Nov
05
This has been an awesome week in France to race my first pro six day @kassemg is following me on twitter plus @jefftakeover is to. Two of the big YouTubers but Jeff has given me some big shout out on twitter and his Vlog and subed to me! Tonight is going to be the first night its starts at 6 but I have to be there around 2 and I will be at the track till 3am how crazy is that! Grenoble is a beautiful town with some great views I am going to say it again this would have been the race to come to Mom and Dad you alway say you want to come watch well this would have been the tottle
Yeah the Alps I can see them form my bed!!!
Oct
31
Having a great time at the six days of Grenoble when I get more then two hours free in the day I am going to wright a nice post for you guys to read! This is just a taste of what goes on durning the night!
Oct
29
This is such an awesome experience I have worked the last two years to get here I now that I am here racing a pro six it a great feeling!! I cant wait to wright/film the next 6 nights and show you guys how awesome this is!!
Yeah thats KOOL
Oct
28
Made it to France it was a easy trip over. Grenoble is a beautiful city sundered by mountains! I have worked the last two years to get to this level I cant wait to start racing. The track is nice the race is going to be a lot of fun with the lights, bands and well there are top less dancers this is France! LOL
Oct
27
I will see you in France!! But here is some fun in the mud! I will like to thank you for watching and reading my blog! If you have Questions I am going to make a vid to answer them if I get a few more from you guys that would be awesome!!
Oct
24
I have noting better to do on a Saturday night I don’t party hardy of drink heavily so I did this. What is up with people not waving when I pass them on the road?!? I really think we need to change this ASAP WAVE!!!! Any who you should TWITTER ME right after you watch this just because!!!
Oct
23
Hello everyone its been a while sense I have written something on here I stared doing the videos because it is easier for me to make a VLOG then it is for me to type something out I love writhing its can get frustrating some times. I have always had a learning disability so doing this blog I can over come that and wright what I want and let you into my world as a cyclist and a person. I stared to do the videos to show a little more of what its like riding a bike for a job. Its not a normal 9 to 5 gig and I have always enjoyed film and the process of filming and editing. Most people don’t know this if I was not cycling I would have gone to school for film. Now that it is so easy to do all of this with simply programs to edit I have a hand full of free time that I can use it to make short vids for people to enjoy. I enjoy showing you guys my life all the fun places I get to travel and the kool thing I get to do Like photo shoots at Oakley to behind the sense at the six day. I wanted to give you the reason why I stared doing this. I don’t believe there is any other cyclist doing this. If I am wrong let me know but I appreciate you reading this. This is all me so whatever is spelt wrong this is how I wright!
I will be in France next week racing my first six day. keep checking in!!
Ac…
Oct
22
Camp is over, NOW its to rest up and go to France to race my first PRO SIX DAY how kool. Its going to be so much fun racing this winter cant wait!!!
Oct
20
Ok now a lot of people have been asking me why I have that gross looking pic of myself covered in blood looking dead. I am playing a zombie in a new video for the YouTube channel The Station. All the big dogs from YouTube were there. I had a lot of fun on set trying to act I think I was pretty good. lol Made some new friends from YouTube. It was crazy being on a green screen I cant wait to see the final product!!
WOW I look HOT
Hanging out on set
WALKING LIVING
My zombie friend Katie
Oct
16
This is the first day of Track camp 2.0. I am at my home track in LA but staying at the hotel near the track makes it easier to train and I get to hang out with my cycling buds!
Oct
14
Me being such a great guy I drove Hayden to LAX to try and get on a flight home to New Zealand. He has been stuck in So Cal for over a week we where on the same flight from Colombia. He did not get on the plane so he is still here.
Oct
13
Oct
12
Did a Oakley photo shoot alway a good time when I go over to Oakley. I rolled around the pump track need to go back when I have the right ride gear on!
Oct
10
My friend Kathy co produced a show at the Hollywood improve. I have been a handful of times and its always a great time. Everyone from Brian Dunkleman who was American Idol’s co host with Ryan Seacrest to Scott Kennedy. The headliner was Michael johns who pefromed a few songs from his new album. Now I am not around that much so I did not no who he was I never saw him on the tv show. His is really good the guy that won must have been really good. I won his CD before the show and afterwords I was able to go met with him and OMG I got him autograph! He was a kool guy I had a good time like alway! Keep Checking Back for More Vids and next up a Oakley photo shoot!
Oct
07
This is a big DOG this was a email my Mom got from my Grandma I had to put this up. What do you think of this?
Whether you own a dog or not, you must
appreciate the efforts of this owner to
sell her dog. Read the sales pitch!!!
Free to good home. Excellent guard dog.
Owner cannot afford to feed him anymore,
as there are no more drug pushers, thieves,
murderers, or molesters left in the neighborhood for him to eat..
Most of them knew him as ‘Holy Shit.’
Oct
07
New board for walking Zo is so much easier on this! She loves it!
My NEW toy!
