Another setback

The biggest disappointment hit me yesterday as I had the wound on my pelvis operated and found out that there will be no racing for me in Denmark. Nor will there be training for at least two weeks. We tried to make it ok for racing, but afterall racing now could lead to more serious problems and so on. Despite the disappoinment, I am travelling to Denmark with the guys. My role switched to supportive side.

There is no point in telling what is wrong or went wrong. The wound just got bad, and in all likelyhood it would only get worse by continuing riding.  It was a case of location and bad luck. Better to concentrate on replanning the season from now on.

I think that it has been slighty unlucky spring.

Taking another tumble

Down and out. I'm okay, kind of. My bike is not, definitely not. Well, second time on the line and second time down on tarmac. This time though it was more on the heavier side when it comes to crashing. Nonetheless, the good thing is that after a quick visit to hospital, I was on my way home. After a bit of bike inspection, which – by the way – was depressing, I'm lucky to be at home despite the rashes and aches. My bright yellow Vittoria helmet saved seriously lot, and now I need a new one. People, helmets are for good, and wearing them is also for good.

I've had a good, solid week of training leading up to the finale of the block, which was meant to be the race today at Turku. And as already told, it turned out to be a grande finale with less positive tone. However, I felt pretty good all day leading to the start. In the start, I felt good and the race was on. I rode well and again, felt good. Suddenly, I was down and quite being honest, didn't feel so good any longer. Racing accidents happen, although I hope I've taken mine now.

The major disappointment was the lack of first aid. I note, that I was not really in need of any special attention. The main issue to me was the first aid kit. I and other rider went to ask for first aid, they found a wallet sized kit with practically scissors and plaster. Also, when asked for a location to go, as in a hospital, the answer was along the lines ”Yah, we do have them in the city”.

Yesterday, I stood on the side, whilst there was some bike riding going on in Turku. I did not even plan to ride in the first place, so nothing drastic there. I'm planning to test myself and my ability to ride bikes properly this evening. The crash and disappointment hit me big as I've really been looking forward the races in Denmark and this, by any means, was not the preparation I had planned for. Now I'm asking questions, if my good to ride rather than how is my form. I keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best.

Taking a tumble

Picking some adjectives to describe the Finnish season opener held in Pori would be nervous, uneasy and disorderly – to say a few. I think I'm safe in stating I was not the only feeling that way. Nonetheless, first race is now done and I hope we have gotten the most fumes out.

The course was easy and weather wasn't a factor either. Those factors combined with the delightfully big pack of riders made a quick race. As an unwanted side it provided some serious crashes and tumbles during the race. We had a plan, which we all agreed upon. It seemed to work quite well, as the team was present in major moves and breakaway attempts. However, due to the aforementioned factors made the formation of a serious break practically impossible and as we went for the last lap, it was pretty much apparent that the race would be decided in a sprint to the line.

I made a smallest of gaps after last roundabout at 80km point, but never got far. Initially, it wasn't meant to be an attempt, but more taking the bunch to speed to avoid attempts. Then it all happened quickly, as it always does. I dropped a few positions into the bunch to recover for a moment and made space for our guys on their way to the very top positions in the bunch. It was touch and go. Myself and dozen others were down testing the tarmac. I survived remarkably unscratched, except my left hip, which took a hit. My walking looks funny and isn't easy for the moment – nothing too bad. And yes, the bike is fine! One guy from IK-32 took a serious hit and was left unconscious after the accident. Luckily, one of our guy, Pete - paramedic, was there and he took professional care of the situation until official race crew was there. Hats off! After all, Jouni came out with a broken jaw. So needless, but could have been a lot worse.

My race was over and I rolled to the finish to hear that we had a podium to begin with. Saku sprinted to third, but wasn't satisfied as: ”I had the legs to win!” Either or, to me there was more positives in our effort, and easy fixes can be found to take another step forward. Personally, I managed my race satisfyingly. Although, a slight disappointment was my missing of the finale – such things happen. My legs weren't nor good or bad, which was good after some hefty week of training. I'm quite happy after all, except my hip hurts and really looking forward for race to come.

Something new just behind the corner.

I can not say that one is about to take a step to the unknown just because the racing season begins – as I have done some races over the years. However, this season I'm in a new kit and with a team, which complements the header nicely. I'm meant to say that now the road racing serves some purpose instead of hunting promising breaks. It doesn't say that I'm done with my beloved hunt a breakaways, but it says that the hunt serves as part of a plan rather than a lone quest for luck.

Putting the commencing racing calendar aside, training has got back on track – well, more or less so this week. I've felt decent on my bike, despite the torrential weathers. Now, I'm not exaggerating, but during my last three training rides, I've taken four hail storms with some heavy rain as a sideorder. It has been, eh, a little too much for my liking. Nonetheless, the planned volumes have suffered. On the other hand, there has been some pretty intense efforts of getting the hell away from the storm. So, we are in balance.

Besides the training, I've been busy making plans and what I've discovered that I'm brilliant in making open plans without conclusion. So not a lot to go on about. Simultaneously, my father (aka. coach) has left me with total freedom when it comes to training as there is not so much in the plan but riding enough with occasional bursts of going hard. We will get back to the drawing board, when the races with a capital 'A' come closer. So far so good.

It is not that he has left me just riding. He has taken a bit of an engineering project with my equipment. I'm not saying building a bike, because it hasn't been that simple. I'm saying engineering, because I can put a bike together, but what he has been doing, quite honestly, is way, way out of my league. What this all means is that my time trial rig is under total reconstruction for this season and it is turning out to be a beauty with some amazing details. As much as I love my new team Felt, I love my Argon – I just can't wait to hit some time trials on it.

Combination of feeling unwell and frustration – and the consequence?

Pretty counterproductive, produces outright shitty feelings, causes unusually high consumption of dark chocolate and coffee – this all among other things. Leaving this exaggeration aside, I caught a stomach bug in middle of our team training camp and have not really trained since, which in other words means a period of roughly two weeks. At worst, my stomach was like balloon and I had fever. Now, I'm just bit sloppy and body feels sensitive for pretty much everything.

The camp, or the five days of it, was at least ok(ish). Nothing spectacular, but nothing too bad. However, an educated guess would say that the illness to come could have caused some symptoms already earlier. It was what it was, and now it is what it is. All I can do now is to increase the load and keep my head down and work to get things back to normal.

I was sort of hoping to make this post include plenty of joy, sunny pictures and so on. Yet, it does not. Anyway, the form was building nicely, and I believe the same trend to replace this momentary uncertainty after a while.