I'll wait til you get back and give you a CD...

Don't worry - I am in America - the land of cheap, fast internet! I was concerned about all the South African's still stuck in the internet dark ages... (and those on the free wi-fi in Leysin!)

Awesome! Thanks. Been looking for this... Great coverage.

Pity about the footage of my dropped chain! Doh!

(Just a warning to everyone - it is about 180MB, so if you have slow internet, it may take a while to download...)

You obviously haven't met 'The Hill' yet!

It depends on the day, the purpose of the climb (ending a solid ride or just trying to get home alive from a track session, for example) and the riders preference - some in our group will stay in tri-bars for 70%, others will stand for 70%. Most use a combination of all of the above. I think Doc would love us to do the whole thing in our tri-bars every time, but let's be realistic here... There are points where you can grind in your bars, points where sitting up is more favourable and points where standing is all but obligatory.

Personally, I mostly sit with hands on base bar and ride a steady cadence, standing occasionally at the steeper bits.

That answer your question?

Heya!

Glad they dubbed me in French - it means you couldn't really tell what I was saying - those darn post-race interviews always catch you at the worst time - immediately past-race (go figure!) 

Backing up from Roth was no prob at all - as evidenced by my result! Obviously we train for this kind of demand, but provided you handle the days/weeks between properly (and that doesn't mean sleep as much as possible, contrary to popular belief) then you can get the most out of both events - perhaps you should ask Sugar - he got a taste of what it is like to back up races in the last few weeks... If you can fit it in your plans though, don't miss this race - a must-do for all triathletes!

More about the 300km 'adventure' to and from Alpe in my blog soon - just as soon as Doc stops flogging me long enough to type it...

Unless you are certain you are safely up the table, why would you bother doing a non-WTC race?

Well exactly. Where races have to compete for big-name athletes, it is a master-stroke! And you can't really fault WTC for that. And if their prize money keeps up with the times, then I see no problem with it either.

I certainly don't want to see WTC gain a monopoly on long triathlon, but as it stands the door is still open for other events - they are just going to have to work harder and pay bigger prize-purses to get the big names racing their events. Win! 

Best of luck all of you! Go out an' smash 'em!

Oh, and Scottie: Tweet by Lance Armstrong in Nice today: "Setting up the transition area for Ironman France this Sunday. Very cool!"
As the only male Pro from USA, he'll be watching you - show him how to ride up hills!  

in your "Top 3" photo from Kraichgau, you had some dirt on your face

The problem is, now that I am 27 I seem to have reached that age where my facial hair starts to grow (I know, I'm an early bloomer ) and if I don't shave at least once a week it gets noticeable - I can barely keep up!
I even noticed a chest hair the other day...

2nd certainly is better than 5th. Or 4th. Or 3rd.

I only have eye's for the long term goals and I can accept and celebrate (if not be entirely happy with) a loss en route to the bigger goals.

But the day I am completely happy and content with 2nd, regardless of whether it's Crowie, Stadler or anyone else who beats me, is the day I retire...

Ja, ja, Damien. Of course Google is right! 

Anyway, I think I should win this, seeing as it is about cycling and in cycling 'legal cheating' is allowed - like the water-bottle hand-off and drafting behind team cars... (And that's not even mentioning the cheating they don't talk about - ask Floyd Landis for more about that    ). So in the spirit of the sport, a win is a win is a win... right?! 

Okay, I found it on Google and know who said it and when... but maybe I shouldn't say cos someone might actually know it and they certainly deserve the credit more than my supreme Googling skills do... 

How about some clues...?

(At least then I'll have some more info to put into my google search...  )

have 2 of them nite before a 70.3

I had KFC for lunch the day before Singapore 70.3.  It wasn't the awesomeness that is a Double Down Chicken Sandwich, but it was still packed with fat. First time I have tried Doc's KFC wisdom. And I almost caught Crowie... The secret is out!

...Wait, that's not good.    Actually I had pasta, and protein shakes, and energy drink and gels and granola bars. Liquid meals only. Junk food is bad...

...Sigh! Damn. Now I'll have to train harder.

 

[he would need drugs...]

We had a drug-tester guy come to Swiss camp and he hung around for about two hours waiting for Manny to get back from a ride (turns out Manny was lost or something if memory serves!). We got chatting about how much training we do - km's, hours, hills, running, riding, swimming, etc.

He was shocked... He said he got tired climbing the stairs to our apartment, and that if he had to do what we do, he would need drugs...   

At least he had a sense of humour, which seems as rare as coastline in Switzerland!

I know this sounds a little geeky, but Stevie, damn your transitions are speedy!!!

That's cos he got there first and knocked all the PRO racks over! So the rest of us had to throw our bikes in a pile and fish our shoes out from under other bikes!!! Good strategy Steve! 

Seriously though, thanks everyone for the great support and messages this weekend! The guys at the TBB tent were awesome on race day, and the whole weekend was a great experience. Blog up soon...