To be honest it could have been an easier start to the day had the organizers decided not to put km 0 at the bottom of an 8 km climb! It was full gas up there with 60 riders dropped on the climb which meant for them a good 50kms of chasing……. I hung on to the main group, although many of times I thought about swinging left… The heat was so intense and I really thought the old noggin was going to explode! But it didn’t and I survived!

Of course the break never went on the climb so it was full gas on the descent and over a few undulations till it did go. You could hear the sigh if relief from nz I reckon!

We rolled along for a long time after this letting the group come back and everyone recharge till the final climb where the auto bus was called directly, and I took my seat! The auto bus is also known as the gruppetto in cycling, it’s when a bunch of riders all just ride to the finish, some to save energy, some cause they have no choice and some are even on the rivet just staying here! I was more the first two today…. After yesterday I was tired and to force it this early in the race would not be healthy for this mans soul!

Our gc riders did a good job finishing right up there so all good. I got to the finish happy but tired. It was only 157kms but it took us 4.5hrs. So 36km/hr average! Got to love this race!

Tomorrow we have a similar day. It’s 183kms with a climb at the finish. For me it will be similar to today. I wont be forcing anything. My body aint ready, but soon enough it will be. Cause of the heat there is already a lot in the box….. It’s no place to be trust me! I think the heat will zap everybody in this tour, it’s bloody incredible.

The team is still all laughs at the dinner table which us great for everyones morale. Breaky is a touch quieter though! Lol

Will update tomorrow. Cheers for all the messages. Love reading them and I really appreciate it..

Ciao my friends,
Roly

Hot hot hot! That sums it up nicely! We rode today in 42 degree heat. It was unreal just how hot it was and made the stage harder than I think anyone anticipated.

173kms was on the cards today and naturally seeing we had the leaders jersey our team had to control the race. We also wanted to get our sprinter mark cavendish up for the win so we we were committed from the get go.

Two of our guys started riding after the break went……much to the disgust of the peleton who were all really enjoying rolling along at snails pace! Actually it disgusted me too, along with half of our team cause it was quite nice just relaxing in the Spanish heat..

The day was hard. I knew it would be though as I raced ruta del sol at the start of the year in this area and that was not an easy race! Add in there some climbs which aren’t actually climbs (don’t ask me how that works) and a crash by two of my teammates on a dusty corner, meant for a hard day in the office. I was 1 meter from crashing also but I held it up…. I was thanking the lord here!

The break surprised me and really took the race by the scruff of the neck today. I started riding after 40kms and we rode fairly hard all day. I felt strong today but not super, mind you guys were getting dropped with us on the front so that’s always good for the morale

We caught the break with 12kms to go and that was my job done. We didn’t win today but we were close. We were all a bit gutted after pulling all day but like I said it was a very hard day and cav will be back winning in no time!

Tomorrow it’s a shorter day being only 157kms. This worries me! Basically means full gas! We have a 15k climb near the end of the stage too which for sure is going to tickle, but what that means is a nice freewheel to the finish!

Tomorrow youll find a group going to the finish. Here’s hoping our gc guys find their legs and hang in there. I’ll just get through tomorrow the best I can and then we will see…..

It’s great to finally be racing though, I’m loving being here and the team morale is still very high after our great win last night.

Thanks for reading and keep following me! Good things come to those who wait right!!!!!

Ciao!

Hey guys

Well we did it. Last nighthere in seville HTC Columbia smoked around the 13km course in a shade over 14m. 10 s faster than any other team which is a huge winning margin. What a feeling. I’ve won teams pursuits before and that feeling is amazing, but to win in a grand tour is truly something special and not many get to experience that feeling.

I feel super proud right now. Not just with the team but with myself. I mean why not! Just over 10 days ago I was thinking the season was over, really distraught thinking my good form was gone. The next minute I’m riding 60km/hr with 8 guys on my wheel in a grand tour stage win, then standing atop of the podium. What a feeling and what a great way to overcome my disappointment.

It was really nail biting stuff in the bus last night. Especially thinking we had won even before teams had finished. We didn’t consider cervelo a contender and when we heard that they were a sec up at the intermediate split the bus went super silent. It was a weird feeling, and believe me the group prayer started now! There was a massive roar when we knew we had won, it was special.. As soon as wegot off the bike though I said we would go close. I’ve done many efforts like this before and I just knew it was fast. It was smooth, and at times effortless. Which normally means a fast ride. We did it and the feeling on the podium was incredible not to mention the champagne which was consumed back stage!

It finished so late. We didn’t get back to the hotel until 12.30am. Few beers later, plus the recovery shape and it was bed time. Now we are all up and it’s time to do it all over again…

Today we have 170kms on the cards. We are hoping for a sprint to try get cav up for the win. Its hot here, you sweat even before you put the chamois. So the right nutrition and hydration will be key in this 3 week race.

Enough from me. Thanks for reading and a big thanks to all the support vie had re the crash. That’s all history now and more success is coming…… I’ve got that feeling.

Ciao ciao

Hayden Roulston was part of a winning HTC-Columbia team in opening team time trial of the Vuelta a Espana last night.

The Kiwi and his team mates came through the 13 kilometre late night race against the clock through the streets of Seville in Spain ten seconds faster than second placed Liquigas-Doimo on the flat fast course to record his first Grand Tour podium win.

“It was just awesome – the team was awesome and it’s a great start and was fantastic to stand on the top step of the podium with the team,” Roulston said.

Team mate Mark Cavendish was the first HTC-Columbia rider across the line making him the race’s first leader.

Roulston crashed recently in a one day race in Italy putting doubt into his ability to start the seasons last Grand Tour, but he showed overnight he is ready to race and said he expects to improve as the three week event unfolds.

