Photo: © Roth

The Ellen Plas Diary 2003

Welcome to the Ellen Plas Diary. Ellen is a soigneur with the top German women's team Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung, a job that's 20 percent masseur, 20 percent gofer, 20 percent morale-booster, 20 percent den momma, 20 percent chef and 20 percent organisational wiz... and 120 percent busy.

Ellen Plas interview: Taking care of business with Equipe Nürnberger

Tour de l'Aude: Travel & sickness

May 14: Travel day from Nürnberg to Carcassonne

Up at 5h30, as I planned on leaving at 7h30. I always promise myself I'll start packing in time, but I always end up just throwing everything I might need in my duffle bag at the last moment. I must like time pressure.

So I packed up my stuff, checked the house before leaving. Put my plant on the terrace, as I fear it won't survive much longer. When I'm there, I always forget to give it water. And I don't have little kobolds in the house who do that for me when I'm gone either. Got my bike from the basement. Checked the oil level of my car, and I was on my way.

The plan was to meet up with Jens Zemke, my sports director, somewhere on the way, but to be more or less on the same schedule, we'd try to be in Freiburg around 11h. I had a few traffic jams, so I fell behind. I do think I have a heavy foot, but apparently Jens' is even heavier; by the time we were supposed to meet up for lunch they must have been about 50km ahead of me. And I wasn't speeding anymore, because today was the day that I first got to test how far my car would still drive on an empty fuel tank. Now I know that I for sure can still do about 70km after the light comes on… as long as I stay behind a truck going 90km/h

The drive went pretty smoothly so we arrived in Montpellier around 18h, where the riders' plane was due to land at 20h05. That gave me time to buy some water, fruit and some stuff to eat, as from Montpellier to Carcassonne, we would still have an hour to go. And I've learned that it is very important to keep your riders' stomachs full at all times.

After that we even had some time left to go find us a nice terrace in the sun, by the harbour, and chat over coffee. It's such a hard life!

And then to the airport in time. It was so good to see them all again. We've become this little family, so it always feels like coming home. Most of the girls were so tired. They also had had a very long day.

When we arrived at the hotel at around 22h30, our mechanic, Alex, was already awaiting us with a big smile on his face. I had a little surprise for him, a radio-controlled digital alarm clock, which I'm lending him for the rest of the season. His clock ticks really hard, so it stops Jens from falling asleep. So I did them both a favour. I also brought him my radio-tape-CD-player, though I had a hidden agenda there, as I love to listen to music the whole time. So now, when I come down to the truck at least it will be swinging.

I made sure that everybody had water to drink, and then also bedtime for me!

Breakfast is at 9h, so we can practically sleep in. I'm so happy, because now I'm really tired, although I'm floating on air. I had a fantastic week at home, I'm finally settling in in Nürnberg. For the first time, I felt 'at home'. And I had the time to go out and meet a lot of new people, as my friends are the ones I miss the most. I can't replace my friends from home, but I can do something about feeling lonely in a new town, thanks to the good old Internet. So now that my batteries are recharged, LET THE RACING START!

May 15: Pre race day & Team presentation

We switched hotels in the morning, while the girls went for a training ride. After having checked in and put all the bags in the rooms, me and my part-time colleague went grocery shopping. We bought a lot of stuff, because I really hate grocery shopping, so I try get supplies for as many days as possible.

Then we had lunch and massage. The girls went to the team presentation with Jens and Thomas (the other soigneur), so I had time to organize my kitchen and do the laundry.

I even had some time to sit down and chat with Alex, our mechanic. The poor guy has a lot of work being on his own. I'm luckier than last year… I've got someone helping me this time. It's important for massage, because the stages end late and otherwise I would be massaging until 23h, which isn't fair to the girls who need their sleep!

After dinner, I sat down with my mechanic from last year Stef. Coffee time! And the table kept on growing. Like in the good old days. This is one of the things I like the most, the chatting after all the work is done.

I miss the Ozzie soigneur from last year though. Robin works for fakta now. And I also miss Magnus, the mechanic from Farm Frites last year. I decided it was time for bed. I could feel my throat getting sore, and the last thing I need is to get sick.

Prologue - May 16: Gruissan - Gruissan ITT, 3km

Finally, we're getting started.

I wasn't feeling any better though. Felt jittery, feverish and all the veins in my head were bonking. Got the truck organised so Jens and Thomas could leave with it at 10h to prepare the next hotel. We'll be staying two nights in Port-la-Nouvelle, near Narbonne.

My only hope now was Olaf, the BDR physician. He always has a solution for everything. I can't afford to be sick now! After the truck had left, we still had 4 hours to kill, so I rested for a while and felt miraculously better afterwards.

The drive to the race was fun, music playing, us singing along. It's important to have good atmosphere. The truck was already awaiting us and they'd found a perfect parking spot. Chairs were put out on the porch of one of those holiday houses. Really cosy.

For time trials I make everything the riders might need available at short reach. Then they all take what they need. It's important to make sure that whoever is warming up on the rollers has a bidon and a towel to wipe off their sweat. It was all pretty relaxed.

We won! Petra was first, Judith second, Mirjam Melchers third and Ina Yoko Teutenberg fourth.

I had a challenge: trying to shoot better podium pictures than I did last year. So we all rushed to the podium. This was actually the first time Petra had taken the yellow in the prologue, in 15 years! Alex and I both got spoiled, the girls gave us their flowers. It's a nice feeling to be appreciated.

We went back to the hotel, gave massage, did laundry… drank wine to celebrate the victory and then bedtime. This was a really nice day. Hope my throat will feel better in the morning though.

Results

Stage 1 - May 17: Port La Nouvelle - Port La Nouvelle, 123km

I had a really bad night's sleep. I came up with a really bad dry cough. My throat hurts so bad. At breakfast I immediately looked for Olaf. He gave me some nose drops and something to ease my throat and stop the coughing. Feeling lousy. Doctor's orders: "Get some rest!"

He was right, but it is hard on me to take it easy. I can't cope with the feeling of being powerless; I need to have it all in hand, to be on top of every situation. No race for me today, no massages either.

The first time since I started as a soigneur that I spent a day in bed during a race. As soon as they left, at 13h, I laid down and immediately fell asleep, and I only woke up by the time they got back (18h30). I made myself useful preparing everything for the race tomorrow, so we'll have an easy morning.

Now it's 21h30, I'll quickly throw the last laundry in the dryer and then I'm hitting the sack … again. Please let me feel better in the morning!

Results

Take care,
Ellen