Photo: Graham Watson
Stage 4: 190 km
We’re on the runway after a one hour bus ride to the airport. All of the riders are ushered onto the Omani Air Force plane which will fly us into the desert where the stage starts. After another two hour bus ride, we’re slathering up with sunscreen and stuffing our jerseys with Honey Stinger. What a production! From the lead car Eddy Merckx pops out of the sunroof and drops a flag signaling the end of the neutral zone. I jump on the first attack, and six of us are drilling it up the road. Columbia and Saxobank are unhappy with the break and chase for about fifteen minutes. It looks doubtful that we will gain any leeway, but finally our time gap lengthens. The first 70 km were gradual uphill with some steep pitches toward the top. Needless to say, it was uncomfortable. Hours later we’re still sweating buckets and pulling hard, but our lead is shrinking. We’re riding along a windy stretch of dry riverbed, when our follow cars drop back, signaling that a large group is within a minute. There are about 30 km to the finish.
Fabian Cancellara and Tom Boonen have their heads down, swapping pulls ahead of a 40 riders lead split. Somehow, they have separated themselves from the race leader, Edvald Boasson Hagen of Team Sky, and are turning themselves inside out to take time from him. Sky has their entire team chasing one minute behind. I slip to the back of the group, and get a pat on the back. Alex Dowsett, has made the selection. “Just a case of the right place at the right time,” he blurts. I smile/grimace knowing that it took more than a coincidence to get him there. With 5 km to go I’m last wheel, and the wind puts me in the gutter where I get no draft. It is the wrong place at the wrong time, and no amount of “guts” could have helped me pedal hard enough to stay on. I coasted to the finish giving high fives on the way. Just as I cross the line, the chase group whizzes past. Alex wears a cheery smirk having placed 12th on the stage. It’s my turn to pat him on the back. (He actually went for a hand shake, but I got a bro hug out of him)
Just one more transfer of two hours to the hotel, and this long day will become one of those lasting career memories.