Okay, it’s been awhile since I’ve actually posted a legitimate post, but this one is noteworthy, because of the long road I’ve come over.

Last year as many of you know, I was diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism, told that if I would have waited 30 minutes more before coming into the hospital that it may have been game over, that I probably wouldn’t ride the same again, and more. Well, I’m proud to announce that yesterday, finally YESTERDAY, I felt like my old self! I had the “Meatball” power, or as the guys like to say, “retard” strength. I know that the latter one isn’t so nice, but that’s what they say.

My job yesterday was to make the early breakaway, take the pressure off the boys, and be apart of the race. Both Jason Donald and I had this same job. From the gun I was following attacks, and after that I was attacking. Jason and I followed and initiated for over 30 km, until finally the straw broke the cammels back on a wide open fast descent. A FdJeux guy had about 7 seconds when I made my jump across using my large ass to my gravitational advantage, and my descending/cornering skills to get there quickly. It’s amazing how well you can perform the task of crazy descending when 1.) you have to chase back on over a big climb and 2.) when you do it a lot!.

Anyways, Bouygues Telecom was satisfied with who was in the break based on time. A lot of breaks will form, but only the right ones will get away based on who is in the break. This way the team protecting the overall leader won’t have to freak out about who’s up the road. I was 15 minutes down, so no threat, but there were two guys in the break within two minutes, so the the time never got above 5 minutes.

It ended up being 120 km long breakaway, that got caught just 3 km to the finish line. The course had one big loop, and then three laps on a circuit about 7.5 km long. Right past the finish line was a short, relatively steep climb that snaked up just packed with people. PACKED! It was an awesome feeling to be there, without lung pain, without the piriformis muscle in my ass screaming, without cramping etc due to lack of volume. Don’t get me wrong, I have a lot still yet to do until i’m equalized with the guys here on the road coming from the track, but the point is, I felt good, strong, normal, and am very content with that wonderful feeling.

Photos are the most fun, so here are some random ones…