World Wide Cycling
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2005 Dji Sam Soe Tour d'Indonesia - September 11 to 21 Marco
Polo - Greenfields Fresh Milk Cycling Team Riders: Nathan
Dahlberg, New Zealand Michael
Carter, USA Rhys
Pollock, Australia Eddy
Hollands, Australia Robin
Reid, New Zealand Director
Sportive: Puspita Mustika, Indonesia Sponsorship
Procurement: Matthijs Wiggers, The Netherlands
Report by Michael Carter Wednesday,
September 7, to September 9.
Off
to do my last race as a rider with Marco Polo and it involves yet another long
voyage - Denver to San Francisco (2
hours), San Francisco to Tokyo-Narita (10 hours and then a three hour layover),
Narita to Singapore (6.5 hours and over night stay), Singapore to Jakarta (1.5
hours), Jakarta airport to the hotel, 30 K, 2 hours! But I am racking up the
miles. Need to look after my wife (who as I write this, is 7 months pregnant) and I
flew Business Class over to Austria for Master World's. I burned all my miles
for that trip so a trip like this helps restore those precious miles. Singapore
was wonderful. I stayed one night there in-bound to Jakarta. Singapore ranks
right up there with Japan as a land of cleanliness and order. Jakarta on the
other hand gives "third world" a whole new meaning. What a boondoggle
of humanity! Traffic, pollution, poor little kids that have no shoes and are
filthy, begging at every stoplight. Indonesia is definitely a land of contrast.
New skyscrapers are everywhere and have people living at the foot of them in
corrugated metal shacks. The air
pollution is as bad if not worse, than Beijing or Shanghai (both of which are
much worse than Mexico City).
The
Marco Polo Cycling Team rode the Tour d'Indonesia as Greenfields Fresh Milk
Cycling Team, an Indonesian sponsor. This was necessary because in Indonesia
Marco Polo is also a cigarette brand as is the main sponsor of the Tour, Dji Sam
Soe. (Photo: Francis Cerny) After
finally arriving at the hotel, I run into Eddy and Rhys in the lobby. They are
just getting ready to walk over to the mall where we eat. We have coupons to
Hartz Chicken, an all you can eat joint that costs about $3.00 US, and that
might be over paying for what you get. (Not really that bad, but definitely
worse than the dorm food I ate at Colorado State University). After
our "haute cuisine" of Indo all you can eat fried chicken, we start to
walk home but are caught in a down pour. I talk Eddy and Rhys into hailing a
cab, and I offered to pay the fare. $.40 US later (yes, forty cents - Indo is
cheap), we arrive back at the hotel, safe but most importantly, dry. In
my room I receive a "Welcome Letter" from Dutchie Matthijs (Matt).
Very professional, I might add. He has in the letter an itinerary of what the
next few days hold for us, as well as a synopsis of the stages and distances.
Matt is in the marketing business, Greenfields Fresh Milk company is one of his
clients. Evidently, fresh milk here in Indo is tough to come by so a couple of
Kiwi's and Aussie's saw an opportunity to import diary cows, set in fields of
green and produce milk. The only thing they did not think of was getting the
word out to the folks of Indonesia which makes for good work for Matt. Saturday,
September 11.
We
are riding this race as "Greenfields Fresh Milk" due to a conflict of
the "Marco Polo" name with the main sponsor of the race, Dji Sam Soe.
Marco Polo happens to be a cigarette brand in Indonesia, like Dji Sam Soe.
Therefore Marco Polo is not welcome, but with our Indonesian sponsor Greenfields
we can participate. Matt
was as you might guess by now behind that and has done a crack job at procuring
not only the money needed to have us here, but also at providing us with
jersey's, t-shirts, caps etc. and an excellent support staff. Matt is also
responsible for the sponsorship for the Marco Polo Adventure Team and they will
race in Telkomsel kits, a cellular phone company that includes Dutchies Anno
Pedersen, Franck Terwel (I rode Tour Of Puerto Rico this last April with both
Franck and Anno), Remko Kramer, Amin Suryana of Indonesia who placed 2md on G.C.
here last year and his compatriot Dwi Haryonto. Matt will act as D.S. for that
team. After
a meeting scheduled at 9:00 for the morning finally gets underway at 9:45 (I had
to go wake the Aussies out of their slumber), we head out for a ride in the city
of Jakarta. Craziness abounds with cars not respecting lanes, bumper to bumper
traffic, motorcycles and moped by the thousands zipping between cars and buses
and then us, trying to negotiate all that as well as trying to not to breathe!
End up with nearly three hours, and it turned out OK. Just happy to get some
exercise and out of the hotel room. Sunday,
September 12.
The
organizers have planned a "tour of Jakarta" parade for us. Starts at
7:30 AM which is OK with me since due to the 13 hour time change, my body does
not care what it does at what time. Sunday's in Jakarta are relatively quiet
with not as much traffic, and the ride through the central part of this massive
city of 13 million is enjoyable. We end the ride at a park where the opening
ceremony takes place. Impressive actually. The Asian races always have big
"to do's" at these events, save the Koreans. After
the tour ride we returned to the hotel and load up, drive en masse 3.5 hours
along the route that was the first stage last year. 195 K's on narrow winding
roads that change from the flats to rollers to a stair-step climb that is
brutal! The climbs feature grades that easily surpass 10% in places and after
160 K's, that would hurt. The route offered a spectacular landscape. As we start
up the climb, we pass through rubber tree plantations and then tea orchards.
Beautiful and green and the temperatures drop from the 99 degrees with 80%
humidity that greeted us in Jakarta, down to low 80's. Nathan ended up in a
break here last year and finished 3rd on the stage but had some crazy time gap
like 20 minutes in the end and ends up winning the overall. So we have our work
cut out for us - defending champs. Giant is here in force, and the other Dutchie
team here also has a good climber. Anno gave me the scouting report on him, so I
am sure I will be mentioning him here again soon.
Franck
Terwel and Remko Kramer, Dutch Marco Polo Cycling Club riders in the Indonesian
Telkomsel Team waiting for the start of stage 1 of the Tour d'Indonesia 2005 in
Bandung, at the background an historical colonial building. (Photo:
Francis Cerny) Monday,
September 13 Stage
1, Bandung - Cirebon, 134 K.
Craziness!
Never seen anything like today. The first 30 to 35 K's were through narrow
streets with cars everywhere! We had to ride nearly single file through the
streets due to the trucks, buses and cars clogging the road. Amazing no one was
killed. I heard that there was one crash, but unbelievably, that was it for
crashes. The
course had a slight downhill, then two climbs of what I have discovered are classic Indonesian style - gradual
climbs with wicked sections that go straight up. These "walla" are
short, so they are power climbs. The heat and humidity was affecting everyone
seems. There were a lot of attacks, but nothing was able to stay away. That is
until after the two climbs and we hit the flast for the last 50 K's or so. I
thought that this would be a good time to attack, so I did - and a rider from
Vietnam and one from the Philippine Casino team came along.
The Philippine rider was good, taking pulls that matched mine. The
Vietnamese rider was OK, but hurting a bit. We built a nice break, then a group
of 8 that included notables Remko Kramer (MPCC) and Paul Griffin from Giant had
escaped the field and were closing in on us. Just when I could see that group
coming, I sat up. No sense in driving it - better to wait for the group to join
us. Just as I did sit up, my two break away companions kept on riding and
started to roll away from me. I looked down the road, and saw the mid-race
sprint line, so I dialed it up, came from behind them with speed and won that
sprint! That put me in the "Green Jersey," something I never win.
After my sprint victory the group of
Remko, Paul and company all rolled along well, but I was starting to fall
apart. I started sitting on quite a bit, which I am not used to doing and don't
like to do but felt it necessary. Then
with about 12 K's from the finish, another group of 9 joined, which included Rob
Reid and Hossein Askari from Giant among others. I was shattered. The heat had
done me in and in the "gallop" (or sprint to the line) Remko got 5th,
Rob ended up an impressive 2nd and Paul Griffin won. Yikes - sufferin' big time!
Michael Carter took the green sprint jersey at the first stage of the Tour d'Indonesia 2005. (Photo:
Francis Cerny) Tuesday,
September 13, 2005 Stage
2, Ciberon - Purwokerto, 187 K's.
