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The Kimberly Bruckner Journal 2004
Like many top riders, 2001 US road champion Kimberly Bruckner has the Athens Olympics in her sights as she returns to racing after surgery for a soft-tissue tumour in her ankle cut short her 2003 season. With her T-Mobile squad in its second year, her diary this year will document the highs and lows of the US' top women's team.
Double dosage
Tour de L'Aude Feminin, France, May 14-23, 2004
Stage 8a - May 21: Conques sur Orbiel to Conques sur Orbiel, 46km
We're in the midst of our one double day in this tour. This morning's stage hurt... mostly because we had to get up so early!
I don't think I've had to set my alarm this whole trip until today. When stages don't start until 2pm, why get up early? So this morning was a shock to the system. I'm also in that mode where now I'm just eating for energy, not because I'm actually hungry anymore. During stage races, eating becomes so automatic. I start to feel like a little machine.
We left the hotel at 7.45 for a 9.45 start. The stage was only 46km and rolling... a good stage for sprinters. Only five teams have won stages here so far. T-Mobile with two, British National with two, and Nurnberger, Gazelle and Nobili with one each. With 16 teams here total, we knew the other 11 teams would be in the hunt for a stage win.
Holy cow, my legs were feeling it as we took off from the gun. These short stages always end up being harder than you expect. On one roller, a group of five got away and all teams seemed content to let it roll. In the break was a SATS, Basis l'Aude, Canandian National, Vlaanderen, and a German National girl. Our little Lara, who's been riding like a champ here, almost made the break but just couldn't quite close the gap. She's made such an effort this whole race. Its been so impressive.
With just 20k to go, the group kept rolling along. The final 17km were mostly downhill and the speeds really picked up. The gap to the break went from 1'20 to 0'35 by the end. The SATS girl won the sprint for the stage win. The stage ended around 11:15 and the afternoon stage doesn't start until 3pm. So here we sit in the parking lot. At least its a nice day!