Oct
06
We thought we were going to be going into the jungle but there are gorillas out there so it was a no go for the jungle adventure. We went to the top of the mountain and had an awesome view of Medillen. We headed down to an old town that was up on a hill not really sure what is was but a good cultural experience.I was walking with Laura and Monique when a drunk guy wanted to talk to us and the girls ran and left me. I was being a good guy and let them get away to safety. We went to the home of Pablo Escobar where he was gunned down on his roof. I have to say this, the places I have seen in the last few years are incredible. Any how I guess I went to the jungle, the urban one. The mail we went to was big and confusing to get around. It had so many levels and random twisty stairs in the middle to get to the other levels. The elevators are small compared to the malls in the US of A. Everything is much larger in the USA. You are most likely thinking I am all over the place with this post but I am writing this on the airplane on my way home from Colombia. Oh ok so there should be a” no pass gas” on airplanes right by the non smoking signs. I am just saying the smell of air right now is not good. The girl next to me is making some funny faces and making me laugh. Lol I am going to be home for a while, crazy. It’s going to be weird for the first week or so. There are a handful of awesome things that I am going to be doing before I go to France. Should I give you a clue humm……?
Boys and guns
I really like this pic
The old town
Outside of Pablo Escobar home where he was killed
Oct
02
The first night of racing 18 lap points race and a 30 lap scratch race. Fast racing here in Colombia!
Oct
01
Sep
30
This is my first time to South America and so far is really kool. I love the traveling I get to do just to race my bike I can not complain. Walked around got a little scared everyone just looked at us walking a bit creepy LOL. Got to ride the track, its good track. I can’t wait to start racing on the 1st.
Sep
29
When I was packing for Columbia I realized that I did not have one of my wheels I needed and that it was at the bike shop. I was able to get my buddy Richie to go down to the shop so I could get my wheel. With me only being home for two days before I flew out again I spent some time and went with him to run a few errands. Had some fun at the CVS. I am a big Halloween fan. Love it!. I am a little bummed that I am going to be missing it for a third year in a row. I am in the air heading to Columbia, not that bad of a flight. I was at LAX at 4am and was not in a mood to film anything.
Sep
28
With me leaving Monday I want to have a clean slate. I am posting a few Vlogs that I have been sitting on the last few days. I don’t know what the internet is going to be like in Columbia. So here are the Vlogs that I was going to be uploading during the week but I decided to get them up so I can have FRESH vlogs for you down in Columbia. What I am going to try and do is have a vlog for everyday I am there. I gotta feeling that it is going to be a good good experience and I think I am going to see some very interesting things going on. Thanks for reading and watching keep checking back for some crazy adventures in Columbia!!
My last day at the OTC and Zoey and I getting really excited that I am home and start running around the house.
Staaling a van They left the van running! lol Riding the Boulder Velodrome a 126m track tested me riding skills!
I went out on a ride with the Jr’s of Jet Cycling had a good time talking to the kids.
Sep
26
Wall-mart what can I say its the second happiest place on earth wait no its not target is yeah target way better. The first place is my bed of corse.
Sep
25
I have a handful of VLOGS that I have not posted because I do think you want to be bombarded with a wave of Vlogs from me LOL! For the people that watch the videos it’s for you guys that don’t see what life is like as a cyclist on the move traveling to far away lands to ride. I want to share my experiences with all of you. Thanks for taking the time to read this and enjoy the Vlogs!!
Sep
24
The weather in the Springs has not been to nice to us here at madison camp but we are making to best of it and working hard for the winter.
Sep
22
Training in group rides can be a lot of fun when you are the ones pushing the tempo of the ride. had an new drink Boba tea, a tea that you eat by sucking tapioca balls through a straw and eat them very good.
Sep
21
Trip to the Delhaize AKA Euro grocery store the supplies to survive at the house in Europe. This is from a while back! I have a hand full of VLOGS that I have not posted because I do think you want to be bombard with a wave of Vlogs from me LOL!
Sep
21
It time to clear the fireplace and chop wood! Its now cold, we have to layer when we ride bust out the winter gloves and lag warmers. Humm the best part is Christmas is not to far away!!! LOL If you did not no you can smell seasons.
Sep
21
Wow summer has come and gone. it looks like today I am going to be stuck inside and training on the rollers. The cold mountain air with the rain makes it hard to ride on the track. I am not used to this weather coming from racing in Spain and being home in So Cal for the last couple weeks. It’s a bummer I am going to have to hang the flip flops for a bit but with the cold weather one thing comes to mind. Going in circles on a smooth wooden track with my legs spinning at a high cadence and me grabbing my Madison partner and throwing him into the race at a high speed. Awe six days for not riding the track that much this summer. I am starting where I left off in Feb. Did not take much for me to get the technique back of the Madison exchanges and spinning like a mad man. This winter is going to be full of great racing. First stop is Medellin Colombia, YEP, South America. Never have been there but I am excited to have the opportunity to race and get an experience that I will never forget!!
Sep
18
My buddy Rich told me about this MTB race that is just up the road from me in Irvine lake. Its an awesome race with hundreds of racers participating in the event. I was totally taken back on how many fan, racers and sponsors where at the race. A good course to challenge the Pros and not to difficult for the beginners. Two thumbs up!! Rich takes us through his unique racing bike he rode in the race. Check out the page! overthehumpseries.com
Sep
17
My day getting ready to leave to the Olympic training center!