Uh,
oh. I was knackered. Lights off at 8:00. But I could not fall asleep and at
about 9:30, felt this cascading feeling in my stomach. I have felt this before -
means only one thing - I knew I was going to spend some time on the toilet. 4
trips in total - did not sleep at all. Felt horrible in the morning and very
weak. I did take an Immodium, which I do not like to do, but this was so bad, I
knew it was a necessity. Same
hot, humid weather. The race organization decided to let everyone who rides 70%
of the stage to climb into the bus, and receive a 15% time penalty based off of
the last finishing rider. Word was out, and that bus filled, me included. As for
the rest of the Greenfields Team, Nathan was very active as was Rob, Eddy and
Rhys. This stage was 100 K's of flat, then a nasty climb from K 128 to K 143. So
the magic number for me was 134 - I cam around a corner, and met Andrew Lewis,
and two others. Remko
Kramer: "This climb was cruel. At the start
of the climb we already hit some supersteep sections of only a few hundred
metres but around 20 percent! We had to pull maximal at the 39 x 25 ! There were
still some rollers going down and that is were a break went. Eddy Hollands went
along which was a perfect move for Greenfields. I survived in the front of the
field and the climb got harder. The steep sections got steeper, longer and no
more going down. At a flat part Ghader Mizbani launched an attack and the race
exploded. I got dropped from the first group with 4 Giant Asia riders in it and
no Greenfields nor Amin from our Telkomsel Team. When I passed Eddy it looked
really bad for our teams. I suffered at my maximum heart rate and could catch on
at Rhys and Robin who passed me. I hung on until the top and with some
Indonesian riders we tried to work together to prevent loosing time. However we
had to do the work and of course the guys that sat on outsprinted us at the
finish."
The
mountains in Indonesia were so steep that many riders had to ride zigzag across
the road to make it to the top. (Photo: Francis Cerny) On
a very nice, air conditioned bus, we continue on picking up the stray rider here
and there. Then on the descent, I saw a Marco Polo bike with the #3 on it
smashed on the road. That would be Eddy. Rats. Word was that he was in the
hospital with a broken collar bone. The report was changed to a broken back.
Hard for me to always discount these reports like this after witnessing two
riders killed in races. It's a dangerous sport. At any rate, Eddy landed on his
back, on a rock and took a good beating all right. But he will be OK. The rest
of the race was a disaster for us. Rob and Rhys were over 3 minutes back, and
Nathan even further. Dave McCann and his entire team made the front break of 15
and won the race. Giant is in total control now, and I am pondering heading
home. Nathan wants me to continue on, try to help out. I have a moral dilemma
with dropping out and then making an impact on the race in any way. The only
thing keeping me here is that I have to go to Beijing after this race concludes,
so I might just ride to pass the time. Not a fun way to end my career with Marco
Polo, but it has been good. Wednesday,
September 14 Stage
3, Purwokerto - Yogjakarta, 204 K
This
stage ended up being 220 K by Nathan's computer. In order to get to the 70% mark
I had to ride 140 K to make the bus - which I did. I am starting to feel a bit
better for this one, but still far from good. I was dropped on the big climb
that went basically from sea level, to 1,400 meters (about 4,200 feet) in 16 K -
that included a few flat sections so that made for some wicked steep sections.
Guys were using 27's! I stuck with a 23. Rhys ends up off the front solo after
60 K, drills it! Gets caught by a Kazak rider from the Indonesian Polygon Team,
ends up 2nd in the "H.C." climb, Robin and Nathan jump away from the
field and end up catching Rhys and their group grows to 20. I am tucked nicely
in an air-conditioned bus and have felt better. Rob ends 3rd! Amazing these
guys. Of course, when you feel horrible, hard to keep things in perspective.
Hossein Askari of Giant takes the GC lead from his team mate Paul. Dave McCann
did not start - out with a major bout of "Indo - out it go" disease.
He is not alone. Many other riders are suffering from that now. Thursday,
September 15 Stage
4,Yogyjakarta - Solo, 134 K
This
stage featured another 1,400 meter climb after 45 K's. The KOM was at 66 K, so
another wicked climb. I am a hairs-breath from not starting - did not sleep at
all last night, but Eddy who has to suffer the fate of following the race in the
team car and with his back a mess - nothing worse - talks me into it. He tells
me that it's good for Nathan, Rhys and Rob. Of course, I do catch some flack
from a few riders but that is OK - harmless really. Nathan gets away early with
three others, builds a lead of 10 minutes by the bottom of the climb. As we hit
the climb, I come off as that fluish, achy feeling overcomes me, but I settle in
to a rhythm. Start to feel good, and start putting a bit more into the pedals. I
look up and see Rob dropped! UGH - since there is more money in team GC than
individual and Rob is our 3rd guy (team GC takes the time of the first 3 riders
each day), I work to get to him. Make it, help pace him to the top, where he
goes banzai on the descent. Nope, not for this elder conservative and expectant
papa. I take it easy. What a fun descent, except the oncoming traffic and on a
road that really is no wider than a bike path at times. Rhys makes the front
group. Nathan is still in front together with Peter van Achtmaal. They work
together very hard and just make it till the finish. Nathan ends up 2nd, and one
more "new one" for me, the guy who wins Peter van Achtmaal is a
Dutchie who is smoking a pack of cigarettes a day - I could NOT believe it when
I saw him smoking back in Jakarta! I thought he was the mechanic. But his
teammates say that he does all the time and he is just amazing. An anomaly I
would say. Rob makes almost to Rhy's group, and I finish in the next group.
