Well people…

As most of you probably know i crashed in Tre Valli Varasine on tuesday in italy.. It wasnt an overly bad crash, I mean ive had worse…. Ive got no skin off anywhere but i really damaged my knee.. Ive cut it deep and its about 8-10cm long… booooo bloody hoo is all i can say!

Just when all was starting to click. That is what upsets me the most.. I was flying yesterday. it was a good race for me too, hard circuits but i was strong and powerful so i could have been up there.

Basically a stupid italian hit the barriers full gas. I seen the barriers the lap prior and they werent exactly in the right place (got to love italy), the guy must have clipped his handle bars in the mad rush for the corner and boof down.. i could do nothing but follow. I went down on top, and about 5 went on top of me. It was a terrible feeling. Initially i though all was ok, until my teammate Bernie Eisel just started shouting for the ambo due to the massive amount of blood coming out.. I looked down and that was it, boom, lights out. I had to sit down fast and before i knew it i was in the ambo off to the hospital wondering why the hell this all happened.

I couldnt help but think my season was over, i was pretty upset to be honest. In the hospital i experienced all emotions.. Anger, frustration, sadness. You name it, I felt it.. It didnt help that the docs thought it was a great joke that they didnt put in enough local anasethic when the stitches were going in.. emotion 1. anger!

I guess it could have been worse, so in a way im counting my lucky stars. Ive had great support from the team and my friends and family… Sometimes though i just wish it would all just disappear but everything does happen for a reason, just trying to figure that one out!

The Vuelta is fast approaching, im not sure if ill be there. I hope to be, the team does too, we just have to see how my recovery goes.. I cant ride till monday at the earliest, thats if all goes well.. time will tell! im not going to push it, it will only damage things more so the big REST and RECUPERATION is key for me in the coming days..

Hey atleast i got the wheelchair access all around the airport.. no lines, next to no security.. My advice for any travellers is to wrap some bandage around the knee next time you travel, thats if you can stand the stares by everyone lol….. then the airport become stress free!

sense of humour is still there, just trying to keep my spirits high as that will help things along.. ill keep you all posted.. ive got a few pics up on facebook so if you can stomach it go take a look.

thanks for reading!!

ciao ciao

Hayden Roulston hopes the knee he injured racing in Italy over night will not stop him racing in the Spanish Grand tour, the Vuelta a España, in ten days time.

The 200 kilometre Tre Valli Varesine was marred by a crash involving a number of riders but Roulston is clear, he wants to still be on the start line for the seasons last Grand Tour in Spain.

“There are no broken bones so I still hope to race the Vuelta,” he said.

The crash happened with 40 kilometres to go after riders in front of the Kiwi rider crashed into a barrier.

“We were full gas and the barriers were in the middle of the road – it was a mass pile up of riders.”

Roulston’s knee required 18 stitches and today he was flying to Hamburg where his HTC-Columbia team doctors planned to have a good look at the deep gash to his leg.

“There is a big gaping hole so I want to get the leg looked after and plan things from there. There is a still lot to look forward to.”

The double Olympic medallist is in the New Zealand team for the Commonwealth Games in India in October and is a likely starter at the UCI World Road Championships in Melbourne Australia on October 3.

He is also lining up in the Powernet Tour of Southland in early November.

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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

Hayden Roulston won the last stage of the Tour of Denmark in style last night, dedicating his win to his young son Moses.

“I was flying today, it was such a great feeling going over the line and holding my hands up; the win was for my boy Moses,” Roulston said.

Stage 6 included four laps of a key section of the 2011 World Championship circuit with the finish line on the final straight of next year’s World Championships course in Copenhagen.

After several breaks were reeled in, Roulston made his move with 45 kilometres to go taking Australian Jack Bobridge (Garmin – Transitions) and Belgium rider Bert De Backer (Skil – Shimano) with him.

“I took control of the group and we worked hard to get a good gap, then we floated for a bit with the peloton around one minute 30 seconds back.”

