24 January 2010 5:58 pm from Facebook fan page

Good day today. Not great. Not magical...but good! I raced in the lead group most of the day and had a shot at 5th. Anything can happen next weekend...I hope for a magic day then! Thanks to everyone who came out to cheer me on! It was fun today, before during and after! ON TO TABOR!!!! 

2 January 2010 2:05 pm

St. Niklaas

Just a quick update before I go relax for round 3 tomorrow...Today was a GREAT day for me...until the last lap! I was in the lead group, which was always between 2 and 6 guys depending on which of the 9 laps you were talking about, from the very start.  We had 2 teammates, Enrico Franzoi and SImonek, so that made it interesting for mostly Mourey and I.  I either went with every attack or chased each attack down together with him or alone.  I felt pretty good and knew I was going to have a good shot at the win!  I was starting to calculate what I was going to.  Then, just outside of the pit coming into 1 lap to go, I flatted (in the same place poor DeGneckt did twice today!).  Completely flat.  I stayed in contact with the lead group almost until the end of the long road section and then they got a gap.  Through the slick twists and turns and down the muddy downhill, they got a bit more of a gap.  I finally got a new bike and chased them down.  I just caught them with 2 minutes or so left in the race when down I went, hard!  I had wondered why all those guys were falling down there in the race.  Mourey went down hard toward the middle of the race there too.  Didn't look slick but it was BLACK ice!  Yikes!  I got up and chased onto just the back of Dlask, who had caught the leaders at one point during my flat tire escapade.  So I was disappointed.  6th.  I could have actually gone for the win today!  So that is what I am trying to keep in mind.  I actually had a chance today.  Against a strong field.  Form is there. Maybe tomorrow...:-)  Got to keep hoping.  

Thanks for reading and for cheering and for the emails and messages on Facebook!  Keep em coming!  Tomorrow is Tervuren and then I am off to Switzerland for some relaxation and kid watching!  Emma is a great skier so she will be fun to watch and Milo is very excited to learn more this year now that he is 2.  I think he'll be doing it this time!  He was VERY impressive on his bike today.  No training wheels zooming around the track at the race! Cool.

JP

15 Dec 2009 11:34 am

Nationals

Well, I didn't win...AGAIN! But Nationals was awesome!

First off, I was wished well in each airport on my way. Bilbao, Frankfurt, Dulles, Portland...It was pretty cool to have strangers walk up to me and tell me that they were hoping for me and that regardless, they were psyched with my 8th place at the World Cup last weekend and my results this year and the years past. Me too! So it was really nice to hear. Neat feeling. Then, I arrived to 2 members of the Planet Bike family, who had driven all the way to Portland to pick me up so that I didn't have to spend the night there before catching another flight in the morning. The whole Planet Bike team is just plain nice. Supportive, encouraging, fun, nice...They just create such a great atmosphere. I don't think there could be a better team. Really. I shared a suite with Bob Downs, the owner of Planet Bike, who wouldn't move from the sofa bed and gave me the king size in my own room...Where do you find THAT???? hmmm...owner of the company that pays my bills and for the hotel is now sleeping on the couch.

Anyway, it was a lot of fun and I'm looking forward to Bob coming over to Belgium to hang out and do some racing toward the end of January. From the first morning, I didn't go anywhere without someone wishing me luck or THANKING ME for coming all the way to Nationals or telling me they were proud of my results this season...literally hundreds!! I was trying to explain how the enormous the positive atmosphere and all the people felt this year to Cori...It wasn't possible I don't think. You had to be there to see it and hear it but I want to thank every single person that came to talk to me because it was really unbelievable. It was a great feeling. For the first time, I felt like people, a LOT of people, really understood what I was doing. How hard I work. How dedicated I am. It was an amazing feeling! I am not forgotten in the USA while I race in Europe...I just didn't realize how many people actually follow me and care!