The guy who won climbed in the bus on stage 2, so now I feel no shame at
all about carrying on. Feeling better!
The
price ceremony of stage 4 of the Tour d'Indonesia 2005 with stage winner Peter
van Agtmaal and number 2 Nathan Dahlberg from Marco Polo Cycling - Greenfields.
An elephant delivers the prices. (Photo: Francis Cerny) Friday,
September 16 Solo
- Rest day.
Just
in time! After three super hard and hot days, this day arrives just in time. We
enjoy a bit of a "lay-in" as it is referred to do down under, then
head out for a leisurely ride of just over two hours on relatively quiet roads -
if there is such a thing in Indonesia. Felt great to just roll along, enjoy the
day. Then back to the hotel where there is free I - fi" internet in the
hotel lobby. I park myself there and work for about 3.5 hours getting caught up
on all of my Echelon Sports Performance duties. Feels good to exercise the grey
matter for a change. This day flies by! Saturday,
September 17 Stage
5, Solo - Madiun, 108 K
This
is a pancake flat course, so its really almost a rest day, or could have been.
The attacks start straight out of the blocks, and don't end all day. Seems every
team is on the attack, except Giant who just follows. They seem to be in total
control and do not really show any signs of cracking. Not much to report on,
except that it was even warmer than the last few days, if that is possible. Very
fast all day - with 20 K's to go or so, we have to stop for a train, but
everyone does so its no big deal. No changes to any of the GC places. Duthcies
go one - three, with Bastian Krol third and again Peter van Achtmaal first!
Tomorrow and Monday are biggies, so it will be interesting to see how that one
transpires. The heat is sure to take a toll. Stay tuned! Sunday,
September 18 Madiun
- Malang, 234 K.
The
attacks started fast and furious, with a group of about eight escaping, only to
be reeled in after about 20 K's. That just led to counter attacks, and another
group of eight formed. This group held only a three minute lead due to the fact
Giant has managed to be very persuasive at convincing three other teams to help
control the race. So now, Giant has the team from Beijing that includes Yu Tong,
a rider who is on the Marco Polo team and is currently in 5th on GC, Polygon
that has two Kazak riders and Dodol Picnic, both Indonesian teams assisting
them. These four teams bring the break back at about kilometer 150, and I see it
coming back so I drill it - attack with everything I have. If they want to chase
a rider who is 3 hours down (after two days of climbing in the bus, that is my
time behind the GC leader - incredible), then so much the better for us. The
last part of the race, there is a KOM at 196 K's, and then its gradually uphill
all the way to the finish. Even if I blow (which I did after my 30 K breakaway)
that would allow Rhys, Rob and Nathan to sit in, wait until the field is tired
and hit them hard. That is exactly what happens. Nathan goes on the attack as I
am reeled in, then sets Rhys up for a counter and Rhys is solo for a few K's,
gets caught by a Hong Kong rider and a Polygon rider, and ends up 2nd on the
day. ANOTHER impressive ride by Rhys! Both Nathan and Rob are raging as well, so
despite the fact that we don't have any GC threat (at this point), morale is
good.
Beautiful
Indonesian girls in traditional wear are waiting for the price ceremony. (Photo:
Francis Cerny) Monday,
September 19 Malang
- Jember, 181 K.