“Right from the start of the break I told them we had to get to 20 kilometres to go with a gap, and from there we would need to ride full gas to the finish line – and that’s exactly what happened.”

“It was a very, very hard stage. It was a super wet and was also very fast – we averaged 52 in the first hour but I after the time trial I knew I was starting to find my legs, and today my legs were great.”

Roulston had finished fifth in the previous nights 20 kilometre individual time trial and combined with his win feels his mind and body are on track for a very strong second half of the season.

“I really felt like the old me was back and it was a great feeling. I really got to enjoy the win. It’s been a while since I’ve had my arms in the air and the feeling was amazing.”

With one kilometre left the trio only had a 10 second advantage over the chasing peloton. Roulston went to the front and with 600 metres left De Backer started his sprint.

“With the bunch basically on us he (De Backer) started sprinting; I took his wheel, then launched and pulled away.”

Roulston won in four hours, three minutes and 17 seconds, with Danish rider Matti Breschel (Team Saxo Bank) leading the chasing bunch sprint home two seconds later.

“The win has now confirmed I can do it. I’ve always known I had results like this in me but sometimes it just takes a while to crack it. Now I’ve done it I feel I can do it again and it has given me good confidence for lies ahead for the rest of the season.”

Roulston’s win also capped an excellent week for his HTC-Columba team that won the team’s classification and had three wins with three different riders during the tour.

He had recently been home in New Zealand for a brief stint to take a short break and to celebrate the first birthday of his son.

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Photo credit; CyclingPhoto.eu
________________________________________
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

VICTORY! Yes i won the last stage here in Denmark today and i couldnt be happier.. I needed this, actually my bloody soul needed this….. This win is for my boy Moses!

It was a super wet and fast stage.. in the first hour we average 52 and it didnt let up there.. I knew yesterday i was starting to find my legs, and today my legs were super! i was real sleepy though at the start due to the late tt yesterday and slightly disrupted sleep.. But my legs were super, and so was my head.

I just followed wheels at the start, well basically till we started the circuits.. Today we rode the 2011 world championship circuit. We had 4 laps on it and lets just say its not pan flat like they say, and it will not be a sprint massive either.. I attacked with 45kms to go and Jack Bobridge, and one other come with me… I took control of the group just so we got a good enough gap, then we floated a bit so the peleton always had us around 1m 30s.. right from the start of the break i told them we had to get to 20km to go with a gap, from there we needed to ride full gas and thats exactly what happened..

I was flying today, and i really felt like the old me was back.. It was a great feeling.. With 1km to go we had 10s and with the uphill finish it was anyones guess as to the final result.. i pulled full gas to get us to 600m to go and then the skil shimano guy just started sprinting.. perfect.. I took his wheel and then as the bunch was basically on us, i launched and pulled away..

i really got to enjoy the win. its been a while since ive had my arms in the air.. The feeling was amazing..

Todays win has now confirmed i can do it.. Ive always known i had ‘it’ but sometimes it just takes a while to crack it.. Now ive done it i feel i can do it again.. you beauty!

There was a NZ flag waving at the finish climb so whoever that was, thanks! i seen it on our first lap and gave them a wave too..

anyway.. rest time, thanks for reading and cheers for the support. i appreciate it hugely.

ciao!

Hi my friends!

Great day for the team this morning.. we got Mark Renshaw up for the win, and HTC Columbia was superb on the finishing circuits.. We really took control and flew to the finish. Matt Goss was second too so the team was fizzing on that result. My leadout was disturbed though in the last corner which gutted me cause i never really got a run.. Coming into the last corner two riders come underneath me, pushed me wide and before i knew it they swung way wide on the corner colliding with a mobility scooter (that poor buggar!). I was lucky not to come down there and believe me i was thanking the good old lucky stars! The stage was fast as it was only a short one. We averaged 47km/hr so it was all go..

Tonight we had the time trial which was over a undulating course… 20kms long which was a good distance for me, but with tired legs it was anyones guess as to how i would go.. I did however feel the best ive felt all tour this morning, i finally am pedalling in circles which i welcomed with open arms! Its taken me a while to adjust after my trip home, but in saying that i wouldnt have changed the trip at all. it was the best thing mentally for me to hang with my champion son Moses..