Sep
16
My Mom made an awesome chocolate fondue with a bunch of yummy food. The short version brother hits mom with a banana Mom gets Son with a Twinkie
Sep
15
My Mom is bad ass US Outrigger Championships Channel Crossing Newport Beach to Catalina 27 miles of paddling all woman team she got 2nd place. I went over on a boat and waited for her to finish. Rented a golf cart and had some fun while I waited.
Sep
15
My brother gave me a wild hair cut, turned out good.
SUBSCRIBE!!! THANKS!!!
Sep
15
So I don’t know if it was the jet lag or no it was the jet lag. Its Monday the 14th and I was for sure I was leaving on Tuesday to go to the OTC in the Springs. I went around and told everyone that I was going to be gone on the 17th. When I got up and looked at my blackberry and it said it was the 14th I was a little confused. I thought to myself well ether my blackberry is wrong or I made a booboo. Well with some close reading this morning at my itinerary it said the 17th but not till thursday but I thought the 17th was on the Tuesday. Now I have two more days at home this was some awesomeness news.
Oops!
Sep
11
After all day Thursday trying to get this up I finally got it up!
Sep
10
Hello all the next few weeks for me are going to be a lot of fun. Going to the OCT and South America. I just have a few more day left at home and by the looks of its going to be a great last few days here! I will continue to film the random and not so random moments and share that with all of you. Hope you are enjoying them!
Thanks for stopping by!
Ac…
Sep
08
Air Canada and I had our falling out last week. She stood me up and left me in Paris for fourteen and a half hours. Finally picked me up and took me to Montreal then left me there for 9 hours. Just to be mean she delayed me once again and took a very long time to get the tvs to work. This trip home sucked, I was really never happy the hours went like days. I had to slump around in airports and eat really bad food. While traveling you always get that smell and you really don’t know what it is, but you know it’s coming from you! Its great to be home now for a bit.
Sep
04
After I was done racing I took a ride in the team car where I was so tired that I fell asleep in the team car for a few laps. It is always a trip to be in the team car and not out on the bike racing. It’s a lot easier going up the climbs BUT you can get car sick really easy to. There is no speed limit on the roads so you can rail some of the twisty roads as if you are just racing the car and not following a race. I had to get dropped off at the feed zone, I was starting to go Crazy. The only guys I would see were the guys that were getting dropped on the climb. I watched the rest of the race by the finish.
Sep
03
After the team presentation for Vuelta Palencia the team had a nice walk back to the van in down town Palencia had some people giving us some funny looks. Now that I am back home I am taking some good time off I have been super tired the time I have been home I need to get my rest on. I have not been able to get out much have just been sleeping well trying to is HOT here in The OC and the fires are crazy I can see the smoke for miles. keep checking back I have a few more Vlogs from Europe!
Sep
02
Shammy cream how to put it on your shorts two different ways. A how to Vlog. I am still not home I am in Canada I have a felling that my next Vlog is going to be AWESOME I have a lot to say right now… Its 3:30 AM now at the airport so if this does not make sense its because I am very tired….But in the mean time enjoy this.
So want to be home have not seen a bed in over a day
Aug
31
Harry Potter’s crib is nice but… I like my bed way better… France was a very last min deal I was on the edge if I was going to go with all the racing in Spain and all the traveling and with only a day in Belgium in between Spain and going to France it was just a little to much…
Aug
31
I don’t recommend crossing the finish line like this BUT the dude got the W…
Aug
31
Giving this a try! This is a Vlog that is just a week Update on racing and thing that are going on. Stick with me on this one I they will be a lot shorter and I will be a little more energetic on the next one. I am beat right now but I am felling lot better now that I have had some rest.
Aug
30
This week is going to be a great week I have a lot of AWESOME Vlogs and Blogs coming…
Aug
27
When travling in Europe its always is a adventure does not mater where I go its always a good time. Now with a camera at my hands you can take the trip with me. There are some things I can’t wright about because it would not be that funny or make any sense LOL. I am still debating if I am going to wright about stage 6 I just don’t know as of now. Any-who I hope you have been enjoying the videos! Here is A day at the airport.
Aug
25
Stage 6 was more then CRAZY more soon!Going back to Belgium now see you there.
Watched stage 6 on TV
I did not go down
Aug
25
33k TT for stage 5 I was still beat from the day before but I was surprised how I felt on the bike the legs where not that bad. I finished on the same time as another guy but he got the upper hand and was 23rd I was 24th. It was the first time I have done a TT that long. I am use to shorter TTs. Todays Vlog is a little crazy I was trying to get AMPED up for the day during the AM spin!