This
stage started where we finished yesterday of course, at an altitude of 480
meters. The plan today was again, to try to make the Giant contingent work and
soften them up a bit to make them vulnerable and then attack them. I started off
attacking like crazy, maybe four attacks. Each time, built a gap, but only to
have the Kazak's and the Polygon team reel me each time, save the last time when
the Dutchies chased me down. The Dutch excuse is the points. I have five
whopping points from stage 1, so I guess I am a threat to them. At any rate, my
attempts were all foiled, so I drifted back and of course, the very next move
succeeded in escaping. Remko Kramer slips in there. This group comprises a total
of five, and they build a lead of 4 minutes, plus a few. The course descends 40
K's to the first mid-race sprint, then it parallels the sea for 40 K's where
there is another mid-race sprint at 81 K's, then turns inland and does a very
gradual climb that averages about 2%. The "climb" continues for about 15 K's, then a
gradual descent to a valley that has dikes and as Nathan correctly forewarned,
wind. On the descent, the most refreshing rain started, huge drops, as well as a
pleasant drop in the temperature. On the descent, the Dutchies come to the front
and start aid the Giant consortium in their chase. I ask them if they too, have
been "purchased" by Giant, but they say they are after the last
mid-race sprint. At this point, there is no way they are going to bring back
Remko and his partners in crime. Their tactic did not pay off - not for that
objective anyway. In the last part of the race a major wind storm came in, and
then rain which reeked a bit of havoc in the filed as guys were buffeted by the
wind and driving rain. Unlike Qinghai Lake, this was a WARM rain - I had no
problem with it this time round. During the commotion, Rob and Nathan made an
attempt at escaping, but that was foiled. Rhys countered, just as a major gust
of wind and the rain thickened into a raging downpour. Rhys built a 1 minute
lead, but Giant Incorporated and their "helpers" started to launch
attacks after Rhys. Nathan and I tried to foil their attempts, but they were
relentless in their pursuit. I stopped following attacks and sitting in the
echelon's with about 15 K to go, when Rhys's lead was down to 50 seconds and
falling fast. The final nail in the coffin for Rys's stage win was again the
stinkin' Dutch guys. They launched one of their riders and sure enough, he
pulled it off. Rhys made a tremendous effort - very impressive too. Bummer! Two
days to go, two more chances for Greenfields to make the top step on the podium.
The
Tour d'Indonesia saw the start of a new Indonesian cycling team, Telkomsel. Here
at the start of stage 4 of the Tour d'Indonesia 2005 with three Marco Polo
Cycling Club riders, Anno Pedersen, Remko Kramer and Franck Terwel and
Indonesian top-rider Amin Suryana. (Photo: Francis Cerny) Tuesday,
September 20 Jember
- Banyuwangi 112 K.
Nathan
wanted to try for the KOM jersey and since the stage started with a category 3
climb of 32 K's, he wanted a nice steady pace on the approach. No better way to
set that up than to have a chase. This
climb was really more of a false flat except for the last 2 K's where the road
tipped up to about 6%, and had a few switchbacks. The idea was for me to attack
and get in a break from the get-go. After four attempts, my efforts finally
worked as I countered a brilliant move by Sir Robin Reid. My companions this
time were a Hong Kong Rider, a Philippine rider, and a local guy that stood
probably 4'11" - maybe. But that guy was strong, at least in the start of
the break. The Philippine and the Hong Kong rider seemed to have it in for each
other and kept gapping each other off and then yelling at each other. This was
not really conductive to a cohesive effort. I gave them a bit of advice and told
them to just ride, stop the cat fight "...right now!" and let's get on
with it! The local guy in the mean time, seemed to have spent all his efforts in
the opening moments of the break and all he could do was hang on - barely. We
built a lead of 1 minute and change when the cat fight started. the lead
dwindled to 20 seconds. As we hit a flat, straight section about 15 K's into the
climb, I slammed it to the 11, and just drove it. The gap went back to 50
seconds, but I was starting to get a bit tired myself. Only the Hong Kong rider
hung on and then he jumped me with about 1.5 K's to go to the top. I settled
into a a pace that I thought would deliver me to the top 2nd on the KOM, but
then Ghader Mizbahni, the Iranian climbing phenom blew by me like Lance
Armstrong blows by Ullrich when Lance is getting down to business - and that is
really fast! I lost my impetus and was caught by the rest of the field - or what
was left. The Hong Kong rider made it to the top, won the KOM and was closely
followed by Mizbahni. The entire field re-grouped, except for the Dutch team who
all climbed in the bus. The only Dutchie to carry on was Berkenbosch, who is a
very good rider. Guy won Nord Isere this year which is no small feat. So with
all in tact, we scream down the descent, which was very bumpy and rough, and
head into a field sprint in Banywange. No changes to anything, except that I
learn later that Nathan who was tied for 1st on the KOM with the Polygon Kazak,
fell to 3rd on KOM's since he got no points. Berkenbosch moves to 2nd. Shoot.
The hotel we have this night is fantastic! Beautiful tropical setting with a big
swimming pool, very nice gardens, clean, green, right on the beach. Don't want
to leave at all. But we have an early wakeup call tomorrow - 5:00 AM. We have to
ride into town at 6:15, then ride back out of town to a pier where we board a
ferry that will take us across to the island of Bali, where we will race 134 K's
into Denpasar (a.k.a., Bali). Wednesday,
September 21, 2005 Pier
to Bali - 134 K's.
