Herring Gas Team at Tour of Belize, Tuesday
From Kenny:
Tomorrow (Wednesday) we start the first stage of the National Tour of Belize. The busy schedule already has our fearless leader Frank Moak about to drive us all crazy, bumping into us on his way to find his misplaced gloves or stressing out to get his next feeding. Today we rode about 50 miles on some of Belize's best (bumpy) and flat roads, perfecting some of our form for the Team Time Trial coming up on Thursday afternoon. After our ride we quickly packed up and darted over to the Belize City Center for the team presentations. It can be intimidating watching the other teams take the stage. We discovered today that the racers that were ejected last month stemming from drug allegations have been allowed to start. Furthermore, their team boss started another team, (RedBull) and the two teams will probably combine and work as one for this tour. Meaning that we are racing against last year's winner who has 17 riders backing him up. But that's all OK. For some reason, I felt today that we were the intimidators. We look about as professional as a team can get and standing at our far left was our new recruit, Michael Olheiser wearing his recently won World Champion Jersey. It's nice being here. As we walked around the large opening ceremony, we received a lot of well wishes and 'Big Respect Mon' from the locals.
During the press introduction, I let Belize know what weapons we brought with us, naming out Bain Foote and Michael O' specifically. It's been quite a trip so far and we have yet to turn a pedal in anger. Tomorrow's stage has basically 30 miles of Paris-Roubaix-style rough roads to start off with and 2 category-4 climbs at miles 94 and 110. We're all hoping that this will take the edge off of a lot of the people that we know will start the stage like they were just shot with a tazer gun. We have also been warned about the slick roads near the end of the stage. It's sugar cane season here and they are harvesting. So when the roads get wet... sugar, diesel and water make for an anti cyclist mixture in the corners. There are also speed bumps that will total your car if you hit them at more than a walking pace. We're guessing we'll be catching some air over those things.
You can keep updated on us by going to http://www.channel5belize.com or watch live and streaming video of the whole local news broadcast at http://www.channel5belize.com/streaming/stream.php
And lastly you can check up at www.tourofbelize.com
Well, it's bed time and we're all good. Woody and Michael O are fitting in well. Frank has been fed and is sleeping, Tim and our Director Sportif Mal are standing over my shoulder as I type this and Chris A and our medical technician Perry Gaudet RN, are in a room that is so clean, that we are considering conducting plastic surgery in there tomorrow. Oh, and Scott Kuppersmith might have spoken today, but we're not sure.
Thank you to everyone that has given us their best wishes. I hope we represent you, LAMBRA and our country in a way that will make you proud.
See you later,
Kenny
Introducing the team |
Michael Olheiser |
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