All ready to launch
Aero shoulder to toes
Aug
24
Today was a good day for me right off the start. Hollywood, Cole and I made the front split of 25 guys. I was feeling good right off the get go. Guys were attacking and I was following wheels. A TRASMIERA FUJI rider attacked and I was right on his wheel and there was one other guy with us. We quickly had a gap, it was the out of sight out of mind breakaway. We were on a twisty road and with a cross tailwind. At one point we had 5 minutes on the peloton. We were chasing 3 guys that were up the road, it took a while to get to them. We finally bridged the gap after a fast descent. We all were working well together. The wind was crazy, and going around a lake it was a really dry wind so it made it to be a really hot dry day. On the top of one of the last climbs we had about 2 minutes and 45 seconds. On the first switchback I was sitting 5th wheel and as I started to lean the bike over and my front end started to wash out with a flat. I did the whole unclip my foot and drag it to stay up. I had to ride the whole descent with the flat. I got my wheel changed and I was off, but that was the end of my day. I was not too happy when Noel told me that I was not going to get back on and to sit up and wait for the peloton. I was at the rolling feed zone and Noel loaded me up with food, coca’s and bottles. With 10k to go Noel told me to sit up and spin it in. After 125ks off the front I was deep in the box. Check out the Vlog of me right after we road back to the hotel!
Getting food and bottles
Going up a climb
TV coverage of the race
Rolling like a big shoot
There are as many cars here then riders
The six man break
Aug
21
Still in the car this is the second vlog to the last one. Come with me into my new crib as I take you on a fantastic tour of the hotel!
Aug
21
I just finished one stage race VUELTA ZAMORA here in Spain and now I am starting my second stage race in Spain VUELTA PALENCIA but VUELTA ZAMORA had some nice big climbs. On the Queen stage I found myself climbing with all the climbers and made it over in the second group. Our GC guy missed the move and I managed to bridge to him mid way up the climb. On the decent I flew down and on the flat roads I killed it to bridging up to the lead group right before the second to last climb. I was following moves on the climb for a bit till the per climbers started to attack. I tried to say with them but the little stick people AKA the Spanish guys where moving like trains up the climb. I stayed in the group the did not make the split until the finishing climb that was steep like a wall thank god for the 27. I passed many guys going up. When I crossed the line that last that I wanted to do was to stop pedaling I was worried once I stopped I was not going to get my bike going again. I road a ways past the line. Once I found the team van and got off my bike my legs felt like jello. I finished a respectable 21st
A sick Bridge we racing over
Rolling it in the gutter
Going up please
Iam in the middle
Still on my way up
Fixing my radio
The boys
Aug
21
Moving day for the usa national team to a new crib AKA Hotel. the Vlog is full of Castles and a look inside the team car and me not having any idea on where I am going!
Aug
19
The day after the race/party but not really Hollywood and I took a nice easy bike ride in to Zamora to find fireworks and ice cream but we randomly ran into the podium girls that hollywood was trying to get in touch with them. It was a FAIL trying to get the info after the last stage. We also have a nice ride on the freeway.
Zamora Spain
A kool road
Riding bikes on a walking street
I did not tell you all but I own a Hotel in Spain
Aug
19
After we got done racing it was time to have some other kind of fun. All week I could hear the loud music so now I got a chance to be apart of the loudness. Found Bumper Cars and Fireworks I felt like I was 5 again it was a awesome way to celebrate a good race! Its a little longer Vlog but way worth watching it!
The guys after stage
Coke with a machine gun
Aug
17
After a very nice talk with WordPress.com I am back and running. I am Austin Carroll is BACK up. Thank you Make at WordPress.com!
Just because I am happy I am going put up a video of Warrbasse uncut its a good time with this kid. I hope you find this as funny as we did. Here is the one and only Larry Warbasse aka Jake Gyllenhaal he really looks like him! A younger Gyllenhaal if you will.
Aug
17
The first stage was not a bad one. Its all about the mountains here in Spain so if it is flat they just take it easy but the way we ride on the flats is more aggressive. A put it in to the gutter kind of a race. We were rolling behind the leaders team on a long strait road all of a sudden the wind changed and it was a crosswind we all jumped and put it into the gutter all of the other guys where freaking out yelling at us they wanted it to be easy. a short time the wind was back as a headwind and we waited for the sprint. I was with Holloway the last few Ks helping him out with 1K I was done. Cole was in a little movie off the front and attacked with 600m. The finishing “hill” was a lot steeper then what we all thought it was. That 50m sing felt like for ever.
Noel in the pimp Mobile
Aug
16
Just wandering but if I did more vids on my blog about the stuff that the team/me do on our free time and at races. Would that be something to your entertainment to watch? For an example Talking about the race,the fun stuff My team mates and I do ect.
Leave a COMMENT please!
Aug
14
The prologue was what a prologue is short,fast and painful. It was a out and back TT with a tailwind on the way out the way back there was a nice headwind. For how short it is 5ks when I finished a prologue, you know that feeling you get when you do something that you have not done in years and you just do it full speed and afterwords you are breathing hard your hart rate is off the scale and you can recover right away that is how I feel when I do a prologue. I all most fell over on the start ramp the guy that went off right before me dumbed water all aver him. The ramp turned into ice my first two pedal strokes I was like a little kid with his training wheels on a higher surface and I was not going anywhere for a good amount of time. I was lucky that I was able to ride to the start and in the AM. It was crazy and I was not able to get my pre TT music on and a full warm up. The hole time is in the top 30. For what little Vlog is above this has a little more info. I will have a better Vlog tomorrow.
Me after the prologue
With my awesome Oakley XL Radars
Aug
13
Aug
12
I found one in the wild very few people
every get a chance to see one.