THANK YOU!!! (maybe this Facebook and Twitter stuff IS a good thing...:-)) and then AT the venue...I had THOUSANDS of fans! I couldn't believe it! Each year I seem to have more and more fans. More and more cheering. Louder and louder. This year REALLY topped it. Many of my sponsors were there, including of course Planet Bike (they are the reason I can race my bike for a living), Blue (who I got to discuss more with about a future in the sport, which of course makes me smile), Edge (who really showed me how comitted they are to sponsoring me), Shimano (who got me hooked right up with the parts I needed to get the bikes running smoothly again), Vermarc (who took us out to a fantastic dinner), HSP (Toddsky there to rev me up!) and Specialized (who had new shiny shoes waiting for me when I arrived). I had tons of friends and family that came out too and TONS of people I barely know or have never met!! The people in Bend were awesome! Everyone who traveled in was awesome!! All the cheering was UNBELIEVABLE!!! I felt welcome! I felt liked! I even felt LOVED!!! Thank you all SO SO MUCH for all the cheering and support and congratulations...

I also want to thank all the fans that were sitting in front of their computers on Sunday from around the WORLD!!! I've AGAIN received hundreds of emails and notes on Facebook from all different countries and so many messages on my Belgian phone that I've run out of money on it!! I can't thank you all enough for making this the most fun Nationals I've ever had!! !!!! Lots of work to get there and all but you guys really showed me that I made the right decision to come!! Now I am in Arizona for a couple of days of family time and sun before I head off to Belgium for the next World Cup this SUnday...Keep the support coming. I really do appreciate it! I'll try to pull another good result off in the coming weeks and then focus on the Worlds! I'm off on a coffee shop ride with Cori now.

Until Sunday...MY SUPPORTERS RULE!!!! 

7 Dec 2009 11:41 am

FINALLY...! Something to write home about! The WORLD CUP in Igorre Spain

We always love to come to Spain, especially this part of Spain.  We know San Sebastian quite well and the races are always fun, the people always friendly.  But this year, we had to change our plans unexpectedly and re-planning the trip was almost too much of a hassle.  We thought about not coming at all.  But finally, we got it all together.  We left Belgium on Friday afternoon, a little later than planned to allow for Emma to finish her Sinter Klaas party at school.  The Sint was very happy with her behavior in school and her effort to become so good in Dutch.  We were proud.  Jason gave us a ride to the airport and after a bit of a hassle to get everything checked in on Ryanair (oops, you can only have 15k per bag, not 20) we were on our way.  I slept the whole way.  Milo too Cori worked with Emma on reading.  Emma is very excited that she can read little sentences now.
We spent Saturday doing not a lot of anything really until the evening when we had a nice time in the town of Amorebieta.  We had tapas and coffees and the kids played at the parks in the square along with all the other kids that were still out when we left at 10pm!  It's great!

Sunday was overcast.  It drizzled from time to time but no real rain.  The course was muddy.  Not as bad as other years, but muddy just the same.  We couldn't bring Franky this time.  Because of the changes that had to take place, it was going to be way too expensive.  We knew we would miss him.  Cori especially, because she would have to take his place in the pit...and look after the kids.  We were a little nervous before the start but it all worked out.  THe kids were really well behaved. They stayed right on the fence and didn't let go.  Except to eat their sandwiches and cookies.  many people helped out by talking to the kids or just letting Cori know with a hand gesture or something that they were making sure the kids were ok as she nervously hurried
to get my bike washed and back to the pit in the half a lap she had to do it!  She was great.  Never missed a bike change or even a potential bike change.  

As for me, I wanted to have a good fast start.  I didn't.  In fact, I had a very bad start.  Someone passed me and then proceeded to crash, all within the first 20 seconds!  There was nothing I could do.  At least I didn't crash myself, just had to slow down and put my foot down.  I passed through the first pit in 37th...I didn't give up though.  Nope. I kept the hammer down and passed guys every chance I got.  I finally feel strong again and took the opportunity to see how strong I was.  I didn't make any big mistakes, maybe a couple of little ones, but nothing that really mattered.  I didn't know where I was exactly until about halfway through when I looked up and saw the 3 that I figured were leading, on the other half of a switchback section.  They were far ahead of me but still, I was happy.  Then Cori told me, screamed at me actually, "YOU'RE IN 9TH!!"  I ended up passing
one more guy that was spent in the last lap to cross in 8th...I am very happy with this result.  It's a hard race. A hard course.  And the start sucked so I really had to come back from far.  I have been getting better and better each week and am glad about that.  Nationals are coming and after that, my real goal, Worlds.  I am hoping my form keeps going up!

