Zabriskie’s Point: Short but not easy
Today was a short day, but we knew it would not be easy. Erik Zabel wanted the win today and Team Telekom started drilling it from the gun with Kelme to keep all the attacks from going too far. It was a wicked cross-wind and there was complete carnage in the back of the field. Fortunately, I was up front with the rest of the team helping to keep Roberto out of trouble. It was very intense but we made it and Roberto didn't lose any time to his danger guys on the stage. Before the race I was giving a private concert in the bus, sometimes I like to take the mic and bust out a few tunes to
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By Dave Zabriskie, U.S. Postal Service cycling team
Today was a short day, but we knew it would not be easy.
Erik Zabel wanted the win today and Team Telekom started drilling it from the gun with Kelme to keep all the attacks from going too far. It was a wicked cross-wind and there was complete carnage in the back of the field. Fortunately, I was up front with the rest of the team helping to keep Roberto out of trouble.
It was very intense but we made it and Roberto didn’t lose any time to his danger guys on the stage. Before the race I was giving a private concert in the bus, sometimes I like to take the mic and bust out a few tunes to make everyone laugh.
Yesterday was another hard day. I don’t think there are many easy days at this race. The climb that the race went over before the finish was brutal. I got dropped and stopped to go to the bathroom on one of the switchbacks there were a lot of cycling fans above me screaming like crazy and laughing, a lot of them gave me some good pushes once I got up to them.
We also had a 200km transfer after that stage yesterday. I spent most of the time on the phone it seemed like everyone wanted to call at the same time. Chris Carmichael called and we talked a little bit about how I am feeling, I’m actually getting better than when the race began.
He reminded me of the hard days to come and the importance of recovery! He also said that if I don’t finish a stage I’d better be missing a leg or something. After seeing Michael Barry finish after his horrible crash, I was asking myself could I have done the same?
He was very tough to finish the stage, but I think the right decision was made for him to stop the race. Tomorrow is the TT and I plan on going easy, I need to save as much as I can for when Roberto needs help. Then, finally, a whole day with no race after that, yeehaw.
I have a feeling that Johan is going to make us train hard or when the race starts up again we will be all closed up. A little strange how the body works. Frankie Andreu is coming to help direct for the second part of the race, I’m looking forward to that.
I just saw the results for the race in San Francisco, sounded like a hard race, too bad the team lost. Congratulations to my old team, 7UP, though. That is a good result for them.
Okay, that’s all.
-Dave Z.