Cruising the roads of Spain
Aug
09
I just finished Tour de Namur in Belgium, it was a 5 day stage race with a lot of climbing. I finished 16th overall. I made the winning break on the first stage. I had a bad crash on stage 3, I was on a descent where I was in a break going into a turn, the road turned back on itself and I hit the wall of the bridge and flipped over it falling down below in the river and landed on river rocks. I got up and going quickly and I still managed to not lose any time and made it to the front group. Stage 4, I was in the hurt box form the crash, I stayed at the front of the peloton to the finish. For stage 5, we protested against the race organizers at the start. When the organizers said go, we didn’t. The protest was because the race did not have enough guys with yellow flags where there was road furniture in the road. There were a few big crashes from that. Also, the distances of the race were way off according to what the organizers posted. We got going and a big break went and all the race leaders missed it. It was a little funny watching the teams looking around trying to see who was going to start working to bring it back. Holloway was in it, so once we got organized we were rolling. Some of the riders in the break crashed and split it up, Holloway was still off the front so I just followed wheels till the finish. I was making sure I was right there at the front of the peloton so I did not lose any time. My boy Halloway won, good show for Team USA at Namur. Next up for me is two stage races in Spain.
The GC!
1 158 NED 19810620 DE HAAN Sierk Jan VAN 17:22:13 0:00:00
2 63 BEL 19860731 HOLLANDERS Dries UNI 17:22:23 0:00:10
3 145 BEL 19881121 SERRY Pieter * DES 17:22:25 0:00:12
4 163 BEL 19870717 CAMMAERTS Edwig PCW 17:22:38 0:00:25
5 50 BEL 19860826 DE CLERCQ Bart DAV 17:22:49 0:00:36
6 118 BEL 19881123 KEUKELEIRE Jens * SOE 17:23:03 0:00:50
7 6 BEL 19901128 VANDERSANDE Tosh * BEV 17:23:03 0:00:50
8 113 BEL 19880829 VANDOUSSELAERE Sven * JVB 17:23:03 0:00:50
9 13 BEL 19710313 DRIESEN Tony CUR 17:23:03 0:00:50
10 4 BEL 19880617 NOOYTENS Sven BEV 17:23:03 0:00:50
11 153 BEL 19890414 BRUYNDONCKX Bart * ROC 17:23:03 0:00:50
12 111 BEL 19880214 TERWEDUWE Kenny JVB 17:23:03 0:00:50
13 51 BEL 19881124 DE WINTER Walt * DAV 17:23:03 0:00:50
14 8 BEL 19811006 BLUEKENS Jan PRO 17:23:03 0:00:50
15 48 USA 19880205 HOUSE Cole USA 17:23:03 0:00:50
16 47 USA 19870410 CARROLL Austin USA 17:23:03 0:00:50
17 2 BEL 19861130 SYS Klaas BEV 17:23:03 0:00:50
18 79 BEL 19890828 DEBUSSCHERE Jens * PWS 17:23:03 0:00:50
19 39 BEL 19900322 HAERS Joris * NHT 17:23:03 0:00:50
20 115 BEL 19740516 KUYPERS Nico SOE 17:24:22 0:02:09
Aug
02
Its been crazy the last few weeks racing a lot did a 5 day stage race now I am doing Tour De Namur that is another 5 day race. Doing really well made the 38 man break in the first stage finishing 19th and Today finished in the peloton and moving up on Gc to 17th.
1 63 BEL 19860731 HOLLANDERS Dries UNI 6:29:28 0:00:00
2 145 BEL 19881121 SERRY Pieter * DES 6:29:30 0:00:02
3 158 NED 19810620 DE HAAN Sierk Jan VAN 6:29:30 0:00:02
4 50 BEL 19860826 DE CLERCQ Bart DAV 6:30:07 0:00:39
5 6 BEL 19901128 VANDERSANDE Tosh * BEV 6:30:08 0:00:40
6 4 BEL 19880617 NOOYTENS Sven BEV 6:30:08 0:00:40
7 13 BEL 19710313 DRIESEN Tony CUR 6:30:08 0:00:40
8 118 BEL 19881123 KEUKELEIRE Jens * SOE 6:30:08 0:00:40
9 115 BEL 19740516 KUYPERS Nico SOE 6:30:08 0:00:40
10 113 BEL 19880829 VANDOUSSELAERE Sven * JVB 6:30:08 0:00:40
11 163 BEL 19870717 CAMMAERTS Edwig PCW 6:30:08 0:00:40
12 48 USA 19880205 HOUSE Cole USA 6:30:08 0:00:40
13 153 BEL 19890414 BRUYNDONCKX Bart * ROC 6:30:08 0:00:40
14 2 BEL 19861130 SYS Klaas BEV 6:30:08 0:00:40
15 79 BEL 19890828 DEBUSSCHERE Jens * PWS 6:30:08 0:00:40
16 39 BEL 19900322 HAERS Joris * NHT 6:30:08 0:00:40
17 47 USA 19870410 CARROLL Austin USA 6:30:08 0:00:40
18 51 BEL 19881124 DE WINTER Walt * DAV 6:30:08 0:00:40
19 8 BEL 19811006 BLUEKENS Jan PRO 6:30:08 0:00:40
20 110 BEL 19880406 JOSEPH Grégory JVB 6:31:50 0:02:22
Jul
22
Raced in INGELMUNSTER which is the town next to Izegem where I live in Belgium. With a short ride to the start, resituated and pinned my numbers. I still had 45 minutes before the start. The weather was not looking promising. As I sat on the sidewalk I felt a few rain drops looked at the sky and shooed my fist and yelled you better not rain today. It worked out well instead I got super strong winds all day instead. I was not going to do anything for the first part of the race. These races always start hard and stay hard and I was not going 100% off the gun. I waited till I was feeling good and started to race hard. Iggy got in a move and was away up the road. Because it’s more of a training race for us I was not too worried about brining guys up to him. I wanted a day on the bike and I was going to get in the break and I was not going to sit back in the peloton. I attacked hard on the tail wind part of the course and a few guys came. I did not look back till I hit the turn on where the crosswind started I