The Tour du Faso is an interesting race. Taking place over 10 days in the central African country of Burkina Fas
o, things didn't start great for the team. Some issues with flights had us spending an unexpected night in Paris without any luggage. We then flew out to Burkina Faso via Niger (a banned country for French people at the time due to kidnappings), getting to Ouagadougou (the capital of Burkina Faso) just minutes before team presentation. We all got our bikes upon arrival, but some were missing luggage, which was not recovered until about 4 stages into the race.We got there, put on some kit and went straight to Team Presentation, not even having time to lather up with any anti-mosquito spray to fight off the malaria mozzies...
Stage 1 started at 6am with a long bus trip to the start. With our legs still shot from the flight, we headed off on stage 1, where Guiguig finished 2nd just behind Dutch National Champ Peter Van Agtmaal. A good start to the Tour.
Stage 2 had us all devoted to Zibi going for the sprint.
We sat on the front for 40km controlling the field and breakaway until the order came to ramp it up. Dorian and I were the first to pop having done 80% of the work on the from for the past few hours... as we rolled in slowly and alone for the final 15 or 20k, the rest of the boys took over at the front and brought back the break just in time for Zibi (already wearing the Pink Points jersey) to win the stage. Another Great day!
Racing in Africa, I love it! There's something and special about it!
Stage 3 started a little less well for me. I passed out at Breakfast and was helped back to my room where I spent some solid time on the toilet as well as throwing up. Having not been able to eat anything, and feeling beyond rough I had to sit in a bus for over an hour to the stage start. This was one of the longest stages of the race at 160 something K. The team warned the Doctor that I wasn't well and told him to keep an eye on me. I held on for a while, yoyoing off the back of teh race seemingly constantly until I finally popped with 60k to go. I rode alone through the Sahel desert for 40k. It was 47 degrees in the shade (which is interesting because there is no shade out there) and I was alone... no water, no one around and sick. My only company where a few military guards with AK47s dotted along the course as protection following some Al Qaida threats on the race. My body started to shut down, and i eventually came across a French ride on the ride of the road, totally fried. We sat on the side of the road waiting for the ambulance. That was the end of our Tour. Julien finished 2nd on the stage and was looking pretty good for the GC.
A somewhat unclassy live TV interview, totally fried I tell the TV I've diarrhea... that's class...
I couldn't eat or drink a think for over 24hrs... by which time I was put on a plane home. Burkina Faso is an interesting and risky race. From day 1 guys were just falling down at the hotel and being taken to hospital and shipped home. You get sick very easilly over there, and just a bit sick... really REALLY sick.
The team went on to win the GC with Julien and everyone rode unbelievably. I was very very sad not to be there. Guigui finished 4th on GC and Zibi brought home the sprinter's jersey!
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