After focusing on getting his race legs back during the first week of the three week tour, Roulston has set his sights on an individual stage win.

“Everything is looking good and I expect to improve every day and should get back to the form I was in when I crashed during the tour.”

“My goals for the race are clear. I want a stage win, that’s in my mind and regardless of how good or bad this first week goes I’ll hold on to that thought. I want to be strong for the team as well as we have Cavendish racing and he is by far the fastest sprinter in the world right now; so getting him a few wins is high on the teams agenda.”

Ends

Results – team time trial
1. HTC-Columbia 14m06s
2. Liquigas, 10 “.
3. Saxo Bank, 12 “.
4. Lampre, 14 “.
5. Garmin, 17 “.
________________________________________
For more information

Hayden’s Youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/haydenroulston

please contact:
John McKenzie
enthuse ltd
021 384 730
03 384 7338
Hayden Roulston’s media, sponsorship and commercial relationship management

Hi there again

Well it feels good to be here in Seville I can tell you all that! 42 degrees at the end of training today though, so lets just say its rather sticky ad the air con is cranked!

The team rode today for just under 3hrs and again i had no issues with the knee, so im one happy man.. We did a stint on the tt bikes too, with 2x 10min mediums just to get the body ready for the teams time trial that kicks this race off on saturday evening. Its going to be a full gas effort here with 13kms to be covered and in typical spanish fashion, we will ride at about 11pm! Yes you read right, 11pm! Crazy if you ask me, but every team is in the same boat so all good. it will be pretty cool though as every team will ride under lights.. reminds me of the denton park days seeing the shadows etc. 9 riders sounds like a dream though coming from the track where you have only 4 at one time, only here we have no bankings and those shadows are your teammates! lol

Im on the new bike too which is just awesome.. It the new Scott aero road bike and it feels really nice.. Its super stiff and still very light.. The boys who are on them here all talk highly of them so im happy to finally get on one myself and look forward to racing on it..

The next few days are all pretty relaxed here with rest, massage, good nutrition and for myself a wee trip to the dentist to get my tooth fixed.. tomorrow evening we have the team presentation then saturday night the race begins..

As for the knee, its bloody amazing what the body is capable of.. One minute im on the ground thinking the season was over, cursing at anyone close to me, the next im laying on my bed awaiting the start of the vuelta. all in a matter of 10 days.. I still have a bit of swelling still, and cant really stretch the quad but everyday im seeing improvements and im hoping when the stitches are removed it will all be back to normal.. im excited and a little anxious as to what lies ahead but in a good way.. it wont be long till im back firing and i know that i can do alot here so im really happy all healed in time.

ill try and update my website daily to keep you all up to date with my thoughts.. heres hoping for a goodie!

thanks and talk soon
roly

Im packed! Vuelta 2010 here I come!

I passed the training today with no problems.. Yes the knee is sore, but everyday is better. I didnt thrash it, i just rode with my other limp buddy Sam Bewely.. I rode 80kms today and i felt ok so now i meet the team in Seville tomorrow evening. Great! I couldnt help but laugh when i seen Sam though. Hes got a bruised knee, and a hand in cast.. We were creeping at first, but then started to move ok.. But it must have looked funny for anyone watching. Most importantly though i got home feeling like I can do this, and the rest is history.

This morning when i woke though i wasnt in a very positive state of mine. A bit of self doubt was kicking in, re being ready to ride a grand tour having not ridden for the last week, let alone having a deep cut to the leg to worry about. But i spoke with the team doctor and he assured me by saturday ill be better again, and within the first week ill be back to normal.. I guess its natural to think ‘can i really do this’ etc but if anything, this freshness my body has got of late will benefit me and the team in the 2nd half of the race.. Ill just do what i can early on, use it as training i guess till my body gives me the green light to knock it up..

Ill be with the team doctors over the next few days so they will monitor my knee closely. Im in pretty good hands so im confident ill be fine.

So here we go.. My first grandie of the year and im pretty excited about whats coming.. A little nervous too which is to be expected but mentally ready for whatever it is the first week throws at me..

My goals for the race wont change.. I want a stage win, thats in my mind and regardless of how good or bad that first week goes ill hold on to that thought.. I wanna be strong for the team too. We have Cavendish going and he is by far the fastest sprinter in the world right now so getting him to a few wins is high on the teams agenda.

Righto, few more things need to be done, thanks for reading and bring it on!

ciao

Hey there,

Well id be lying if i told you the last few days had been easy.. both mentally and physically its been pretty hard.. It doesnt help knowing the Tour of Spain is only a handful of days away but ive been doing all i can to both fill in time and keep my spirits high..

On a plus i have ridden the last two days.. Just an hour a day, and i wasnt breaking any records thats for sure.. But and a big but… i was on the bike moving freely. to be honest im moving better on the bike than off, which has to be a good thing.. Tom will be the big test when i try the road for the first time, with the aim of normal training and 3hrs on the schedule.. If i can get through tomorrow without dramas then ill be on the start line for the big one this saturday..

Its been hard though. Knowing i was at such a good level etc. But its allowed me to really freshen up and if the vuelta is all go then thats a huge goal of mine already accomplished.. this i guess has been whats been driving me.. the thought of a stage win late in the race too.. i know that he first week will be testing, but when i get through that i will be flying. i know my body and i always get better in a tour, so with this rest ive had i have no doubt in my mind that all is possible later in the race..

Ill update when i know more… Ive got my flight, my suitcase is lying ready to be packed so ive got all my fingers crossed the next 2 days go smoothly..

thanks for reading. hope all is well with all of you.. thanks for your support.

ciao
roly