Back on track: The Marion Clignet Journal 2004

French track legend Marion Clignet retired from racing in 2000, intending to become active as an advocate for women's sport. But after two years off the bike, and perhaps inspired by the other female champions she's encountered while working as a presenter for French TV, Clignet returned to the velodrome in 2003 to the velodrome in a determined comeback. After a solid year building a foundation, Marion's back competing at thehighest level in 2004.

• Index to all entries

I'm a happy camper

March 22, 2004

Here I am, back and oooffff... relieved after racing my first road race of the season and a full-on World Cup no less.

Amidst dodging flying waterbottles (the girls were tossing them up the climbs as if 100 grams would make a difference... good thing for helmets!) and fighting a bit of nausea in the beginning of the race, I am a happy camper. My biggest problem I suppose was being under-geared.

No excuses, just reality: I always use a 51 in the beginning of the season, but not having an 11 to descend the Poggio and riding the flats with a tailwind in a 51x12 put me at 150rpms... so the 53 will come on earlier this year.

In any case, this new treatment seems to be working well; I am no longer fighting fatigue as in the first few days and this week I start a higher dose, as I have to wean off my old medication and work my way onto the new one.

So I'm now off to Spain for a stage race and World Cup next Sunday. Congrats to a spectacular show by Luperini, Zabirova, and Melchers, WAY TO GO GIRLS!

Results