Thanks to everyone for all of the support!  It was fun to have my inbox overloaded on my phone last night and to take a couple of hours to look at all the emails and messages on Facebook.  Hope to have some good news next weekend as well...and during the Christmas series and beyond!  Thanks for reading.  I am off to take the kids to the carousel in San Sebastian for their lovely behavior yesterday under adverse conditions and my wife for some wine, for a job well done!

23 Nov 2009 4:56 am

Hamme-Zogge SuperPrestige

Well, as you've perhaps already read in other interviews, today wasn't bad for me, but I was 1 step behind... It was a VERY windy day.  So windy that at times, Emma and Milo were laughing trying to walk into the wind toward Cori or also when they turned around to go with the wind and were slammed into her arms.  Riding in a group was where it was at on the fast open course.  

I started well and made the lead group.  There were a couple of small gaps but it was basically 1 group and eventually came together and slowed...but not in time for me.  I got popped on lap 3, just a minute or 2 before they slowed and bunched together.  I was all alone.  The next guy, part of a large group, was 30 seconds behind me.  I thought for a moment about what I should do as I didn't think I'd be able to chase back on myself because of the wind and the fast course but I didn't want to wait for the next group that I couldn't even see and was only told that they were so far back.  I decided to make it a training day and try to chase back on.  I didn't succeed of course.  The best in the world were up there working together to kill each other. :-) But I did ride hard.  Eventually first Peter Dlask and then the group caught me with 2 laps to go and as is my luck, someone crashed into the back of me HARD on the run up, with less than a half a lap to go.  How the hell does that happen???  My bike was knocked out of my arms and I was on the ground.  I have a calf that is double the size and has a large "hole" type wound in it.  No good.  I did my best to get back to the group before the sprint and only just succeeded to catch up the group on the last finish straight so I was one of the last in the group.  I believe the best place in our group was 11th??  Could be wrong.  I ended up 19th.  

Thing is, I'm not far behind.  I'm not far off.  One step.  If I could have held on a minute or 2 longer, it would be different.  Instead, I fought alone most of the day and considering the conditions and the riders I was chasing, I didn't lose THAT much time.  I know I am getting stronger each week and getting better instead of worse so thats why I have to hold onto my saying "KEEP THE FAITH"!!!  I'm doing it and I thank my sponsors and all of you that support me each week for the ability to do that!  Next weekend is Koksijde and Geiten Super Prestige. Lets see if I can make up that step I am missing!!!

In other news:  I can't say a lot about this because the details aren't final yet but it looks like BLUE, my bike sponsor, will be giving me a future.  In this sport, a future is worth it's weight in GOLD.  Think they will have to rename the company!  Look for details.

JP

15 Nov 2009 02:15 pm

The weekend was better...better than the results look!

Yesterday was Dottignies and although 8th is nothing to write about, I felt MUCH MUCH better and had it not been for a mistake on my part followed by a mistake on the rider in front of me's fault right at a crucial moment, I would have had a shot at the lead group...but, alas, I was not in the lead group and ended 8th.  Happily my form seems to be better.

