AT HOME

Sunday evening I arrived back home after the Tour de Picardie. I suppose you are already well informed about it, so I just give you a short summary.

1st stage: Boué – Doullens (181km): The stage was distinguished by a long breakaway of three riders. We had to work really hard to catch them and then, during the final, Bozic and I tried to achieve a good result in the field sprint. Bozic crossed the finish line 14th position, I sprinted to 15th. I am satisfied because I felt quite good during the stage.

2nd stage: Friville-Escarbotin-Belloy – Cires-lès-Mello (186km): Saturday`s stage also finished with a field sprint. With 3km to go and while fighting to cover Bozic a crash occurred. Fortunately I didn`t fall but I had to slow down and therefore I could´t take part in the final sprint.
3rd stage: Crépy-en-Vallois – Sissonne (174km): The last stage ended in a field sprint as well. As the weather conditions have been perfect and as there weren`t any climbs, everbody had the chance to take part in the final sprint and consequently there were once more many crashes due to the nervous atmosphere.
Even though I couldn`t place myself among the firsts, I had three competition days in a row. Now I will spent some calmer days before starting my preparation for the Tour of Belgium.

TOUR DE PICARDIE

Tomorrow I will leave for the Tour de Picardie that will take place from Friday to Sunday. The course is not adapted to me but let`s see day by day how the situation will develop. These three competition days are for sure important in order to find the right rhythm in view of the Tour of Belgium. I hope that the weather in France will be springlike because during my training today it rained once more and this current weather starts to bother me.

RAIN

Yesterday morning I didn`t go for a ride because the weather was once again unfavourable. We are already in May but spring still keeps us waiting.
On Sunday I had taken part in the Granfondo di Breganze and then I had ridden back home so that I had made 180km in total. It had been a perfect training and apart from that a nice sport day. Among the participants had been many pro-riders. I had taken advantage of the situation and exchanged some words with colleagues that I hadn`t seen for a long time like Ballan, Furlan and Grendene (Lampre), Pavarin and Brambilla (CSF), Bandiera (Katusha)and Ferrara (Camioro).

Bye!

GIRO D'ITALIA

The Giro d`Italia started yesterday in Amsterdam and once again I am constrained to watch it in television. Like I have already said several times I am really sad that my team is not allowed to take part, particularly because I had been convinced that we would have been invited and also because the Asolo stage passes in front of my house and therefore through my training area. Well, the only thing that remains to be said from my side is “Good luck” to all of my colleagues who are taking part.
Apart from that the weather conditions were not nice during the last week so that I had to adjust my training schedule. Next week I will ride the Tour de Picardie and afterwards I will try to get over the Giro exclusion riding the Tour of Belgium. Belgium is my second home but nothing can be compared to the corsa rosa.

SWIM FOR CHILDREN

This time I am not telling you anything about cycling but I would like to talk about an important project that I am supporting: SWIM FOR CHILDREN. It is a 24hrs lasting event that will take place in Padova from Friday, 11th June at 20:00hrs to Saturday, 12th June. The idea is to collect some money in favor of the foundation “Città della Speranza” by trying to establish a Guiness World Record: as many people as possible have to swim at least one leg during these 24 hrs. As the challenge is funny and for a good cause, it is logical for me to support this event. Furthermore, as you probably know, I have already supported the “Città della Speranza” other times. If you want to get some further information you can visit http://www.swimforchildren.org
But this time I am asking you for more. I would like to form a group of riders-swimmers so that we can concentrate at a certain moment of the day and stay a bit together. Please let me know what you think about it and then, eventually, we try to organize ourselves.

FOURTH PLACE

On Saturday I was riding “Rund um den Finanzplatz Eschborn-Frankfurt“ in Germany. I finished fourth out of a group of 25 riders. Reflecting the race I have again split feelings. On the one hand I am happy about my placement and my shape, on the other hand the victory was closer than ever this year but I missed once again the opportunity to win a race.

The race was hard and Carrara and myself had decided to make the race difficult in order to avoid a mass sprint finish. During the climbs we attacked continuously until the group split up. Furthermore Matteo had been in a breakaway for several kilometers. At the end 25 riders fought out the victory but I had lost too much energy in closing gaps. It is a pity because I have been beaten by riders that are in general slower than me. At the end I have to consider that race as another well done one because I felt good during the climbs but I really hope that I won`t have to wait too long for the desired victory.

I will be at home now for two weeks before taking part in the Tour de Picardie.