When I was 18 years old and I got an offer to sign a contract with the Continental Squad of Rabobank I knew exciting thing were coming, what I didn’t know was how good was it going to be!

I had to take it step by step, coming to a big team it’s a big challenge and requires a lot of dedication and effort but it feels great when you get the results you worked so hard for and especially when that step on the top of the podium that everyone wants its yours… when you cross the finish line in 1^st place and you feel like you’re on top of the World!

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After seeing the courses announced for the 2012 Giro and Tour this week, it's got me thinking again on a topic I've become aware of after coming to the realization 2 weeks ago that I haven't done a European race outside Italy since April. Now, with the 2 route announcements, I am betting the team will throw me for the Giro again next year, as it's more climbing heavy and the Tour, well, is all TT. I don't see myself racing the 2012 Tour unless I find my long lost TT form from the u23's(something which I am desperately hunting this offseason).

The stark realization that I seem to heavily race in Italy makes total sense:  Simply put, I race well there. I think it's the fact that I love the country, the food, and the routes/peloton suit me.

Allow me to elaborate:

All riders are well aware of the race rhythm that accompanies each country. Races in certain countries seem to consistently follow similar patterns in how the race is attacked, played out, and well, raced.  In Belgium, most races are fast all day, regardless of course. The Belgie peloton seems to love fighting the position battle from start to finish. You mix in flatter terrain, cobbles, northern weather, and the result is a nervous tension-strung power fest.

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It seemed as though it was only yesterday I was driving back with the For Viored Brookvex girls from the Czech Republic when sure enough I was back on the road again – destination the Tour Feminin en Limousin in France.

I had just come off a good ride at Dwars de Westhoek, a UCI 1.2 here in Belgium a couple of days prior where I managed to finish the race in the less than ideal conditions… The race was 120km, included in which was a 10km circuit with 400m of cobbles which we had to jiggle over each lap – and I say jiggle, because there is NOTHING flattering about riding over cobbles!! :-/ I was sitting comfortably in the peloton before about midway into the race when the wind picked up and race turned quickly into a competition to see who could sit as close to the gutter and wheel in front whilst chewing as much stem as possible… Long story short, a lapse in concentration saw me fail at the former at the pointy end of the race and I finished in a group behind the peloton in 34th place – not a great result but it was a UCI 1.2 race, I finished, and considering that last year I crashed 20km in and broke my ribs, I think that is an achievement in itself. I was feeling good (after a couple of days recovery to regain movement in my arms – who needs a shake-weight when you have cobbles!!) and excited about racing Limousin!

Stories, pictures, cartoons and more! On the flip..

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Oh yes Loopies, the pun is fully intended and with a double meaning! For I have finally posted a blog after a long hiatus, PLUS I have finally picked myself up off the cold damp basement floor that was the Giro-recovery. Rejoice!

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Over the past week I have been living the high life with my team in the Czech Republic...Not. I hope you've made yourself a cup of tea or at least a strong alcoholic beverage as this is going to be a long one... And it ain't going to be pretty.

The Tour de Feminin in Krasna Lipa, a UCI 2.2, was my first race in the For Viored Brookvex colours, and a harsh reminder that I, along with most women, don't do this sport because of the glitz and glamour.

More after the flip:

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 "A report by the Australian Sports Commission showed women's sport receives only 1.2% of all air time devoted to sport; in newspapers the coverage was 4.5%."

And when sportswomen DO receive media coverage, emphasis is more commonly placed on their personal lives rather than their sporting achievements. In addition, mention is often made on femininity and what women look like when they play sport, and this is deemed to be more important in the media then what they acheive on the sporting field. For example, Liz Hatch.

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To me that's all a TTT is. I see it this way: Every team starts out on the ramp as the winner, and the team to screw up least (aka limit the damage) wins.

You see, at this level, the percentages are so small and all the teams have super powerful riders and specialists (we have Farrar, Millar and Lancaster as our aces here). So what really creates the big time gaps are when someone is dropped, misses a turn, corners too slow and we have to re-ramp the speed up instead of using precious power at full throttle, ect.

And even things so small count in the final verdict. Such as one of your strong guys getting excited and pulling through a little too quickly can completely blow one of the weaker riders and the weaker rider will open a gap in a few rotations later. Everyone is at their 100% limit already, so the team that does win will be the one to commit the fewest errors. I hope that is us.

We had our pre-Giro TTT workout today. It was a little messy as we worked out the kinks, but it was fast, very fast. It's only at high speed that issues are highlighted. My position in the rotation is right between Millar and Farrar, I was handling it ok for a flying 5k, but I'm definitely nervous for the real test (and for my first grand tour!!!) on Saturday. With an inner city course only 20 minutes long and so many corners, it will all be about damage control. 'Til next time, Pete

Vanderkitten-Focus, fresh off watching the Spring Classics on Live Streaming, have released images of their highly anticipated limited edition Crayon Art Portfolio, inspired by the shenanigans that only occurs on Podium Cafe.

After a busy afternoon coloring in their nails on the eve of the Redlands Criterium, these determined racers decided that Sea Otter would require a "NEXT LEVEL" type approach to the critical stage of Sea Otter Classic. Given the successes achieved by any interaction with Podium Cafe in the recent past, it was decided that crayon art would be a guaranteed way to assure  glory in the final stage.

So- after much discussion on race tactics and interaction with our awesome dinner hosts from Focus Bikes USA, we came up with some crafty designs only for viewing by Podium Cafe!!!

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