Today was Gavere.  Very hard.  Very muddy.  Always an exciting event with lots of people.  I was excited to race.  I started out fine 10ish.  But then, in the next 5 minutes, a rider came on my inside and hooked my handlebars and we crashed into seperate sides of the crowd barriers on a fast downhill section.  It made for great t.v. I was told.  They replayed it over and over.  Good somersault.  Too bad it wasn't a gymnastics meet.  I went on and tried to make up places one at a time.  I didn't get very far before I crashed into the same rider 3 times in a row.  It wasn't his day today either but I still can't figure out how he got in front of me and then crashed, giving me no option, 3 times in a row???  Anyway.  Par for the course.  ha ha ha.  I also managed to snap a derailleur hanger off at some point during the latter half of the race which made for a great run on a lovely day so the way I figure it, I am a tri athlete.  Cycling, running, and gymnastics.  Think I'll start to promote races like that.  So I have quite a swollen arm and some other bruises on the knees and leg but I am ok and felt pretty good.  Much better than the last weeks so I am just going to try to move on and be happy that my form has come back.  Super thanks to Franky and Brusch for working really hard today.  It is the hardest course for the mechanics!!!  They earned themselves a mud bath.  :-)  Boy am I funny tonight.  
Thanks for reading and to Antwerp support and all the others that came out to cheer me on!!  I appreciate it!  I have to go pick mud out of my eyes and bathe my muddy kids who both managed to fall at least once in the mud.  The washing machine will run all night tonight too...Until next weekend!
JP

PS MILO CAN RIDE A BIKE WITHOUT TRAINING WHEELS!!!!!  Now if he'd just be tall enought to get on the thing by himself, he'd be really happy!!!

Nommay, World Cup #3

9 Nov 2009 05:23 am

Sometimes this sport is really hard.  Yesterday was one of those days.  I just didn't have it.  In fact, I had nothing.  And I'm not exactly sure why.  It would be pointless for me to tell about my race because for me, it wasn't much of a race.  I could have quit from lap one and I could just give up now and sulk...but I am not going to do that.  Sometimes I suck.  I was disappointed and pissed off, I won't lie, but the real key is to get back into it and do the best I can.  So that period has to be behind me and I have to move on and keep trying and stay positive.  I didn't just suddenly lose great form.  Just a bad time.  I can't lose sight of my focus, which is still 2.5 months away.  KEEP THE FAITH.  Thats what I have to do now.  Thanks to everyone for the support at the race yesterday and online!  Next weekend is Dottignies and Gavere.  Both riding distance from my house.  Both big races.  Stay tuned to see if I'm finally ready...:-)  

JP, yodeling off from Switzerland

Koppenberg

26 Oct 2009 05:24 pm

The Koppenberg has come and gone again.  It was fun this year, except the last 2 laps, or lap and a half anyway. For starters, I live so close and the weather was so good, that we biked over, kids in the cart behind Cori, bag on my back.  Pretty fun.  Then, we had a small party tent at the mobile home and it was well visited!  There wasn't a single pumpkin cookie left...and only 1 person that we didn't know came up and put a few in her purse quickly before being told it was a private party tent...Funny.  So back to the race...I started ok but not good enough for that course.  I was 25th or so after the first hill.  I moved up quickly and was chasing down the lead group, riding in about 10th spot.  The lead group shattered I guess but I was still in a little group that would be going for 10th.  Not great but I would have taken that.  With 10 minutes to go or so, I ran out of gas.  Better than I have been doing but...I lost 8 places in that lap and a half.  I'm getting better and better, but slowly.  I'm practicing patience I guess.  It's good for me.  Or something.

This week has been big.  Milo started school.  He started a week earlier than the other new kids going to school for the 1st time because the teachers and Cori and I thought that it would be better since we didn't think it would be easy for him with the new language.  He has done GREAT!  No crying when we left.  Happy to go.  Very cute with his school pack and holding hands with big sis Emma, who helps him organize his snack in the boxes and hang his jacket or vest up.  After only 3 days, he is understanding and speaking Dutch!  Very impressive.  

Today was also a big trip to the US Embassy in Brussels...again.  Always something to look forward to.  NOT.  It went smoothly today.  First in at 1:30.  We even had time to have a fancy picnic in the big park across the way from the Embassy.  Emma needed to renew her passport.  She'll no longer carry her one with the baby foto from when she was only a few days old.  Kind of strange.  Big changes going on here in Belgium...on top of just getting back!

We've been settling in and are really happy to see our house and our friends here but we definitely miss everyone and many things back in the USA.  We think of everyone often and wonder what everyone is doing. Thanks for all the continued support!!  Good to know that I'm not forgotten about just because I cross that big water over there to my west...Heading to bed.  Until next time.

