Stage 5: 142 km
Figuring the break might roll again from the start, I lined up at the front with Dowsett. However, we sizzled at over 50 kph for the first 20 km. I tasted the wind a few times and didn’t like it at that speed. Eventually, a group of six got away and everyone waited for Quickstep or Cervelo to shred the group. The next 80 km passed uneventfully, but when we turned into a crosswind with about 30 km to go it got messy. I was sleeping at the back when it happened. Only Taylor managed to bully his way to the head of the race for the sprint. Who knows what would have happened had he not broken a spoke with 1 km to go? Actually he should probably be in the hospital, because spokes don’t just break. It takes a pretty forceful hit, and that’s what happened as he fought for position still rolling in a top 20. Anyways, the list of things I’ve done wrong is growing, but it’s February and I’m keeping my head up. This is a huge opportunity for us, and we don’t take it for granted.