MONDORF-LES-BAINES, LUXEMBOURG
Our last day, and our biggest day. The preparation for this ride started on Wednesday at our team meeting. Fränk Schleck stated that he was going to offer two rides: The planned 155 km four-country ride and a shorter (100 km) ride that would only be able to take in three countries.
To do a second ride, he would offer a guide, probably Glen Leven who is a mechanic for Trek-Segafredo, but no other support, i.e., no motorbikes. But he would need at least three volunteers.
Fränk asked us to think about what we were ready for after one week of riding. Two riders were consistently sagged throughout the week when we had time limits. I think Fränk was looking at those two as “volunteers.” He would need at least one more.
Even after the rest day, I wasn’t feeling much better. I was better but I wasn’t much better. The decision time was last night at the team meeting. I would love to go long and say I did a four-country ride but my body was telling me to volunteer for the shorter group. And I came to terms with that.
But then…
In walked Jens Voigt to our team meeting. “Shut up legs.” And Jens is going to ride with the long group. That conflicted me as I wanted to ride with Jens but wasn’t sure I could keep with the group. But that option was quickly off the table. Fränk announced there would only be one ride. Everyone would start but if he felt someone was holding back the team he would tell them to get in the van, no arguing, no discussion. Having that decision out of my hand, I had to go long.
We rolled out of Mondorf-les-Bains and a gap quickly developed back to the two riders. After 20 km (12 miles) just outside of Peppange we stopped as Fränk had gone back to help pace them. When they reached our group they stopped and got in the van.
My goal today was to finish. My strategy was simple. I could stay with Jambo as we had ridden together quite a bit this week. We could form a grupetto of two if we had to, as Fränk would not force Jambo, one of the organizers, off the course. Or would he? But I didn’t have to resort to such a strategy.
Our first border was Belgium. We stopped at a nondescript border next to a farmhouse. The occupants were not thrilled we were there. They opened the door, and their house smelled like a thousand ashtrays.
We rolled through a very scenic wooded section in Belgium, but only for 6.5 km (4 miles) and crossed back into Luxembourg. On another wooded scenic road, Fränk had us go from riding side by side (in twos) to one long paceline. And I was on Jens Voigt’s wheel. The speed ramped up as we kept this going for 10 km or more.
We rode through Luxembourg, crossing the country, west to east, traveling 64 km (40 miles). We crossed the Moselle River at Wormeldange to enter Germany and pulled over just inside the border. Next to the river in Germany was a bike trail with lots of users on this Friday afternoon. As I was taking a photo, a German man (or maybe a Luxembourger on the wrong side of the river) started speaking to me in German. I think. When he saw I didn’t comprehend, he asked, “What language?” He switched to English.
“But why no German?”, he asked. “You’re wearing the Luxembourg colors. I told him we were riding with Fränk Schleck. And Jens Voigt.
Sitting: Barry Sherry – Keeling: Jambo (Jim Ray)
Crouched: Paul Lewandowsky
L-R: Carl, Frank, xxx, Dan Mcd, Scott Ireland, Gusty, