The View From The Team Car
A different point-of-view for today’s report: from inside the team car riding along with the Directeur Sportif and mechanic.
The pack powers through the wheat fields in “étape sept”.
We are “car 11″ in the caravan of team cars, police motorcycles and the race medical cars.
Ruth Corset suffered more bad luck again.
After only 10-kilometers of racing, the bad news came to us over the radio–”Ruth is off the bike”. When the team car found Ruth, the neutral service car was already there attempting to help. The team mechanic jumped out of the car even before it stopped and performed a rear wheel change in a few seconds. But it was too late, the peloton had sped off. In the brief amount of time it took the team car to reach her and replace the wheel, the peloton got 2-kilometers down the road.
The team director got on the radio and called for Rebecca Much to slow down and wait for Ruth. Orders were for Rebecca to assist Ruth and see if they could make it back up to the peloton.
Meanwhile up front, a 4-rider breakaway launched off lead by sprinter Ina Teutenberg of HTC-Columbia. These four stayed away for the rest of the day and finished 2-minutes ahead of the pack. Cervelo attempted to catch the breakaway group but was unsuccessful.
Team TIBCO’s Brooke Miller won the first sprint bonus, and kept the Red Jersey. Brooke and Emma Mackie stayed with the main pack and finished in 6th and 18th at the end of the day.
Rebecca and Ruth rode their hearts out attempting to catch back up with the pack. They were allowed to ride close behind a police motocycle for awhile, but in the end, the distance was too great.
Quiz for our readers.
Earlier today, Sandra our translator/driver (shown in the photo at right) was walking around the team cars in the starting area when a Frenchman walked up and gave her a “bisous”. What was exchanged? If you think you know, send your answer to us here. You could win a wonderful gift from the friends of Team TIBCO at ProTech Skin Care.
The Directeur Sportif has researched the race course and keeps his notes taped below the race radio.
Team TIBCO European Directeur Sportif Chris Georgas interviewed by our translator/driver. Watch for this video to appear on the teamtibco.com web-site soon.
Congratulations to Tanja of San Francisco who won a supply of Peets Coffee in yesterday’s contest. Tanja knew that a “kit” was the complete set of team clothing worn during the race.
Correction:
Yesterday we reported Marianne Vos was in the breakaway at the end, but in fact, it was Liebet De Vocht and Annemiek Van Vleuten. Marianne Vos also of the dutch Nederlander team has managed to hold her own in the main group and currently holds the Green Jersey for the most consistent rider. (Sorry for the mix-up. I assure you someone has been flogged for this.)