JP

Click here for some party pix

Plzen, Czech Republic

19 Oct 2009 03:54 pm

Well, Plzen, World Cup number 2, went pretty well for me I'd say.  I'm still not back to 100% but I at least felt more like myself and like I could actually race again for most of the race...I was in a funny position much of the day.  No mans land really because the Czechs were helping the Czechs and the Belgians were waiting for the Belgians and I had to make a choice of either watching the race go away or trying to do something about it. Despite not feeling 100% yet, I decided to give it a go.  I may have done too much in the first half of the race but you don't know unless you try and what is important for me is that I am getting back to normal.  Overall, I'm really happy with the race I rode.  No bad luck.  No mechanicals.  A solid ride.  It did seem like a long hour though...

Emma's birthday was Saturday!  She is FIVE years old now.  WOW!  I can't believe it.  Cori made a cake and brought it along to Czech.  It was pink with sprinkles and a big blue 5 on it. Emma wanted to have the piece of cake with the 5 on it.  The WHOLE thing she said.  She ate about a quarter of it and had to stop.  Funny.  Cori and the kids went to the zoo in Plzen and then we all went to dinner (pizza, chosen by Emma).  Emma went in her princess dress complete with lights and a head thing.  Awfully cute.  I mean, I know, she's my daughter, but she WAS awfully cute.  Oh, and Emma gave princess stickers out to everyone that said happy birthday to her. Milo was covered in them.  Go figure.

Now I'm going to talk to a few people before I head to bed.  Just think, at this time tomorrow, I'll be just STARTING a race in Woerden, Holland!!  It's a fun event complete with a carnival and "poffertjes".  Donut hole sized little air filled pancakes that are AMAZING to watch being cooked.  I'll get a report out about that asap tomorrow.  Watch for photos too.  Coming soon.  Thanks for reading everyone!

JP

Ardooie, BEL

15 Oct 2009 06:12 pm

Ardooie.  I'm back.  I flatted and the course conditions were such that I wasn't going to catch up to any of the leaders.  My result wasn't good but what's important is that I feel like myself again.  The course was fast and it hasn't rained in a few days so it was pretty dry.  I started ok.  I was in the top 10 somewhere but flatted on lap 2, not 200 meters outside of the pit.  I rode most of a lap before I could get a new bike.  I was somewhere in the 25-30 range.  I lost plenty of time and my race was over but I figured I'd see what I could do.  I tried to catch as many as I could and didn't worry about a sprint as we wouldn't be going for top places.  I nearly caught 9th place on the finish stretch.  I am not sure what my result was but it will be 12thish <ed: 13th place>.

We came back and packed up for the trip to Plzen, Czech Republic tomorrow.  We are excited about the road trip.  Emma's 5th birthday will be celebrated there!  Princess plates and boxed cake from the USA with sprinkles in colors that might kill us if we eat too many...but it will be fun.  I hope to have a good result to report there.

Until Sunday...thanks for reading.
JP

15 Oct 2009 11:16 am from Cori

JP got a flat. Course was a tough one to come back with a flat. Important note is that he is back on form!

1st Euro weekend

12 Oct 2009 10:04 pm

Well, I had hoped for more but expected less from my weekend so the net is:  Im fine with it.  I didn't ride great but I didn't suck either.  I didn't feel like myself either day, which sounds like a bad thing but actually is a good thing because I know that after some sleep and recovery, I'll be fine!  So, I'm doing just that.  
We are completely unpacked and re-organized in our house, which is a good feeling.  We miss our friends in the USA but are having a great time seeing our friends from here.  Emma started school again today so that was really exciting for everyone.  We hope tonight will be our first full night of sleep.  The other nights since our arrival went something like this:  Go to bed on time or before.  Sleep a few hours.  Get up.  Eat.  Play.  Read. Go back to bed for a few hours.  No good.  But what can ya do?  

I will say that this weekend especially, I was very happy for my superlight Blue, Edge wheels and Shimano parts!I needed to be as light as possible.  Especially Saturday.  OK.  I have to go relax now.  Look for me on THursday in Aardooie.  We leave Friday for Plzen in the Czech Republic.  

