Well, I'm here in Brest ready for the start of the 2008 Tour de France. It's been pretty hectic over the last few days juggling the media interest from NZ and getting myself packed and here ready to kick off my fourth TdF. I've pretty much had my mobile phone glued to the side of my head while taking care of business. But that's just what the Tour does to the World. And that's just the beginning...
Yesterday's preso certainly didn't have the same feeling as London's last year but on the positive side, logistically it has been much easier here in Brest - although sometimes it doesn't seem like we are at the Tour at all as it seems a bit too low key. Maybe it's just that I've been around too long and have become a bit de-sensitised to all the chaos the Tour creates.
As I said in my last entry, things leading into this Tour have been up and down. I'm not actually feeling as hyped up as I have done before but I'm sure once I get going I'll be on fire. It's always difficult at this point as I'm always unsure as to whether I've done enough, which always plays on my mind a bit. Yet I know it doesn't make sense to worry about it now as there's nothing more I can do. I guess it's that certain element of worry that makes me a little nervous and nervous energy is always good as long as I channel it in the right direction.
The team preso at the Tour is always interesting. It's the time you get to catch up with all the other boys before the race starts. Everyone is buzzing a little bit. They're looking happy, healthy and extremely fit. Ready for battle. Everyone looks good. In a few days' time, it'll be nothing like that. Everyone will be more than a little tired. There will be buckled units, crashed units, bandaged bodies and busted arses... 'Hurt Bag' galore.
We'll go from being the strongest and best athletes in the World to some of the most susceptible and damaged in a few days. When I looked around yesterday at all the riders and then thought about what the days ahead will do to us, the contrast is one of the most amazing things to experience in the Tour.
Anyway, here we go. It's going to be a crazy first stage. With no prologue, there's a lot more at stake with the winner taking the jersey. So it's going to be on for young and old with no holds barred. Let's hope it's a good one....
