Leipzig, Neuseenclassics 2010
What a fun weekend!We headed out on Friday evening during the rush hour and while it took longer than planned, the boys had enough material to keep themselves distracted on the back seat. Destination was Leipzig; one to race on Sunday and also to visit an old friend and her family. Both of which came off just perfect.We stayed at Don Giovanni’s in the Suedweststadt which is a real gem. Someone really love all Italian for sure. Perhaps a bit too much but it is still something different and with the honeymoon suite it was all perfect for us. Well, the kids were there…but whatever. Saturday we headed to Dagmar’s place, an old industrial place with loads of space, potential and two people full of energy and ideas to turn it into something really fun. I enjoyed listening to them talk about what it is like there for them; coming from the West into what was the East, reminded me of the years I spent in Dresden not far away in the 90’s. A little wild west but more like “let’s just organize something”, “cause waiting around will not get us much”.They have many ideas and plans in motion and I look forward to seeing the progress at their place as well in the neighborhood. But this weekend was really about biking so we headed out on the bikes they had there. I never knew how much water and green there was in Leipzig. We rode through the park and stopped at some of the waterways criss-crossing that part of town. After a lunch of kebab (read Bosporus) they went to the Kayak clubhouse to get some boats on the water while I headed to the race center.I was entered in the long race on Sunday which had become longer due to road works, so the course was lengthen another 16km. Big deal! Now it was 146km or just over 90 miles. Longest race for me ever. Ok, we can do this. What else have I been riding all through the winter for? This is what is it all about. The course is flat and fast. Find a good group to hook onto and hang out for 4 hours, right? Well….Few facts:
- 146 kilometers is a long way.
- Leipzig Neuseenland is not flat
- The wind is crazy hard
So, to shorten this story, it was a darn hard day in the saddle. Going 42km the first hour I made it to the “Bergpreis” or mountain points at 60km with the main pack. That was only 1km and a few 100 meters but enough to split it up. I was now in the 2nd group of that leading 200 or so. Ok, we are still doing well. But the hills were not done. After a few more, which seemed more difficult than that first one I was off the back. Alone, I was at kilometer 70 or so with still the same to go to get home. I felt, it is all over now. This will be a long ride back to the car.After what seemed to be an eternity but was probably 10 minutes I was caught by that group I had left at the start and hooked with them for a while till the next hills came. Attrition took it course and finally a group of about 20 hobbled the final 30km to the finish. My thighs were cramping everytime I got out of the saddle and the few times I had to pull at the front I saw only black; wishing I would just hang with this group to get me home.Finally the last 2km were marked and a new energy was felt in the group. The speed picked up from 28 to 35 again, then 38 and 40. It was the final K and this was a race. Guys which had died three deaths the last 10 k were suddenly there up with us. I followed a guy with calves as thick as a ham thinking he would lead me out but faded quickly. I jumped with 350 meters to go and was screaming, literally as I saw the signs go by; 300, 200 100. I could see under my right elbow there was a wheel coming up slowly but not fast enough. At 50 meters I felt two others coming from the rails and they passed me with 5 meters to go. Across the finish line I saw Chris and the Boyz on the rail cheering.Gosh, that was fantastic! Sure, I had lost the sprint. I went too early. I had watched Zabel, Pettachi, Cavendish and the rest all those years. I knew better. My emotions took over. But god it was a great feeling to sprint at the end of 4 hours of racing.Totally spent I poured myself into the car and drove us the 4 hours home. Then off to Turkey. What a weekend!