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.

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A climber after all

Trophée des Grimpeurs, France, May 2, 2004

AGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH! The scream you let out when you open your bike bag...

No big deal really. I guess nothing worth such a scream if not that I was a little tired, it had rained all week in Toulouse and that after three days of riding 80 bloody kilometres on the trainer in two rides this was too much. I had put a 38 on for Tour of Flanders way back when and being the lard arse that I am was too lazy to change it. It works fine with the 12-25 so I figured I'd change after Trophée des Grimpeurs where we climb a 1.5km hill every lap that starts at 6 and finishes at 16% for the last 500m on an 8.5km circuit.

When I pulled out my wheels it was clear that lard arse had also forgotten to change her race wheels and still had the 11-23. I can make it up the climb with that no worries but with the 38 it will leave too much slack in the chain causing a lot of auto shifting which is no fun on such a climb.

Before I completely panicked I called a few pals on pro teams to see where they were and if they could help. One was off this week, the other was Campy - I'm Dura-Ace - and the others hadn't arrived yet. Oh well, being the ever so patient mechanic that I am and with just my ability to turn the little screw on the derailleur by hand I did some adjusting as best I could and went for a spin. Seemed to work okay though as soon as I applied major pressure the crack-crack thing started up with the gears. Okay, I'll get an early start in the morning to the course and see if neutral support can help.

8am off I went. The first guy I saw said the best would be to take out a few links in my chain but not recommended before the race and finally the Mavic guy, bless his heart, just pulled the derailleur arm or leg, whatever it's called, back to take out some of the slack. that being said and done the flag went down and the race was off. I was a bit nervous as this was my first French cup and my first race in the French peloton this year. I realized there were loads of new faces I didn't know but apparently the old ladies still have it.

Over the top of the climb on lap one, silver medalist in worlds cyclo-cross Marylene Salvetat accelerated on the descent. A good move as the descent is a bit technical and quite fast, a gap is easy to get. I went after her as did Elodie Touffet-Leroux, winner of the first French cup, Alexandra Le Henaff (young x junior national road champion), and Longo (one of those older ladies that still have it!)

The group strung out a bit as we got a small gap and over the next climb I decided to test my gears as lap one I stayed in the 23 and just sat and span. At about 500m I accelerated a bit but realized that in order not to jump from the 15-17-23-13 I'd have to hold the shifter as I climbed. No biggie so I applied some pressure and turned to look back. Hey! where is everyone? I had a fairly large gap so off I went, kind of hoping someone would join me just to keep me company if nothing else!

Who could have asked for a more gorgeous day in the north? Rain in Toulouse and an awesome sun in Paris! I continued on, looking back from time to time and seeing nothing. I was on my own as no one from my club or team could make it so I was just hoping someone would give me a time check. The motorcycle finally approached and held up a board reading "2 riders at 17" and the peloton at 1'20". If I could make it over the climb solo I'd be set; I pushed on.

At the base of the climb the crack-crack started again and holding the lever didn't seem to help much. Oh well, I pushed on keeping as steady a cadence as possible. At the top of the climb I turned to see Longo in the hot pink French cup leader's jersey bridging to me with Magalie le Floch on her wheel. Ooof, some company at last even if... Fom there we continued, not much more to tell other than that, the motorcycle kept telling us the peloton was at over 1'50.

With two laps to go Longo accelerated. As soon as I crested the hill and could put it in my big ring I hammered down the backside to bridge with Magalie in tow. We continued together until the next climb where I was trying to figure if I should risk spinning myself into oblivion as the 23 was the only gear that didn't autoshift or should I try my big ring or what? Longo accelerated from the bottom and at about 30m from the top I pulled over to force Magalie to pull through. She didn't and Longo continued.

Yes, I could bridge but Magalie seemed fairly fresh... To make long thoughts short, when you're on you're on, don't waste your time thinking about it just fucking go!

I gave a half-hearted attempt to push on with Magalie still in tow, turning a few times to plead her to pull through and really not understanding that she was in a bit of trouble. I had already wasted precious time and at the base of the hill I sat up, Longo being 10 seconds ahead by this time, enough to stay away. At 500m and the steepest part I thought best to rev it up a bit hoping my 19 would work. It worked as did the 17 and 15 and OW! so I powered up in the 15 some and then held on to the shifter for dear life as Magali sprinted to second I plodded on to third.

Longo keeps the hot pink jersey and I came away with a very nice prime for being the most aggressive rider and the thought that hey, I could maybe be a climber after all!

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