Racing in Montegi Japan

Motegi, the fourth stage of the race, was to be our most exciting day on the Tour. We raced on Motegi a car racing track, using both the track and the service roads. Though not as tough as the last two days the organisers had still managed to put in a tough grinder of a climb that pitched up over two sections. What actually made it tough was the flat windy, gutter section in between. It was here that the field was actually coming apart on the first couple of laps, only to regroup on the very fast sections on the circuit. Both Buck and Ryan were aggressive in following the early attacks over the first couple of laps. Originally it had been decided that I would save myself for the end of the day. But on the third lap the field seemed to be flagging in their attempts to bring back attacks and I decided to have a go on a longer false flat drag. Four other riders came across to me and punching it we pulled away from the field.

Soon the time gap was rising and we had established the attack of the day. Unfortunately only four of the five of us in the break were working. For some reason, supposedly because he was defending third of fourth place on GC for his team-mate, the rider from Team Exteondo (Asia) didn’t do one pull all day. Weird tactics if you ask me. Anyway, after being away for 100km we still had three minutes lead coming into the final three laps and I was thinking that we might be able to make it.

With two to go the lead was down to 1minute 50seconds and the other guys in the break weren’t pulling as smoothly as we needed to; the rhythm needed to stay away was gone. So with just under two laps remaining I attacked, in the same spot at which I had initiated the break, to try and go solo to the finish. The legs were good and I figured it was now or never. I soon had twenty, twenty five, then thirty seconds on the break with the field just outside one minute with a lap, twelve kilometres, to go. I figured I had a decent chance and kept myself buried at my redline. If I could just get over the climb with a decent gap I felt that I would have a decent shot.

I put everything I had into the climb, pushing hard into the headwind but all was for naught. With just three kilometres to go the field came up beside me and my day was done. I hadn’t won but it had been exciting and caused a buzz in the race for the team.