Wed 11th May - riding with honour

So summer had gone. Pozatto was off down south on a fashion shoot and shopping spree. Cooke was wielding the knife in the theatre; Macbeth, Schleck was off to language school and also to race sans decent wheels and Cippolini was still arguing with the UCI about what he could wear. Evans and Mechov were absent, in fact rumours abound that they have eloped (Mechov taking), Cancellara, well he was enjoying his other interest.... Hincapie was polishing his rocket no doubt, an "A" race beckons in Lanzarote. Pic had decided to test her cadence levels against the clock and we await details.

Lance gave us the pep. Quealey, Hushovd, Ullrich, Voigts, Voeckler, Lafferty (aka thief) all listened. Pooley joined late so missed the chat, so she will have to arrive for the 6pm depart to receive the wise words. Young Mark made a school boy error forgetting his cycling shoes. Mentally dress yourself from your feet up so you don't forget anything. That's your check. Don't do it again.

The rain was falling and the shouts in the main remained loud and clear. In the wind hand signals are needed and Lance reminded us of this.

A strong headwind meant it was tough from the beginning. The shelters within the bunch are getting less and less as the likes of Voeckler and Hushovd shed weight and inches. No big arses to hide behind!

Rolling onto the Westferry Lance kept us in check as we want him to, policing the bunch as our POTP. Voigts was obeying team orders for once, well at the beginning anyway and the work rate gradually increased along the Ferry. The new boy with the budgie smugglers sat off the back the entire way. He seemed to have taken some guidance from Menchov on acceptable cycling attire and had opted for something shorter than his standard Daisy Duke's!

The bunch thinned to Lance, Voigts, Voeckler, Hushovd and the thief as we approached Woodhall roundabout. An untimely increase in power by Voigts thinned it once again with Lance taking leave. Voeckler was caught napping as Hushovd stepped it up and dragged Voigts kicking and screaming along with the thief. The string snapped as Hushovd continued to apply the pressure and it was down to him and the baby faced pick pocket to fight it out. Hushovd showed his class and took the tape.

The feed zone allowed a brief rest before we dropped into Kilmacolm. Ullrich had popped something and attacked on the rise through Kilmacolm causing people to question their own tactics. Self doubt set in albeit briefly until the work ethic was restored. Through and off became the norm again as the rouleurs took advantage of gravity to drive the bunch towards Bridge of Weir. Lance and Ullrich were discussing old times as we approached Houston. Passion was evident from both.

Working evenly and honestly the string snapped again as Hushovd pulled the trigger. The thief continued in his wake stealing the shelter and following his wheel. Did he share, only Hushovd and he can answer. Who took the tape? Well that's for them to tell, but Hushovd has stepped up again!