Julian Dean Diary
By Julian Dean
Jul 8, 2006, 23:52
Tour de
France 2006 - Stage 7
Thanks
Everyone.
Last
night I had a little bit spare time to go online and read the notepad on the my
website. I have to say that I was pretty humbled by all the messages from
everyone. It’s great to have the support from you all - especially yesterday. I
was feeling pretty down after the stage as I’ve really found it hard bouncing
back both mentally and physically after the crashes. But it was really uplifting
to go and read the messages from you all. So thanks a lot for
that.
Anyway,
today was the time trial; the first real test for those who hope to be overall
contenders. Obviously, that’s not me. With the wounds that I have and the state
of my body at the mo, I just wanted to try and get through the day nice and easy
and hopefully I’ll start to feel better next week after the rest day. Feeling
the way I am at the moment, it’s pretty difficult just to be in the
race.
Julian Dean - Team Credit Agricole sprinter. Photo copyright Roadcycling.com
Every
sport has its low key legends and for me, Ekimov is one of those in cycling.
He’s always just a quiet dude, achieving well as he bops along. He’s an
extraordinary guy and an extraordinary rider. He has been in the game such a
long time and experienced so much. Yesterday at the start, when I pulled up to
the grid, I was next to him and we were chatting away. We got on to his flash
new cycle computer that he’s got. It looked pretty tricky with some sort of
backlit face. We were both admiring it and how cool it looked. But then he
proceeded to tell me that it was nothing special - just looked the part. For
him, he said, the best was the ‘Avocet’ computer. Many of you will remember
them; one of the first computers out and in nice 80's fluoro colours, pink and
yellow. The best, he reckons, nothing too complicated - just 2 buttons and it
always worked. For me, that’s typical Eki and in a lot of ways the Avocet
computer is synonymous of Eki himself: Nothing too complicated and always
works.
Then
he went on to tell me that he still has a box full of them and the saddles in
his garage from when he was sponsored by them. I would hate to think what other
things he’s got in there. My garage is bad enough, let alone a dude’s who has
done 15 TDFs and has been pro for almost 20yrs.
Anyway
that’s a nice little story from the Tour de France. I always like those moments
in cycling when there’s an opportunity to catch up with the guys during the
race, especially those I’ve been team-mates with and have enjoyed hanging out
with in the past.
Tomorrow
is the last stage before the rest day and probably one of the last sprints for a
while as well. Hopefully I can pass through it A.O.K. I’m going to need the rest
day to try and get over my crash and then I hope that I’ll be feeling a little
better.
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