In Paris-Roubaix I was there with the mindset to help our boys - in particular, Tafi and Hoffman.  The team had big objectives for this race and I was keen to play my part.  I was feeling really good and felt that I was getting better with every race.  I wanted to turn myself insideout to help Hoffman & Tafi.  Didn't quite last as long as I wanted to in the race but that was only because I was called on to guard early.  Even before the first cobble section, I had to wait for Tafi twice, who'd punctured, to try and help him back up to the peloton.  Then there was a big crash 10km before the first section of cobbles which I got caught up in.  On the first section, I was able to make it back to the front group.  Then, on the third section, Hoffman punctured and I gave him my wheel.  I got back to the front again and then a couple of sections later, Tafi had a major dilemma.  He punctured and Thomas and I both stopped for him.  He couldn't take either of our wheels as he had a special bike which meant that the fat tyres Thomas and I were both using, couldn't fit into his frame.  So we had to wait for the team car to come by.  We waited 3 minutes.  I tried to help him back but there was only room for one with the car, to get back to the group.  That was the curtain for me - after 200km.  Oh well, I did what I could for the team and that was what I was supposed to be there for so I was feeling happy with myself.

Today I had the last race of my scheduled races.  It was the GP Scheldeprijes and I felt that this was going to be a good one for me.  It's not the most glamorous of the Classics but it's still a 1.1 cat and a lot of UCI points.  I had been improving  in the races and felt that I had the form to do something good.  Just as the story goes though when you're feeling good and have a real chance at some good points, the luck is the worst.  When I was lining myself up for the bunch kick with 1.5km to go, I had a good position close to the front and was getting ready to open it up when I had to.  A moment's panic by some dude in front of me closed the curtain on yet another of my opportunities to get a result.  He hit the brakes and rode off the road, taking me and 2 others with him.  I went down into a screaming heap on the side of the road.  I lay there a moment with only one thought, "F***!  Why today? Why today?".  I was almost in tears.  Not from the pain of crashing - I had