the climb I found myself in a group of 20 and with Anje's (my director) calls, things were really coming together. Although my legs wanted to attack, I covered moves from Lanfranchi, Green, and Munoz's trio of Selle Italia super climbers. Somehow, with 5 km to go I was even more confident. The heat was unbearable, both Green and Munoz looked great, and the climb was getting steeper. With 4 km to go Munoz put in a fierce attack which dropped Green. I covered it and sat on him. The next 3 km would be Munoz violently attacking me on the 18+ degree gradients. He was strong! I kept on his wheel and so many times wanted to try a counter-attack. I was not used to all these surges and felt if I could ride my own pace I would be better off. A few times, I swung out and began accelerating only to here Anje come over the radio saying, "No, No…just follow him! He has to drop you!" So that is what I did.
Entering the last kilometer, we shot down a 60 km/h descent towards the finish. I had no idea where I was going or what was around that hard left hand corner that was approaching. Well, the finish was around that corner and I had done it! I had won the Tour de Langkawi in the toughest battle I had ever fought. Munoz, the classy racer he was, had won the stage for his hard effort. Everything seemed to work out great. All we had to do now was to stay out of trouble in the criterium and it was all over. Stay out of trouble was just what we did as rain and sketchy corners awaited us in Kuala Lampur the next day. Luckily, the team's job was made a bit easier as the race was neutralized for GC as it was ruled too dangerous by the commisaires. Still, the final stage was up for grabs and so was the green jersey. This kept it exciting for all of the spectators and those who were watching it on live television. Finally, 12 laps later, ("The Longest 75 kilometers of my life," Chris Horner put it) we were all safe and the Tour was over!
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That evening around dinner the team felt proud as each one deserved an equal piece of this victory. Each contributed equally and uniquely; Nathan for winning the time trial and his amazing pace-setting on the climbs; Chris for his hard work, brilliant strategic calls, and motivation; Phil for his ruthless kilometers on the front, his 52 km/h pull on the bottom of Genting, his Perfect 10 magazine, and his constant encouragement; Tim for his unrelenting effort to keep me safe, out of the wind, and that great cup of coffee every morning; and Eric… for being my roommate all through camp and during the race, your insane pulls on the front, being in every move that went off the front, and for keeping those Malaysian girls happy with your "abs of steel." As for the staff, Anje for his humor, great calls, rally car driving skills, and motivation. Mike and Stef for keeping the machines all working perfectly. Chantal and Karen for keeping all of us recovered and well fed. And everyone at home (especially my loving girlfriend Kristin) for staying up late cheering for us and watching our every move on the internet!
Overall, the Tour of Langkawi was a very emotional experience for me. It was accomplishing a dream that was so big I could never dream it. It also showed me the power of teamwork, something that I get to go back to on March 6th when the US racing season begins in Pomona Valley. I am looking forward to helping my Saturn teammates continue the winning attitude we had at the Tour of Langkawi.