wanted it to stay. The peloton was not far behind and I stayed on the front and did another big pull. I got the guys with me to start working and it was a nice rolling echelon moving nicely throughout the small farm roads. The group rolled for a long time without seeing anyone. With 5 laps to go we got our first glance of the break. It took us all 5 laps to close the gap. Once Iggy saw I was coming up he stopped working and sat on the back. We were so close, the group started to slow up as we were getting near. I jumped across and moved to the front and Iggy was right there. It was a long stretch of road from the last right turn. We went around the round about and two guys tried a little jump to stay away but we were moving to fast for that. I was stuck right on Iggy and started to go. As I started my sprint I was a little slow on the execution. Took a sec to go but I was third in the sprint. There were a few guys getting away before I joined the breakaway that stayed away to the finish. A good ride, finished 8th!! My first time being top 10 in a road race in Europe FINALLY….Had another hour of training to get in miles before Ronde van Vlaams Brabant that starts this Wednesday!
Jul
19
Nicky Just sent me this he is the one in red. Racing in Germany in the rain.
Jul
17
I am back in Europe racing with the US National team. I am excited to be back. Getting to Europe in the AM and having to stay up all day makes you feel like you are awake but in a fuzzy dream. The day is in slow motion. I always build my bikes as soon as I can 1. to see it they made the trek over here 2. one less thing to have to do. There was one point in the day where I was not going to make it with out taking a very long nap which if I did that I wouldd be getting up way to early and feeling good to go. It was not raining so I went on a nice spin that turned into a nice tempo ride. Then over in the distance, the clouds were dark and coming at me fast. The wind was picking up and I picked the right way to ride. I had a tail wind most of the ride with a crosswind on the way back. I started to get rained on at that point I wanted noting to do with that so this is when the tempo started. With having fresh airplane legs this was not an ideal situation. After getting back from the ride I was full of energy for about 20 minutes and wanted to go lay down and sleep. I was able to make it over the hump. Then for some reason when I went to bed I just layed there so exhausted from the long day traveling I was having a hard time falling asleep. My body was on 3pm back home and I dont sleep at 3pm at home.Now getting up is another hard task that does not come easy for me. Thank you jet lag our battle countues….
Jul
15
The circuit race was fast with a steep climb up to the finish. All day the sun was out and it was nice out when the team road in the AM. Barton got into the early break but was chased down. Soon after Tony Cruz was in a break of four. I was having trouble with the excelerations out of the turns. Not racing for a while sucks a lot. That’s the stuff you can only get from racing your bike. The race got a little harry when the skies opened up and rained. Not like the normal rain drops it was a down pour, big drops that really hurt. It made the race really sketchy on the long fast down hill. At one point on the decent the guy in front of me crashed and was sliding right in front of my wheel, to avoid him I turned to go off the road going towards some grass. I was able to miss hitting the guy. With Tony in the break you can only really follow moves and with my legs confused of why I had gone hard two days in a row I was just tried to stay out of trouble at the front. Tony stayed away, we could see the break when we hit the base of the hill. Tony finished 4.
Jul
14
Made it to the East Coast and left the great weather in So Cal to cold and rain in Fitchburg. Really excited to race in the USA. The TT was a good ride for me, super hard to see anything. The fog was amazing, I have never been in that thick of fog. I could see 50ms in front of me very creepy. I was the first one off for the team so I was racing blind. I did not know how big the climbs were and NOT being able to see made it that much harder. I was taking a lot of mental notes for report back to the guys that had not gone off yet.
Crazy Foggy for the TT
Jun
29
Hello! It’s been a little while and I had an AWESOME time off the bike when I got back from Europe a whole 2 weeks of recovering. Been busy hanging out with friends, my “two girls”……and enjoying life. But, the last two weeks I started back training hard and I got my tan lines back to prove it. I’m extremely motivated for the upcoming events. Just found out that I am going back East to race Fitchburg Longsjo Classic near Boston. I’m really pumped to race a NRC; it’s been over a year. This will also be my first race with BMC this year. We will have a full team at this race for the first time since April. Also, happy to say there is a lot of exciting things coming up for the last part of the year.
