News

04 July 2008

By Simon Gerrans

These last few days until you actually stick a number on your back and start racing in the Tour de France are the longer days of the race because all you are doing is just waiting to get up, on your bike and begin racing. Until then you are just doing all the extra stuff out of the race. And by the time you get to the first stage, it feels like you have been going for a week already. So now we are just looking forward to getting the job done. And we will do so on stage one, a 197.5km stage from Brest to the finish in Plumelec which is a popular city for cycle racing in France and where I have raced. There were one or two races I did there as an amateur. And I have  raced there twice as a professional in the Grand Prix de Plumelec. The second time - last year year - I won. I know that finish, know it well. It will be very hard to predict. The run to the line is on a hill, but it is not a super steep climb. It ramps up a couple of times and there are a couple of tight corners in there. That will make it more of a punchy sprinter's type finish - rather than one suited for a pure sprinter like Norwegian Thor Hushovd who I will be riding for. It will suit someone more like Alejandro Valverde or Oscar Freier because it climbs and gets steep at a couple of spots, but then there are a couple of corners to slow you down. You are not going to be able to carry that momentum up the hill which makes it tricky. But Thor is still by far our best chance to get up the climb first. It is probably only hard for the last 800m so. He looks like he is in good shape though and I am sure we will be able to help get him up there and be with the best of them. But I don't think it suits his ability as another stage finish might. However, we are going to see him up there, no doubt it. With no time bonuses on stage finishes this year, if Thor doesn't win stage one it is really important he stays near the front because the next day he might win and the next day after that he might win again. After all, that might put him in the overall leadership. Without the time bonuses, the yellow jersey will be based on accumulated places. So if you cross the line 10th you are going to be 10th overall. And if you cross the line the next day and a few guys who were in front of  you (are now behind you) you could be first. That is why I think the finish on Saturday will see the chances of a bunch sprint torn into pieces. It is not going to finish in line or as one group, but in little groups because of the way the finishing hill stops starts. There is quite a narrow bridge at the bottom of the climb two kilometres to go. That will string the field out and make it a more trickier game to play. 

A quick word about my teammate and fellow Australian Mark Renshaw who is making his Tour debut. This is only my second race with Mark after the Tour Down Under. He and Frenchman Jimmy Engoulvent are the only riders I haven't raced with all season. I actually met Jimmy last year at the team presentation, shook his hand and haven't see him since. I have a few Tours up my sleeve on Mark. But he has the Vuelta and Giro to his name, so obviously the Tour is a step up from those two. I think he saw that at the team presentation in Brest on Thursday night. But if he takes it all in his stride he will be alright. One of the major secrets to handling the pressure of the Tour is taking it in your stride. You would be surprised how much energy and reserves can be wasted by letting the stress get the better of you. It also helps to pinch yourself now and then and take stock of the fact that you are playing a role in one of the greatest sporting events in the world.

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