News from racin' JP

I just spoke to JP. Today was his first BIG race with the Pros. He said things couldn't have gone worse. At the drop of the flag, there was a crash, he was cought behind it and spent the whole race playing catch up. The race ended with 5 finishing loops in town, he did 1 loop and dropped out. There are 200 riders on the start line of these races, and once you get dropped it is VERY hard to get back on. Even though the race caravan is VERY long in these races, with not only all the team cars, but sponsor cars, press cars, commisairs, VIPs etc etc, which all make it easier to get back on, it is still very hard. Trust me, I know, I was dropped quite a few times in those races a couple years ago, and bouncing through the caravan and getting back on is VERY hard. Even when you de get back on you have usually felt SO much energy on the road that you are pretty much doomed anyway.

They have luckily changed the format a bit from when I did those races, so now you can still race Sunday if you don't finish Saturday. That means that John can still race tomorrow's 2 stage. They were off to get some food, before a good nights sleep in preparation for day 2 of the Essor Basque tourture fest 2006! :-)