Giro Del Toscana - 18^th - 23^rd September

(The Tour of Tuscany UCI 6 day stage race, Italy)

 Etape 1 – Team Prologue – 5.4k

The Saccarelli girls Mashin’ it up: (I’m 3^rd in line)

The first stage of the Giro Del Toscana runs alongside the sea in Porcari.  The wind was strong when we arrived early afternoon but seemed to settle a bit in the evening which was good for us as we where set of at 6.34pm.  There are 24 squads lined up for the tour this year but instead of the normal 8 riders only 6 can enter as a team.   We set of on time after a good warm up on the rollers then  on the road to make sure our bikes where in order.  We don't have Time Trial bikes so we just stuck our heads down and road our legs of hoping that 4 of us would stay together for the finish!  We dropped  to of our girls on the first lap then going into the second there was a lot of shouting going on!(not from me thankfully!)  we finished with four riders together including me with a time of   6:17

Winners: T-Mobile in pink is Judith Ardnt                      Saccarelli: 6.17     15^th team.

  I was pleased my legs felt good and it is always nice to get the first stage done then you can relax a bit more!  Tomorrow we have an early start as we have 2 stages to do so off to bed I go!! 

Ettape 2a  Porcari to Montecarlo 57k

The first Ettape today started of steady until we hit the first main climb which was about 5k which went up in stages.  I was with the main peloton until the last time up the climb when a few attacks strung our group out! Monia was in the first group and I was behind with about 5 other girls trying to chase back. Naomi Cantele won today just as she did last year, Monia was 9^th and I finished 1.27 down and in 72^nd/146 which was not too bad I just wished I could have hung on a bit more with the 1^st group up the climb.   My legs felt good this morning so hopefully they will feel okay for the next stage this afternoon!

Ettape 2b  Porcari to Altopascio  66.5k

After some fine Italian food and of course espresso we chilled for a bit before getting ready for the next stage.  I was feeling fine until we ate then I just felt sleepy and could not stop sneezing! Popped a few vitamin  C just in case! It does not help that my room mate has a cold.  Anyway back to the race.....   I remember this stage from last year well as the roads are pretty bad in places a bit like doing cyclo cross in fact!  Today was fast and furious!! not much time to think just ride and fight for your position in the peloton which thankfully I can do well!.  A few attacks went and went with one which included some good riders but try as we might we got pulled back unfortunately then the attacks kept coming until the sprint lap! I thought I was positioned well but realised I was too far back with 4k to go so tried to get up front more but Nurnburger put the hammer down and boy did they do it well!!  I could see Monia and D'Ettore up front but they to where finding it hard to got any further forward with the pace Nurnburger set for the eventual winner of today's stage Regina Schliecher of Nurnburger.   I finished in 53^rd/146 with Monia and D'Ettore in the top 20.  My legs felt a little heavy in this evenings stage but nothing a good massage cant sort out ( I hope!).     Overall GC leader now is Judith Arndt of T-Mobile

Ettape 3 Lari to Volterra 122k

Today's stage is a tough one with 2 10k climbs and 1^st cat one's at that!  But I went into the race feeling positive which always helps!  The race started off calmly with a few breaks trying to form but nothing being let away until the climbs started.  I could feel my legs where feeling good so I wanted to save them for the climbs and help Monia get into a good position as I was sure there would be a decisive break forming on the climb.   The first time up the climb a few people had got away up front so it was not so fast so we had a large group going over the top of the climb until the second time up the climb when Menikini put in an attack which split the group a bit.  Monia was up front  and I could not keep the pace so dropped back into the second group to finish the last 6k climb .  I was happy with my race today although I had a stonking headache most of the race for some reason! I know it is not because I didn't drink a lot as they don't call me the “Camel “for nothing!  The last 1k was horrible as it finished up pave and it hurt! I was happy to cross the line and realized I crossed the finish line again with my chip on and got told of by the guys!! I just hope they give me the first time not the second!! What was I thinking!? It turns out I was 71^st / 140 in the end. Might be right?...hmmm

Naomi Cantele finished 1^st again she is on a roll!  She’s now in Pink as well.  Monia finished 28^th and lost nearly a minute, Not bad for a sprinter eh!?

Now I must eat and relax before tomorrow's stages.  Yes I said stages as we have 2 tomorrow's and I am thinking it is a day for the sprinters!!

Spot me- About 14th back....

Etape 4a Pontedera to Pontedera 64k

Another bad nights sleep unfortunately meant I had another stonking headache for this mornings stage (must be lack of sleep or maybe tea?)  Anyway, today's stage was not so long as we also have another stage this evening.  The race had a 3^rd cat climb in it which had a nasty sting to any tired legs and there where quite a few of them today in the bunch including mine!  Monia was in the 1^st group after the climb which got her 3^rd place with Bronzini winning the stage today.  I missed the 1^st group and rolled in with the second group as my poor legs where not doing what I wanted them to do today!  Naomi Cantelle is still in pink after this mornings stage.

