G’day,

After Tour Georgia the five day rest we had went pretty quickly. Before I knew it, Hoppy and I were back in the mini and back in Athens, Georgia for the post Georgia crits… The US Criterium series.

On our arrival to Athens, it had an unusual buzz then it normally does. There were people everywhere and lots of bike riders. Hoppy and I wasted no time going to the Karma Salon ( a Jittey Joes sponsor) arvo Barbie (as Aussie as the yanks are going to be). With cold beer, a hot Barbie, models and sun out it was a perfect afternoon.

Saturday night it was back down to business and at 9pm we started the infamous Athens Twilight criterium. The night before I went to a seminar/panel function and kept getting bombarded with questions or more like statements on how hard the Athens Twilight crit was. I just thought it was another bike race….. The build up was huge and sure the crowd was big, at least 20,000 drunken uni students to watch the event, it was a great buzz. I didn’t have great legs and after winning a sprint priem and having a few digs up the road I thought about pulling the pin as my legs were smashed. I hug in and went on to lead Hoppy out for the bunch kick, although I lost him with 1.5 laps to go. I had to have a crack myself and ended up 6^th, Hop coming in 14^th.

The next night was Roswell criterium. With a quarter of the crowd, but double the money, work that one out? There was a break up the road for the majority of the race and we had no one in it, so it was up to us and Healthnet to bring it back. After Pete and I pulled a few big turns I called it a day with a few laps to go and Hoppy ended up 3^rd.

We then had two days off and I needed them, I had bad hay fever, sore legs and needed sleep. I enjoyed every minute of the two days off. We even got a chance to fit a team game of golf in, very funny.

Next stop was South Carolina, and the criterium was Waltersboro. I had real bad legs in this one but still managed to get amongst it. The whole team rode well together and got in every move all night. I got Hoppy on the wheel with 10 laps to go and coming down the back straight I hit out taking him into the last corner third wheel. Hoppy then drag raced the others to finish third.

The next night was the Greenwood criterium, and my legs were far from better. I had no kick what so ever and when I attacked it was as if I was in slow motion. I was hating every minute of it. To make maters worse it was a really dangerous finish and I had to take a lot of risks to lead Hoppy out. Also when your not traveling as good, the gaps are smaller and wind feels stronger. I had nothing and had to leave Hoppy with half a lap to go, he ended up 7^th.

Spartenberg was the next stop and after setting an all time park up record in the coffee shop, 5hrs 20mins it started raining. We had to book out of our hotel in Greenwood early so that meant kickin around in a brew shop for hours. Three coffees, lunch, a biscotti, a game of slang scrabble, a lot of emails later we started racing… well the boys did, I took an RDO. Way too dangerous and wet for me. From the VIP tent the race looked tough and Hoppy finished 15^th, with a few of the other boys in the top 30.

Finally after a week of being on the road we finished off with Aniston crtierium, Alabama. I was not too motivated and when our DS Jesse, rocked up, and told me how I looked, it backed up how I felt. Though once I through the leg over the bike I felt better. I got away with another rider for about 30 laps and picked up a few sprint priems before getting caught. 10 laps later, Richard England and I had another go to try and get across to Rapinski who was off the front solo. 10 laps later we were caught. I tried to give Hoppy a hand but didn’t have the legs. Pete Hatton was there to lend a hand and Hoppy once again finished third and Pete rolled in for a top 10.

Overall it was a good week, Hoppy finished fifth overall and I was 17^th which is interesting seeing I finished in the points twice. Now we have a three week break before we head to Philli week.

Cheers Willo