sastre sastre sastre

After more than 3 weeks of racing, 20 stages, 84hrs of saddle time and some 3600km later, Carlos Sastre of Team CSC-Saxo Bank looks like the inevitable winner of this year's TdF.

Simply sweet stuff, CSC-Saxo Bank. Completely unrivalled in technical equipment support, team depth and squad strength, it looks likely that it will retain its #1 ProTour ranking for the fourth consecutive year as well.

I remember when the team came to Grenoble for the Dauphiné Libéré. Although the then-CSC did not send in many strong riders, the team still performed credibly with Sastre as team leader. Although they did not win the Libéré in the end, Sastre wily noted that his opposition probably peaked too early, and that after all, his goal was to win the TdF.

Ominous isn't it, that one month later, all his predictions came true.

Anyway, I'm just happy that CSC-Saxo Bank did so well; like many soccer/sports fans can identify, it is a wonderful feeling to see your team kick the ass out of their opponents. And if you've been up close and personal with the riders and ever cycled the same routes, it is even more magical. I'm definitely framing up my autographed CSC shirt and locking up the bidon which Sastre gave me at Grenoble! =)

On the home front, I have been busy busy busy. People to meet, food to eat, and fun to be had. Had not had the time to update this blog but I promise a Zurich race report très bientôt! =P

tonton

Si ton tonton tondre ton tonton, ton tonton sera tendue!

1287

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sleepless in zurich

Zurich, Switzerland.

The city which Singapore aspires to be.

Been here since Wednesday, and it is what they tell it: clean, safe, and notoriously expensive.

So far, life has been the same each day: eat, sleep, eat, walk about Zurich city, eat, ironman village, eat, sleep, shit, eat, eat some more.

One more day till Sunday.

Can't wait to race!

110708

Onze. Sept. Huit.

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Un melange des chiffes, pas de signification specifique. Peut etre un numero de lotto, les notes d'un examen, ou bien une partie d'un numero de telephone.

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What a difference a day makes. What a difference even a moment can make. 08 minutes, 07 hours, or 11 nanoseconds. Does the duration matter? Suddenly you see the true colours of someone, and they turn out to be totally different from what you imagined them to be.

Hypocritical bastards.

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Then again it can be a date. 11 July 2008. One week. Exactly 604800 seconds to chickenricemeepoktahlaksasashimibrewerzcharkoayteowzhicharcheekway
currychickenwantonmeedimsumfriedricehorfunprawnmeesambalstingray
sushichampagnebuffetlormaikaiduckricenasipadangrotiprata. =D

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While we're at it, joyeux anniversaire to me. Getting older and older, no more age group 18-24 next year already. =(

déménagement

Last day in Berlioz.

5206. €187.40/month après CAF. 250807 - 070708.

It may sound weird, but I think that I will miss this 12m² hell hole.

au revoir

mes entraînements du semaine W-0

01 mardi: Nager 1.5km (PU)
02 mercredi: Cycle 40km (TT-DU), CàP 5km (DU)
04 vendredi: Nager 2km (PU)
05 samedi: Cycle 60km (Le Touvet), CàP 10km (DU)
06 dimanche: Nager 500m (Bois Français)

En totale: Nager 4km, Cycle 100km, CàP 15km

Last week of training. Finally. Can't really say that I am feeling on top form now but I hope to be somewhere there on Sunday!

In any case, this year's training so far has been pretty disorganised, due to my many other commitments. Not being with my team and having a coach to map out my training has also contributed to my lack of discipline at times.

Its not easy training alone. Never is. The responsibility of mapping out the week's workouts, the determination to see them through, and the resilience to repeat them day after day, week in week out. And the mental strength to resist the 1001 other temptations of life which never fail to distract me. This year has really been a watershed one for me.

I can't say that I have succeeded totally, but I do not think that I am that much a failure either. I came to France last year thinking that I would be taking a gap year from triathlon, but look at what happened. I guess things do not change. At least not that easily. I have always loved the outdoors, and I have the tan lines to show for it. At this point in time, I cannot see myself doing anything else or being anywhere else in the world. Triathlon is more than a sport for me. It is my passion. It is my life. It is me.

So as I finally arrive at week 0 of my Ironman Swiss training plan, I do feel a sense of relief, but at the same time, I realise that it was the journey, and not the destination, which mattered more to me. Along the way, I managed to swim in the Mediterranean, cycle the many legendary cols of the Tour de France, and run to the ends of the Earth.

By comparison, Ironman is only a very long day of exercise.

So, come what may, I have nothing to regret. I have fought the good fight, I have kept the faith, and I hope to complete the race.

See you at the starting line. =)

the perfect sum

If we could add up all the happiness and unhappiness in the world, what do you think the sum total would be?

co-location

After a year of living alone save for the occasional hosting, it feels weird to have another occupant in my room.

And that person is none other than LETCH. Wanting to save money, she decided to move out of her residence early and stay over for a week before her flight home this Saturday.

(12m² - 3m² of toilet - 4m² of storage space) ÷ 2 = 2.5m² each. I believe that even Mas Selamat had more space in his solitary confinement cell before his great escape.

Lucky guy.

Anyway so far it has not been that bad as I initially feared with Letch being quite the good slave friend, helping me to pack and clean up my place. And with no school and training, we have had the opportunity to play tourist in Grenoble to the max as well, rather than just stare at each other for the entire day. Sofarsogood.

Sofarsogood..