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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Giro d'Italia Femminile - 2.9.1, Italy, July 2-11, 2004

Holiday on ice

Prologue - July 2: Pordenone Individual Time Trial, 2.8km

Couldn't have timed it more perfectly. We had just ridden the course: a nice cobblestone start (though tame for cobbles), bit of descent and straight across a boulevard into another straight cobble section before sweeping a sharp right into another smooth right and a long sweeping stretch before a sharp right, smooth left and a left and a right again - before bringing it home and to the right up a short cobbled rise... all in 2.8km.

More fun was to be had as it started to rain ever so slightly as I climbed onto the rollers to warm up a bit more. 20 minutes to go, it was no longer tinkling but full-on pissing... Last minute preparations: oh yeah, might as well put the full-on heat oil before the start, peppermint oil in the nose, the works...

First issue was getting up the soaking wet starting ramp in wet shoes with the bike. A very nice man graciously grabbed my arm and half towed, half yanked me up to the starting podium. And then I was off, almost as if in a dream; couldn't see much as it was, but now in the pitch black pouring rain, I couldn't see squat!

The motorcycle in front of me forgot to take the first turn and went straight so I turned without him and at the next set of turns I honestly had a hard time distinguishing the barrier from the curb... must be my past coming forward. In any case, I stayed up, slow but stayed up. As we left, we saw two ambulances zipping off in the distance; I sincerely hope it was just cobble rash and no one was hurt. A pro rata on times in these conditions wouldn't be a bad idea. Can't give ya results cause I haven't a clue.

Just hope its more fun tomorrow!

Cheers,
Marion

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