Will Frischkorn's Tour de France diary, stage 3
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First, apologies, as this one is going to be a bit shorter than normal. It's been a bit of a hectic afternoon and I'm writing this from the massage table on the crackberry. Sorry Sophie!
What's going through my head right now? A lot! I've never turned on my Blackberry and had more messages — they continue to stack up by the minute. Thank you to everybody for the unreal support and kind words, it was a pretty special day out there for sure. When I attacked just as we crossed the K10 banner I had a feeling that an early break would go, but never imagined it would go to the line. After 15 minutes railing it we settled in for the long haul, and actually had a pretty easy ride for the first 110k. When they started to reel us in we upped the pace a bit, but with 75k to go started to think there might be a chance and started to give it full gas. 50k and it seemed like a distinct possibility. 20 and we realized that barring something crazy we had it. 10k and we started slowing down a bit, thinking of the finish.
When Dumoulin attacked with 2k to go I'd planned on hitting out just as I got to the back of the line ... he beat me to it and it was game on. I jumped up to him, but made a real error jumping first when Feillu went by. I should have let Samuel do it first. Too eager. Then my second, and key, mistake, was pausing for a second with 350 to go. I had the legs to come around, and came close, but ran out of time. Aargh! I couldn't be more excited with second, but wouldn't be an athlete if I didn't want to be one step higher.
Somehow I managed to score the most aggressive rider classement (which often seems to be a popularity with the press contest — thanks guys! — but I figured would go to a French rider) and standing on the Tour podium, shaking hands with the legends up there, and savoring the look down was an amazing experience I'll never forget. And three days in to my first Tour! What a way to start. Now a time trial, which will be a "recovery" day for me, but hopefully a scorcher for Dave and Christian, and only 17 days after that to go! Wow, that sounds long.
Thanks for reading,
Will
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