Thanks to everyone for the support!  

JP

Last you'll hear from me about Gloucester Day 2, Moving on to EUROPE!!!  Hitting the ground running.

5 Oct 2009 10:15 pm
OK, so of course the crash is all over the place by now. I am going to comment for the last time here and then it's over. I'm spending my time left in the USA on more positive things! :-)

Whether I was crashed intentionally or not is something only the riders know.  I have my opinion but I have the advantage of knowledge that only the few of us who were right there have.  Was I riding aggressively??  HELL YEAH I WAS. I ride aggressively when I need to and I always will.  I don't think there is a single rider at the top of the races, be it here or in Europe, that would say they DON'T.  I can certainly say that on Sunday, there were 3 more aggressive riders at the front of the race!  Thats what made the race! The 4 of us up there put on a good show.  We were each doing our best to get to the line first and were definitely bumping and rubbing.  The men in green were doing a great job blocking for each other while one of the others was attacking me and I like to think I was doing a pretty good job of getting out of the blocks and chasing back up to try to control the pace... But there is a difference between riding aggressively and taking it too far.  Whether it was done intentionally or not, an apology would have gone a long way... Thats all.  But on a positive note, I won't forget the class displayed by others yesterday.  I also truly had a good time in the beginning (in a sick and twisted way) trying to keep up with the 3 teammates and did take time to check out the amazing venue there in Gloucester.  

So, with the drama of Day 2 over, I am focused on all the great things that have been happening so far in the early season.  I have a lot to be happy about, including my most recent solid ride at Gloucester Day 1.  I've been consistent and strong over the last 3 weeks.  I've been on the podium 7 out of 7 times. I feel strong and confident and I will be taking the confidence, strength and EXCITEMENT to Belgium on Thursday!!  I just got my official schedule until December and it looks great!  I'll keep you updated here at the website.  Look for me online (or come over and wave flags and cheer LIVE!! I hear the beer is awesome...) Saturday and Sunday is the GVA in Namen and the Super Prestige in Ruddervoorde.  Thanks again to EVERYONE for your support!!  Keep the emails coming and we'll work on the blog at tjp.com so that everyone can comment again.  The next report will be from Belgium.  JP ;-)

Gloucester Day 2

4 Oct 2009 09:15 pm
Rough day at the office today... I knew I had my work cut out for me and I was ready for the repeated attacks. It would have been good to have a knock-down dragout race. But that's bike racing, right? JP

Gloucester Day 1

3 Oct 2009 09:26 pm
From the shower, hours after a satisfying win and a team dinner with Planet Bike Sponsor Bob, mechanic Dave & family Page:
It's no secret I wanted to win and have a race without any mechanicals... I took off after lap one and didn't look back, riding my own pace. The weather -- mud and rain -- played right into my strategy. I rode a good race and had good luck, it's an inspiring feeling to take back to Europe. I'm looking forward to Round 2 tomorrow. My daughter Emma will be riding her debut race on Sunday, look for lots of smiles at 2:00. Thanks for the cheering, both live and from cyberspace. JP

Rolled tires update

29 Sep 2009
Lots of talk about my rolled tubulars...Want to make it a little more clear I guess.  Most of my tires are in Belgium, either being glued now or ready to be glued in the next week or 2.  Of course I can only travel to the US and back to Europe with a certain amount of things...The few tires that I was supposed to have available got hung up in customs, lost in the shuffle, lost in the mail...Something like that.  By the time I actually received 4 tires, it was too late.  I had already done Starcrossed Days 1 and 2 and so the damage was done there.  I had to leave for Vegas the night I received the tires and there wasn't enough time to properly glue on tires in between travel.  I had great tires already glued on for Vegas and had lined up some perfect wheels/tires to borrow in Madison.  The 3 rolled tubulars were no ones fault.  They were glued professionally.  I had checked them before I'd ridden them and found nothing wrong with them.  It was the wrong glue for the amount of force cross requires but the only way for anyone to know that was to have me roll them.  Bummer for me.  Bad luck but no ones fault.  I am not mad at anyone just bummed that I didn't have my own tires when I needed them, in time to glue up for the start of my season and I am bummed that they rolled off.  But, I am moving on...See you in Gloucester.  Lets get back to crossing fingers, toes, etc. for me.  I need it!!

