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What Happened in Beijing... |
What Happened in Beijing…
The two weeks leading up to the Games could not have gone better, training wise that is. I was feeling really good, swimming better than ever and riding amazingly well and it started as if I was getting my running back on track again…and most of all I was excited, I wanted to go out there and race. I decided that a Top 20 was what I wanted.
 Thinking back now my problems started the Friday before the race. It was a rest day and also the day that I make sure everything is ready for race day, including my bike. I had my racing wheels put on my bike and went for a little ride in the village. My gears where slipping terribly and the bike just did not feel right. I immediately took it to the mechanic who checked it out. Saturday we were back out onto the course and still my bike was not even close to being suitable to race an Olympic race on it.We moved back out to the race site on that day, but my bike went back to the village to get “fixed”. I was told not to worry, it will be sorted.Sunday afternoon I got my bike back and took it for a little spin, I kept on getting off to see if the brake blocks weren’t rubbing…something didn’t feel right. But I was assured the bike mechanic had checked it and it was fine. So off my bike went to be checked in for the race. THE RACE:I was honestly just so excited to be able to race in the Olympic Games. My starting position on the pontoon was in the middle of nowhere because of my low ranking, but I could not be bothered. I easily swam myself up to the first few positions and just sat there. It was fairly easy and I knew it was going to be a good day.
Coming out of the water a lead pack of 20 formed on the bike. Going up the hill was harder than what I should have been, but I put it down to out thinking myself again.Another problem…my gears where jumping…badly. It’s ok I thought I will handle it no worries. On the second lap I went down into my small chain ring way before the hill. As soon as we started climbing my chain just slipped off to the inside…I got it back on again while riding, but it happened again about 200m further up the hill and this time I was not so lucky…first pack gone…me struggling…second pack gone. No man’s land..great. I got back on and started climbing the hill solo…but something was still not right…it felt as if I was losing power somewhere. I was solo for a lap and then the third pack caught me. We worked together nicely to finally catch the second pack…but my Top 20 position was up the road…I knew I did not have the running legs…for various reasons. That is why staying in that first pack was so so so important to me. I got off my bike and my legs were goners…totally wasted. I think I ran/walked my slowest 10km ever and finished 43rd.Gutted.  Only when I packed my bike two days later to come back home I saw what happened.My SRM pickup was rubbing on the inside of my crank. Metal on metal and I had taken about 3mm off the inside of my crank. Fabulous resistance riding, but not exactly what you want in the biggest race of your life… Am I upset? “Of course” .Can I do anything about it now? “No, but hey, bet I will be there again in four year’s time.
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