Tonight I just focused on being as smooth as i could in the tt, trying to limit my spikes, and limit the lows.. I finished 5th which im really happy with.. It means im on my way to form, and believe me it feels good! I still lost 30 odd secs to the winner but im not overly worried about this.. im improving in form and getting better as the tour goes on which is going to set me up nicely for what lies ahead.

Tomorrow we have the last stage and it will probably come down to a sprint again. For sure we want this so HTC Columbia will do all it can to get either Gossy, or Rendog across the line in first position..

After the tour its full gas till the worlds really.. I have 3 one day races with 2 of them in italy where ill hook up with Cavendish, Gossy and Bernard Eisel to adjust to each other for the Tour of Spain.. After the one days in Italy i fly direct to GP Plouay for the last hit out pre vuelta..

So it exciting times ahead and with the way my form is now i feel im going to be in with a good finish to the season.,.

Heres hoping..

Thanks for reading, will update tomorrow on how we go.

ciao ciao

Hey there,

It was a hard heavy day here in denmark… beautiful day though with sunshine improving our already ugly tan lines some more!

The racing was on today from the gun and i made the early break of 11 guys.. every team was present except my old team cervelo. we were away for about 25kms and with cold legs this was not easy! good old cervelo hit the gas behind us to chase the break down (cheers guys lol)…

the next 40kms the race went mad for bit with riders attacking. all i was doing then was trying to recover for the rest of the race.. there was a welcomed lag in the peleton after a break of 4 went clear and i reckon you could hear the sigh even in nz. the race got going gain with about 60kms to go and it was on the whole way to the hard finishing circuits..

i was feeling pretty good today, but just lacked the power on the steep climb which greeted us on circuits.. i didnt have the day i would have liked, but all in all it wasnt so bad.. i finished in a small splintered group @2mins… im still trying to find my form really but i know that with this tour under my belt and some good days training coming up i will be at my best just when i need to be..

tomorrow we have a 100km road stage in the morning with a 20k tt in the afo.. the morning stage will be fast as everyone has the same idea here… just to get it done. then the tt will be whoever has the best tired legs will win.. ill give it a nudge and we will see..

spirits are high though and im really enjoying being here in denmark.. its an amazing country really and our team here all have a good time.. we have brian holm as a director and that guy is just on another level.. so funny..

ok will update tom.. thanks for reading again..

roly

Another day done and dusted. Full gas rain greeted us for the first 30kms, which just put everyone on red alert!! the first hour was covered pretty rapidly as is the norm these days in any pro race.. sometimes it just blows me away how fast the peleton moves.. you just got to follow that wheel in front and pray! everyone has so much energy at the start so you just got to roll with the punches and then after the first hour the race goes easy (sometimes!) then the real race starts the last 90mins.

Today it was exactly like that. mind you we raced over roads similar to belgium today. the roads were narrow and twists and turns everywhere.. so even when it was ‘easy’ there was still some tension and nervousness in the air.

I was pretty good today, felt super strong at times and on the circuit just did what i could.. our team was always present where we needed to be and we had renshaw join the attack on the circuits through some mad cornering.. you should have seen it! unreal! he made up a gap of about 200m to a pretty select group in one wet corner!

tomorrow the real race starts with some really hard circuits. this is possibly where the race will start.. if your good here you can go to the time trial with a shot at victory.. its my goal to be there so heres hoping.. i feel strong enough and that is what is needed to be a contender here..

some nice weather would be welcomed by all, but who knows what we will be dished. regardless everyone has the same conditions so thats a good thing..

the kiwi boys are all riding well.. holding their own which is good to see.. reckon we might have a few more pro tour riders next year which is great for our sport back in nz.. its only the tip off the iceberg though, so much talent back home and i hope they all get the chance to live their dreams too..

will update tomorrow.. thanks for reading!

ciao ciao