Planet Bike Cup Days 1 and 2:

27 Sep 2009 via phone from JP:

Well, as most of you know already, I've been having some bad luck again to start the season.  I am keeping my spirits high because as I said in another interview, "I'd rather have good legs and bad luck than bad legs and good luck".  Plus, I'm lucky to even be out there this season.  I have to remember that.  I won't lie though.  I'm frustrated. I am riding really strong, stronger than I ever have and it feels good but unfortunately, I have equipment supply issues, which have been out of my control until now, which have made a big impact on 3 of my 5 races in this early season.  I rolled one tire yesterday and 2 tires today.  UGH.  Tonight I will arrive back in NH.  I don't have to fly again until I go home to Europe, in 10 days.  My next race is a whole 5 days away and I can drive to it in an hour.  This will give me enough time to find an alternative if I must, to my tire situation, get appropriate tires that I like and that I am used to, and most importantly, get them glued on WELL and set for the next races.  A series of "unfortunate events" have gotten me to where I am right now but it will be rectified. Thanks a lot for all the cheering and emails already this season!  Its' going to be a good one.  I know it.  Just have to change my luck.
Over and out.   

Star Crossed day #2

21 Sep 2009 04:46am

I got a win!!!!! I’m really psyched! Felt strong out there. It was a hard course. Long climb on the bike. Long run up. Plenty of other little ups and downs and some wind. Heule and I were away alone for most of the day. It came down to a sprint and I was able to pull it off! I was thinking for the last few laps that I am just really thankful that I even have the opportunity to race this year. Thanks to the Bob at Planet Bike and Greg, Antonio and John, the lawyers that saved my career and gave me the chance. Thanks to everyone that supported me during the rough times last year and now are out in full force cheering me on for the new season! The support has been unbelievable! I really hope this is my year to give you more to cheer about! Thanks everyone!! I’m really happy and really hopeful and I hope you are too! Gotta go catch my flight to Vegas…BABY!

Seattle Star Crossed

20 Sep 2009 02:17am

Great day at the office. oops. Evening I mean. 8pm start. I didn’t win it (I was 3rd) but I think I was good enough to win and thats all that counts. Normally I pride myself on my skills when the course gets a little slick but I had to exercise some caution tonight and slipped out several times when I didn’t. I’m riding clinchers right now. Thanks Bob!!! I’m not used to them but they were a step up (maybe 2 or 3 as the rain started coming down) from the slicks I had available. My real tires have been caught up in customs for more than 2 weeks now. Great place for them to hang out. I am way ahead of where I was last year and I know it’s only the beginning. The race was fast and fun! For the most part there were 5 of us in the lead group and in the end, Heule attacked at the perfect moment (bad time for me but good for him). I had just come back from the ground. I slid like a turtle. Was too far back and got tangled up with another rider through the next corner and the next one too and just couldn’t get up there. It was a good race. The Seattle crowd was AWESOME!!!! MUCH better than my last US race…Cori didn’t have to throw anyone in a head lock this time! :-) I’ll DEFINITELY be back to race in Seattle! THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO WAS YELLING THEIR BUTTS OFF FOR ME!!! OK, got to get to bed now. Another big race in the Seattle area tomorrow. Got to take care of some bidness…Thanks for your support everyone. Great start to what I hope is a great season!! SEATTLE ROCKS!!!!

Article for London Cycle Sport

03 Sep 2009 03:55 pm

Jonathan did a nice interview with John Mullineaux of London Cycle sport. Some fresh questions, which is nice. Read it here.

See you at Gloucester!

31 Aug 2009 11:47 am

Just spoke with JP, they are staying in the US to do Gloucester weekend instead of the first World Cup in Italy! Yay! That will be pretty freaking awesome! The travel to Italy from US is just too stupid and he will be wrecked from it, so its not a smart plan. Good for us, we better have everyone out there cheering! Bring your bells!