Jun
11
There has been a lot going on the last two weeks good and bad I had two bad crashes one was on a recovery ride I hit some oil while I was on around about fell on my face. Stayed up on Saturday while racing Roubaix Iggy crashed in front of me and broke my bars. Not the best was to finish the trip but I am looking at the big picture and I can say not to bad I am happy with it. I have taken some time off the bike and loving it BUT its time to start again. Its been nice to be home for a while and get to play with my dog Zoey and see family and friends.
Jun
02
I am back in the USA still dont have a computer but good thing my little bro has one. Doing some recovering after crashing on my face on Friday then crashing again on Sunday. With that stay tuned!!!
May
09
So I am sad to say I no longer have a computer. It died last night R.I.P Mac Oct 07 to May 09. I miss you already………
I don’t get home till June a few more weeks in Europe. June is going to be busy with post.
Thanks for reading!
Ac…
May
07
So we take the night If we fall then we're done So then take it right This one chance we've got Don't mess up Fight with pride And fight to the end Strike on This is your chance Make it worth your life So be careful what you see It can mean the end Be careful what you read They're planning the end of you Fight with pride And fight to the end Strike on This is your chance Make it worth your life Fight with pride And fight to the end Strike on This is your chance Make it worth your life Fight with pride And fight to the end Strike on This is your chance Make it worth your life
May
06
It’s been a crazy last week with training and racing. I have a lot that I want to write. I raced in 3 different countries in 4 days. This was the 4 days in a quick sum up!
Two hour drive to a race in Belgium, race 185ks get back into the van, drive 3 hours to Holland sleep in a hotel. Drive to race start, race 200ks drive 4 hours home aka the house in Izegem, Belgium sleep. Train. Next day. back into the van to France, 3 hour drive sleep in hotel. Drive to race. Race 140, then drive 3 hours back to the house in Belgium.
May
05
My first Pro Road Race: MEMORIAL ARNO WALLAARD In Holland. Vacansoleil Pro Cycling, Skil-Shimano, Rabobank Continental Team were a few of the teams racing. The windmills were on high today and the wind was going to be a big factor in the outcome of the race. I was not that far back form the front and this is where the learning starts up again for me. The split went early and caught me on my heals. Barton and Justin made the split but shortly in Justin fell off the back. I stayed out of the gutter and road in the eschalon and fought to stay there. We had most of the Skil-Shimano guys in the second group and they were doing a lot of the work. As we started the second lap we were just 30 sec from the first group. There was one last effort from the group to bridge up. Kirk Carlson went off with 4 guys and they just rode away. The guys in the group slowly lost any motivation to race. I have been in this situation before and it’s always ended the same, not finishing the race. I was not going to unclip and put my foot down that easy. I went to the front and got some guys that were still motivated to work. I did some rotations in the eschalon and they were not working. I was not going to let that happen and rode away from them. I was by myself for a bit and bridged up to two riders and one jumped on to my wheel. I was feeling really good and we both took equal pulls on the front. I was lucky he was a big guy so I had an awesome draft. We had his team car behind us and they were giving me bars and bottles. We made it to the local laps and did two laps before we finally caught the 4 guys. It was a good feeling to get there. The lap was short, just 6 ks so the main break of two guys were close. We got stopped at a random point and was told to wait. (well the hand gestures told me to wait) One of the cops spoke English and said we had to wait a minute for the peloton and caravan to pass and we were going to finish a lap early. I was ok with that as long as I finished. The last 3 ks we rolled into the finish line. 43rd not great but what I learned will be with me forever…Never stop….
Apr
24
Off to Holland this weekend two one days MEMORIAL ARNO WALLAARD and RONDE VAN NOORD HOLLAND
Apr
21
This Sunday I raced ZELLIK – GALMAARDEN with Chris Barton, Kirk Carlsen Cole House, Christopher Monteleone and Eric Bennit. The race was 170k with and going up climbs: two times up the Murr, 5 Times up the Congoberg and 6 times up the Bosberg. I knew that the race was going to lose a lot of riders going up the climbs so I was saving myself for the local laps. I knew that it was going to be hard. My legs felt great, I had a head cold that hit me hard and that was just annoying. I was staying near the front so I was not in any trouble from riders getting dropped. As we came to the Muur for the first time there was a big crash right in front of me. I locked up the rear wheel and was looking where I was going to crash. Luckily I was able to miss hitting him. We were on a big road and descending and had to take a right on a small road, some of the guys went down, then 30 seconds later there was another crash. A guy ran into Barton and ripped his derailer off and took all the spokes out. I did not know at the time what happened to the guys. I figured they got stuck behind the crashes. It was just Cole and I for awhile and Barton made it back on. When I hit the local lap I noticed that I could not find any of the guys. I sat in the last four local laps. I would just move up as I was getting close to the climbs. On the last lap I moved up and was sitting behind two lead outs. I was feeling strong all day. With a little less then 500m I hit a pot hole really hard and my rear tire blew up. Went from the front to 77 really fast. I started ZLM it did not go well I got pushed of the road in the crosswind and lost my good position the race road away from me…….
