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This year looks like being a crucial one for talented American rider Tom Danielson as he moves from the now-defunct Saturn team to Fassa Bortolo. After a 2003 season that saw him win the Tour de Langkawi and defend his Mt Washington hill-climb title, the latter part of his season was marred by injury. After spending the off-season fixing those injuries he has high hopes for a 2004 with the top team in the world. He also hopes to master the Italian keyboard!
Halfway through season 1
Euskal Bizikleta and Tour de Suisse, May-June, 2004
Hello all!
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I have just finished the first half of my season. Whew, what a relief! I would say it has been quite journey with many accomplishments. To tell you the truth, I didn't think I would be able to accomplish quite what I have. Racing at this level is a whole different sport. The style is different, the distances are longer, the conditions are worse, and the level of every racer is quite higher. But I absolutely love it and am motivated to make it to the top in this new arena.
I have to say as well as difficult it is also extremely fun. It is a good feeling to be able to push your body to its absolute limit, recover, and then somehow reach a new level. It is amazing what you can accomplish when your mind is behind you, and racing at this level has done just that for me.
I have had some good races in June with a top 20 finish in the Euskal Bizikleta with quite possibly my best race ever finishing with the leaders on the last mountain day. I was climbing with Heras and Zubeldia, and for me that was equal to my biggest win. I think that race was by far the hardest race I have ever done. Every day was 100% from start to finish with only the strongest left at the end. It was racing in the form of natural section. To say the least I left this race on a big high. How appropriate to have one of my best races near the original town of Durango that my home town is named after!
Five days later I started Tour de Suisse. Here I again had good form, but less luck. The first day I had a flat tire. When I got back from the car, I arrived to a peloton missing many of the favorites. I asked what happened, and in the time that I was getting a wheel change, a break of 40 riders went. Sweet, huh? So, with almost all the teams represented, the field sat up and the break gained 18 minutes. Well, now, I was out of GC for sure, and my morale was quite a bit low.
For the next three days I did everything I could to get in breaks. Something that here at this level is extremely hard and rarely ever happens. Some days I would go in 15 different moves, and no would make it more then 5 km. But, doing it was very hard and for sure took its toll on me.
However, somehow, on the 211 k day I got in the move. Not the ideal situation for me as the mountains were coming the next day! But, hey, I was upset how the race was going before this point and this was my opportunity to do something here. With three other riders we rode almost to the finish and got within 6 k. With 20 k to go with had 3 minutes and if you take the chasing rule of 1 minute for every ten k, it looked like we would make it. However, I learned in a big way that this rule does not apply after racing for 200k, your companions are all blown, and four teams are chasing behind. But, I didn't know this and with a nice climb 5 k from the finish I thought I could win the stage. So, I rode with everything and right before the climb was caught! Urrrgh.
But the next two days would remind me of this effort as they were hard mountain days and my legs were missing. I left one in Spain and the other somewhere in those last 30 k. So, I could not race the first two days in the mountains and took them very easy. However, on the third one I had a day to remember. The first part of the day I got in a move of five riders that was perfect to go to all the way to the finish. Everyone was out of the GC and the big teams were represented. It was perfect for me and I worked hard for 20 k as I was the best climber in there, and if I played it right I could have won the stage.
Somehow, my bad luck would continue. Don't ask me. Chocolate Jacques put their whole team on the front and chased it down. Why? Good question. I think something fishy went on between Fabian Jeker's team and them as he wanted to go for the stage win. What a bummer!
Anyway, on the last climb, I was able to climb with the leaders and in the end I lost just over 30 seconds to Ullrich. I was very happy and so was my team, especially Ferretti. He spent the whole climb next to me in the car giving me many words of encouragement. Not too bad and finally I got the boost of morale I was looking for all week. So for the most part, this race was now positive for me as I learned more and was able to continue to improve.
Now I am on vacation. I will take ten days off the bike and regroup in Durango, Colorado. I am very excited to spend time with Kristin and my friends. It will be nice to see everyone and hear all of their stories how everything has been going for them. I also hope to catch up with Colorado Altitude Training and Clif Bar as they have helped me every step of the way this year.
Right now I just have to reflect on the last years and pinch myself. Three years ago I was wondering what I would do in my life. Would I go to work in a big city? Move to Denver? I wanted to stay in Durango, but what would I do? I had a dream, but to me it seemed it never would come true. Now, it has come true. In fact, 100 times true. Never in a million years would I have thought I could get here. Now, I am finding my feet and riding myself to the level of accomplished racers three years ago I could only have dreamed to get their autograph.
Well, that is it for now. I hope to run into many of you in the next month in the States as I rest, and then begin my training for the Vuelta. I will keep you posted on how Durango is treating me and how my training is going for the second half of the season is going. I really appreciate all of your support and I will continue to work hard towards the biggest of goals.
Bye for now,
Tom