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Team Slipstream diary
Throughout the year, Cyclingnews will feature a regular Team Journal from
Team Slipstream/Chipotle, with entries from various members of the squad, who
will share their experiences and feelings of competing in North America and
Europe. Cyclingnews is proud to be a supporting sponsor of Team Slipstream/Chipotle,
providing some of North America's most promising cyclists with a great opportunity
to develop as riders, racing among some of the world's top racers in professional
events.
May 9, 2007
Back in action in Dunkirk
By Mike Friedman
[Editor's note: Mike Friedman is making his return to professional racing after being diagnosed last year with a rare blood condition called Factor 5 Leiden, which causes blood clots to form at an unusually high rate. After having a pulmonary embolism, Friedman was sidelined so he could be treated for the condition. He makes his return in the Four Days of Dunkirk stage race this week.]
So, here is a quick update after the first day.
Except for a small race in Colorado this stage of the Four Days of Dunkirk was my first "real" race. When I say real, I mean 'look at the start list and see who is there' real. Yeah it's pretty darn cool warming up next to Team Milram and looking at Erik Zabel while on the trainer. Oh, and when Peter Van Petegem stares at you as you roll by that is also weird, because tomorrow and the next five consecutive days I have to attempt to sprint these goons. Let's keep in mind that I just came off of coumadin, and that my coach, Allen Lim restricted me from doing much intensity on that medication.
I was the fourth rider off at 2:34pm chasing Nico Mattan from team DFL-Cyclingnews. I got within 10 or so seconds from him by the line. The whole time, my director, Johnny Weltz, was in my earpiece yelling in a Dutch accent, "come on Friedman, come on", "so strong Friedman, come on back up to 65 k per hour, come on Friedman, we catch this guy, eh?", "it's Nico Mattan, Friedman, come on!", "First race back, you are good Friedman, eh? First race back!", "You show 'em Friedman, so strong", "Very good very good, very very very good Friedman."
This was very motivating to hear. It was raining when I left the starting gate, and it's mentally hard to push through sharp corners with lots of road paint when you are slipping all over the place. This was the hardest I've gone in the eight months since the elite track nationals, and I was on top of the world. I don't care if I get dropped or how bad I have to suffer this week to hold on. It can rain, get even more windy - hell it can even snow, and I will be in heaven. I love racing my bicycle.
The wind may have been worse for the later riders, but the roads were dry, and the wind was brutal all day. It's too bad I was the fourth guy to go, but honestly I couldn't care less. The team seems to have ridden strong, from what I heard over the radios before leaving in the team car for the hotel, but I still don't know final results.
I have about five to seven pounds of weight to lose prior to returning to full race shape where I left off last year, but I am really motivated and feeling pretty strong considering the lack of high intensity I have.
I'm rooming with Huub Duyn, who rode for the Rabobank squad last year and won the U23 Paris Tours. That is a hard thing to win. Our French Champion, Kilian Patour is a funny man too. These guys like learning various things in English to say to other people. You can imagine some of the things they learn - ha ha!
My leg that originally had the blood clot in it feels weird when I sit in the car or on my bed too long. It has a heavy dull ache where the clot was before it broke free and moved to my lung. The team doc who has done extensive research on this says these feelings are normal, and keeps my head clear of bad thoughts saying that I lived with the genetic predisposition for 23 years before having a problem. Nonetheless, it's still really scary.
Tomorrow the second stage is from Dunkerque to Saint-Amand les-Eaux and is 190.8 km. The weather is supposed to be the same - high wind warnings, rain, and cool temperatures. I love this stuff, and I'm not saying that sarcastically.
Time for my massage, and some dinner.
Celebrate over a beer, wine, dinner etc. that I'm back racing my bicycle after an eight month sabbatical dealing with a Deep Vein Thrombosis, leading to a near death experience with a pulmonary embolism. Also please say your prayers that I will remain safe, healthy, and get stronger throughout this race and many races to come.
-Meatball
AKA: Mike