Apr
20
I felt good but my legs where not there I was doing all I could and was not going. I had some bad luck early on got stuck behind a crash on a small road. I was able to chase back on a few Ks before the Muur made is over in the lead group then the hole raced changed the break and the peloton got stuck at a train crossing. Were where there for 5 mins so that let all the guys that got dropped on the early climbs came back. There was another crash that split the field up as I was going through the caravan on we had a left turn coming I was on the inside and all the cars where stopping as I was going into the turn one of the official cars stopped and I ran into the side of the car took the mirror in the ribs and hit me shoulder good to. I ended up on the hood of the car. I tried to get back in the race but I was hurting. I am all good a little sore. Not how I want the race to go but bike racing anything can happen. I have the next few day before I race this weekend I am doing ZLM Tour in Holland and ZELLIK – GALMAARDEN in Belgium on Sunday.
Apr
13
So there are always some fun things you get to do as a bike racer besides training and racing. We get to sit on the Internet all day watching movies and TV shows. I am hooked on Weeds right now, awesome show! We travel all over the world to ride a bike. Go on cruiser rides to get a coffee. We have photo shoots and have film crews follow us sometimes AND there is a lot of down time to just hang out with teammates and friends. That is a quick sum up on what I do all the time………..
I am second from the back
Being one of the shorter guys on the team you have to squat down in the team pic but I always have a good draft!!
The start of the Muur
We had to wait around for the film crew to set up
Filming
Cobble climb in Flanders training. I am in 2nd
Apr
10
Stage 1 of Triptyque des Monts et Châteaux was 170k flat and fast. My job was to get in the early break so I was following moves for the first half of the race. I got in one move with 13 guys but no one wanted to work so we quickly were caught by the peloton. I was able to work a little longer then I was worked over and surfed in the peloton till the finish. Chris Barton was able to get into a move that stayed away and he finished 3rd. Stage 2 was the TT a 9ks with a few big ring climbs. On the way to the start I think we got a little lost and I had only a shot time to get ready and warmed up. There was 22 minutes till my start so I had to really rush my warm up. The TT was good for me I had not raced the TT bike yet so I was a little uncomfortable in the turns and some of the fast descents in the drops. Going to work on that. Then my radio stopped working right as I started. I was a minute down. Stage 3 was later that day. It was 126ks which only means that is going to be fast. There was around 3 hours between the TT and the road race and I slept a lot of that which made me really out of it for the first hour of racing. The wind was making it hard on some of the sections. The peloton would split but it always came back. I did not have a radio so I was a little lost to what was going on with the team. On the last local lap I took Cole, Phinney and Kirk to the front with me yelling a few Flemish words, I know people got out of my way. There was a lack of communication while I was getting to the front, no one was letting me know what they wanted to do. I went to the front and looked back and saw Cole sitting and then Phinney was right there too. With 2ks to go, I did a big pull and left it to the other guys. Cole finished 7. Stage 4, 164ks unlike the other days, today was going to be really difficult with 10 climbs. I was really ready for this stage, I love the climbing in the area that I was racing in. Steep short and one really small road. My job for the day was to get in the early breakaway and be there at the end of the race. I did just that. I made it in a breakaway 20 minutes into the race with 3 other guys. We were off for a long time with the biggest lead of 40 seconds. Noel was talking to me on the radio and telling me to work as less as I could. There was a group of 17 that was coming to us, when they bridged to us it was right before one of the steep long climbs and I was sitting 4th wheel. We rode away from the rest. On the top everyone was together and the peloton was not to far down. I new that we were going to be caught and I just sat in. Right as we were all coming together two guys attacked from the same team from Russia.20They were brothers and they put 4 minutes into the peloton. I stayed around top 20 for the rest of the day. I was helping Barton and the team to move up before the climbs. We had a loop we did in the middle of the race. We went up a cobble climb two times and as we were about to start going up I took Barton to the front which made me get dropped going up the climb. There was a Robabank rider with me and two German National team riders and they pulled me right back in the peloton. I did the same thing the next time up but this time I moved him up earlier which saved my legs and I went up it fast in the lead group. There was a group that went away and we missed it but as it came together I asked where Barton went and Kirk said he is bridging across and it was a minute gap up the road across to it. WC Soenens-Yawadoo-Germond was on the front chasing and Wielergroep Beveren 2000 was sitting on them with Barton up there. We all sat on Wielergroep Beveren 2000. When it came back the two Russian motor cycles were still away. I was up pulling with the team that had the overall leader and we to closed the gap down. There was a long cobble section going through the finish line that was a lot of fun. I faded back going up the climb on the first lap but I was able to move back to the front and continue working. After I pulled off I was mid pack. I saw Barton holding his leg. I asked20him what was wrong and he said he was cramping and he said help me. I rode up and started to push him up the climb. I was in the hurt box, I did what I could to help him and I had a little left. Right before I blew up I gave him a big push. I was done and stopped peddling up the climb which was not that much longer. I rode in with a small group to the finish. When I saw Barton he gave me a big man hug and told me if it was not for me he would had been screwed. I told him ”anytime man” and laid out on the ground………………….This weekend is going to be awesome for one today its my birth day 22! I made the Tour of Flanders team witch is tomorrow and PARIS-ROUBAIX and Moto GP starts Sunday!! A sweet B day weekend.
