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: Driving Miss Judith

Stage 5 - May 21: Castelnaudary - Castelnaudary, 31.5km

I got to sleep in until 8h30!

Warming up
Photo: © Ellen Plas

At breakfast I still felt like I was in a trance or something. No big deal, it worked out that I didn't need to do that much before going to the time trial. Alex and I would be the first ones there, leaving at 12h15 with the truck so that we could set up and prepare for the riders to come over. The most important thing was to empty my soigneur car, and pack everything in the truck. That wasn't too much work.

Had a nice talk with Ina Teutenberg this morning. I can't really tell you anything about Ina, cause that would blow her cover! I just have an enormous respect for her, I love her to death and really miss having her around. She has an awesome, fantastic, amazing, wonderful common sense. Very sincere, which I like most about her. What you see is what you get. No going behind the back, just straight in your face, so at least you know where you're at. Wish more people would be like her.

Lunch looked fantastic! The organisers had arranged a buffet, as all riders had different start times and therefore also different lunch schedules. Usually riders eat three hours before the start of their race. A lot of nice vegetables and salad, pasta as always, and then the dessert… fromage blanc with apple compote. Yummy!

Then Alex and I took off. It was fun to drive in the truck together. We listened to these old French pop songs and made a lot of jokes. Alex is really witty and we both have great sense of humour… so we're never bored.

We parked well, near the hall were they would have the 'Cassoulet' tonight (the sponsor dinner that all the directors and staff are invited to), and I set up all of our stuff inside, on the back stage podium. I did that last year also, that was the best idea ever, as then it was pouring rain. Luckily it stayed dry today.

Then I took care of the girls as they were coming in. We're getting the hang of it. I know what they need, and they know when to come and see me for whatever they might want. So it's pretty easy now. No stress.

I did get some excitement today, as I was the one driving the car following Judith on her time trial. Jens followed Trixi, as he could also help her in case of mechanical problems. And I followed Judith with Petra firing her on and giving her tactical information about the course, Alex as mechanic and Madde for psychological support. We heard a lot of "Weiter, weiter, weiter, schööönn"… Words which everyone who was on our team last year (Saturn) during this Tour, will remember, always.

It was so cool to be behind Judith. She's got such a lovely style, an amazing bike rider. She was fast too, sometimes it was difficult to keep up with her, then our tires would squeak in the turns.

Last year during the Tour I got to follow her too. That time, it wasn't that plan, as our director was meant to be back in time after following another rider. Somehow that didn't really work out, so instead of following Kimstar (Bruckner), I had to stick with Judith, who then had the yellow jersey. She left in good weather, but shortly after the start this incredible storm came up. I was so stressed, scared that the wind would blow her off her bike and that I would hit her with the car or something. The wind lifted her and her bike up, several times, which was very scary to watch. There was 5 cm of water on the road. It was a day to be in bed with a book by the fire place, while the wind is howling, not a time to be riding a bike! Leontien (Van Moorsel) won that day.

As soon as we made it to the finish, I helped them clean up, and then back to the hotel.

I hopped in the truck with Alex again, he let me chose the music. Alanis Morissette, unplugged. Classy lady, amazing voice.

Then dinner, massage… some extra taking care of little problems caused by being in the saddle too long on too bumpy roads, and then time for me. Writing about my day, SMS with friends around Europe, my daily phone call and time for bed.

Tomorrow we have a stage starting and finishing in the same town as today's TT. That was the day where last year, as it was cold and threatening to be very wet, I put hot stuff on the rider's legs … and then the sun came out. I believe it was our dear Scrymo (Kristy Scrymgeour) who suffered the most. Another sweetheart I really miss having around. I'm already looking forward to doing the World Cup race in Montreal, and then Philadelphia. It will be great so see some familiar faces!

Time to call it a night.

Hasta mañana,
Ellen

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