Ugh
- that alarm went off way too early. I shared a room with Rhys last night, and
we tried in vain to watch the "Thin Red Line." An appropriate movie to
watch during a bike race really, especially when in the tropics - the hot, humid
conditions were making the soldiers pass out. This bike race was doing a lot the
same to many, and a bike race does feel a little like going to war. We
"war" with all the other teams and very few allies are to be found. At
any rate, we ride into, then out of town, load onto a rusted out ferry boat that
I can't help but think of all those CNN News clips I have seen where a ferry has
sunk, and all on board drowned. This thing has holes rusted in the floors, the
stair wells are so badly rusted that the hand rails wouldn't hold up my 85 pound
mother if she grabbed on to it. I negotiate my way to the top level just in case
this rust bucket does succumb, I will at least be on surface and be able to swim
out of harms way. Just like those safety announcements on the airplane where
they ask you oh, so very nicely to read and review all emergency procedures
should an emergency arise, I decide to read the instructions on how to deploy a
life raft. These are of the variety that are encased in a metal barrel and open
up on impact with the water. I decided it was worthless to read any further when
I saw that the last inspection date on the thing was March, 1995. Great. Having
safely "sailed" across to Bali, we unload, hurry off to the start line
not 1 K from the ferry and wait. Starting time for the race is 10:00, so we have
25 minutes or so to spend, sitting in the sun. I don't really mind since right
after this race, I have to scoot to the airport, fly to Jakarta at 4:20, then
catch a slow plane to China - Beijing actually. Todd McKean, our first class
sponsor from TREK - China has asked me to swing by on my way home and take part
in the Great Wall Bicycle Festival. I am looking forward to it actually, but I
have to admit that three weeks is too long to be separated from Nanci. Back
to the race - this starts off with a mid-race sprint at 32 K's - basically flat
and super fast until then. We never stop racing all day - from the start. Anno
Pedersen from Telkomsel (a Marco Polo "Executive") makes the break
after about 20 K's. That break grows to eight, then starts to disintegrate after
the rollers kick in. The last 30 K's have big hills and it is here that Nathan
gives it one last go. He ends up with one Hong Kong rider, one Philippine and a
Polygon rider and they bridge to the remnants of Anno's group. Rob and I hit the
front and ride a tempo that is just fast enough to discourage any more attacks,
and yet slow enough to allow Nathan's move to gain time on the field. The KOM
leader, a Kazak named Yakovlev who rides for Polygon asks me why Rob and I were
chasing. I explained the concept, but he did not quite get it. To do well in
cycling does not always go hand in hand with well equipped grey matter. Nathan's
group gains a lead of two minutes and change, but then with 20 K's to go, the
stinkin' Dutchies come to the front and drill it. They close the gap quick, then
stop chasing for a bit. They resume their chase with about 7 K to go, and catch
Anno and the rest of the break with 1.5 K's to go. Nathan still gives it a try
with a Philippine rider and at only 700 metres to go he also gets caught. But
it is Kam Po Wong from Hong Kong who wins the last stage. I like Kam Po - so I
am very happy that he has foiled the Dutch move.
So the stage ends, no changes in any thing. Giant wins most of the money,
we pick up the scraps here and there. I want to believe that had I been able to
stay healthy for the entire race, I would have been gracing the podium. Felt
great after the rest day, and darn if it isn't "....woulda, coulda,
shoulda..." But as a good friend of mine once pointed out, " 'IF' is
the middle word of 'Life'." He was a golfer, so he was well versed in that
philosophy, but same can be said for bike racers I suppose. So
my career with Marco Polo comes to an end. Or, has it? Stay tuned, I love this
sport and you might see my name there on the "Brief Results" of
Cyclingnews.com for Tour of Korea. I have to wait and see how many
"passes" I can earn from the missus, especially with a new little
Carter, and also if Gudo will list me on the Continental Team for 2006 - just in
case! It has been a fantastic run, I must say. So I want to say "THANK
YOU!!!" to Nathan, Gudo and all the other support staff of Marco Polo. You
guys allowed me an opportunity that was truly unique and once in a life time. See
you all at the starting line!
Michael
Carter from the USA claps hands with kids that wait for the start of the stage
of the Tour d'Indonesia 2005. (Photo: Francis Cerny) |
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