After the stage we ate and drove for another hour to a hotel where we had a nap before the evening stage. I was 67^th/130.

Etape 4b  Circuit to Campi Bisenzio 51k

Monia- Our Leader......

Today's course was cut short due to some problems with the police etc and I must say I did not hear anyone complianing about it be cut short either!  It just meant the race was going to be fast, very fast!  I still had a headache so I gave in a took some paracetamol to try and ease the tension!!  I wanted to try and get away today, well that was the plan anyway.  I was in a few moves but the pace was so high nothing was aloud to get away so it was another bunch sprint with Diane Zilute winning from Safi Pasta Zara team.   I got switched in the last 2k which meant I went from the fron to the middle which was a bit gutting as I was positioned perfectly until then and my legs where up for it!  Cantelle is still in the pink.   I was 54^th in the end at the same time as the winner and really annoyed that my sprint had been baulked so badly!

Quite a lot of the of the GC contenders dropped out today as they are preparing for the World championships.

Etape 5  Segromigno to Capannari 100k

 Another rough nights sleep but thankfully not feeling too bad on it.  Today's stage profile looked tough especially the last climb of the day at about 88k.  It was graded a 1^st cat climb and it was one of those climbs you wish would end soon.   I thought we may get an easier ride today given that a lot of girls had not finished the stage the day before etc.  I was wrong to think that as it just as fast as last and that hill was still there!  We had to do 4 circuit with a 2k climb in it first before hitting the last 20k of the race.   Nothing got away until the last climb of the day and teams where fighting out the sprint points between them which of course speeded things up a lot.  My legs where feeling good today but I wanted to save them for tomorrow's stage as I had a good feeling about it.  Monia is kicking back now for the world's road race so she sat in until the last climb of the day and dug in for the finish.   I was suffering on the last few kilometres up the climb but was making up my lose on the descent nicely until the Swiss national team car decided to stop on the bend having not seen or heard me shouting to move!  I landed heavily on my side and slide into the wall and I could not get my foot out of the damn pedal!  Of course the local neighbours where looking in amazement rather than helping me.   All I wanted to do was get back on my bike which was in a bit of a mess so I had to get it seen if I where to finish today.  I rolled in with a group but was disappointed after working hard up the climb to then crash an finish down but that's bike racing and tomorrow's another day thankfully.  

I stopped off at the ambulance after crossing the line and they cleaned me up which hurt more than the crash itself!  Nothing is damaged badly just very bad road rash and a sore right hip!!  Me: 81^st. Not a good day!!

Ettape 6  Quarrata to Firenze 107k

I hardly slept a wink last night as my hip where I had slide across the road was throbbing like mad!  It was no wonder I felt jaded this morning.  I still felt I wanted to do something good today so I made sure I kept up front and covered some moves to try and get into  break.   My legs where hurting but if mine where so where everyone else's so I just put it to the back of my mine.   Brook Miller from the American National team attacked 30k into the race the grouped looked like it was set to stay away, luckily just when I was about to jump across Raleigh Life Force rider jumped and we got over to the break with D'Ettore.    There where nine of us in the break including Chantal Beltman, Adrie Visser, Brook Miller and D'Ettore.  We got a gap of 2.10 which stayed until the last 5k or so.  At 20k to go I realised I had no water but was  not able to get any from that point on I put it to the back of my mind and missed a few turns on the front knowing that I would need the extra energy up the last climb before the finish at 5k to go.  I was fading in the last 10k but tried to stay calm as I could feel myself paniking!! I lost the break in the last 5k but  I was determined to try and stay away to the finish before the bunch caught me! I have never tried so hard before!

with 100meters or so to go I could hear the bunch behind me and got swollod up! I was really gutted as it would have been my first top ten in a UCI race.  I felt sick crossing the line and my adrenaline was pumping like mad so I thought it best I hide myself until I calmed down as I was upset with myself.  The good news was that D'Ettore won the sprint just as she did last year!!   I am still going through the race in my head and thinking what  I could of done to stay with them! Then I realized it was me stopping myself as I was worried I was dehydrated and did not believe in myself going up the climb.  Lesson learnt and time to move on now.  Me: 39^th / 90 in the end!

I return back home on Wednesday, then I will take a rest for few weeks before planning out my winter months etc.    I have had a great season with many up's and down's and the ending has confirmed for me that I am able to race with the best riders in the World right now and now all I need to work on my self belief a bit more!

Back to Diary index