Julian Dean Diary
Olympic Fever.
him and he was gone. Now the bronze medal was taken as well and as the disorganised peloton floundered around, we came into a super chaotic sprint. There was no team left with enough riders to organise the peloton?s way out of a paper bag. I was first into the last corner but only riding slowly as we came through it. I looked back to see what was going on and as I did, a big group came from the left side of the road and moved over to the right. I jumped in with them getting pinned on the barrier. I got more and more squeezed and had to back off for a moment to wait for some space to open up?Then it was over. In the last few meters, once I could open myself up, I moved up through the bunch but it was too little too late. 15th place was to be my number.
I was bummed. I had exceptionally good feelings and raced beyond my expectations and although the result wasn?t bad, I felt that I had raced better than that. I felt that I was better than that. I truly believe I was one of the strongest guys out there. But that?s cycling. No matter how good you are on the day, results don?t always show that. I have to say though, the best guy won. I can?t think of anyone else out there racing that day that deserved the gold more than Bettini. He was friggin strong!
I feel I had one of the best races of my life in
Anyway, gotta just move on now and get the rest of the season?s racing nailed. I?ve got a pretty hefty programme from now until mid-October so although mentally I feel as though I?ve used up my yearly quota of mental cards, I just have to grin and bare it see if I can?t get myself at least one notable result before the year is out.
Julz
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