BiciRace.com :: Marco Pinotti

31 March, Critérium International and Rund um Köln

Marco Pinotti, Saunier Duval - Prodir

31 March 2005

A Tough Weekend, Critérium International and Rund um Köln

Team Training 2005 photo: Frank Heinrich

The weekend did not go as I expected. I rode a good stage Saturday in the Critérium International, keeping my position in the nervous finale. Sunday morning it was a very tough stage with a fast start. I was not riding bad and at a certain point I was the only rider of my team in the first group chasing the leaders. But I did not have super legs and I felt a bit empty on the hilly route. Maybe because I have not had good digestion. I was disappointed and wanted to do well in the TT.

Things didn't go well in the afternoon TT. 10 minutes before my start (with about 30 riders who had already arrived) it started raining heavily and so I rode the TT with wet road. I am not a super with wet roads. Then the weather changed a bit and stopped raining, but too late for me. I can say I could have been in the top 20 but I do not have the proof. Also, in the morning stage I think I could be a top 30, but again I am not sure.

Anyway I was not happy and the following day in Rund um Köln I had the worst performance ever. I stopped just after 60 km feeling very tired. It was a mix of frustration and thoughts for my wife's health that could be the reasons. Again last week was not easy for me and maybe all the stress came out.

My wife has been to hospital. Now she's at home but she still feels sick and I have to take care of her more than usual. I think I still need a couple of days to refocus my mind on the bike again while not forgetting my wife. I want to forget this last weekend soon and start focusing on Romandie and Giro. It is not sure if I will ride Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège. I will do some refamiliarization on the TT bike for the Giro and maybe on some climbs with Manuel Garate the after 10th of April.

Ciao,
Marco