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A new start: The Tom Danielson diary 2005
After his ill-fated stint with Fassa Bortolo in 2004, likable American climbing specialist Tom Danielson looks to have found a more conducive home for 2005 with Lance Armstrong's Discovery Channel team. Follow his diary on Cyclingnews as he rides alongside the Boss as part of Discovery's ProTour arsenal.
Stage 6 - Saturday, March 12: La Crau - Cannes, 184km
Stage 7 - Sunday, March 13: Nice - Nice, 135km
Coming on strong in the final stages
I would say these stages went quite well. The team got stronger and we showed that on stage 6. We were the only team with all of our guys in the front group. Eki is amazing! Just today he mentioned that he started racing (and winning of course) the same year I was born. He looks so strong now I don't even believe him...
Both stages I started to find better form and felt quite good. I worked hard on riding at the front, and although I was using too much energy, I started to see patterns. Man, it was so much better. My team just said “look at it like eliminating chances for something to go wrong.” Sure maybe now I am using lots of energy to be there, but by doing it I am improving my chances to be “able” to be in the race. The first stages I was out of the race just simply by position.
Well, anyway, I did what my team wanted and did everything to be there. The legs were good too and once on each day I tested them as the team wanted on some climbs. I cannot tell you how fun the last two days were for me. I finally feel like I am understanding the race better. Leaving Paris-Nice I feel like I have gotten way more then I could have hoped for. I am very grateful to have been able to be included in such a strong and wise team and learn first hand from and with the best in the world.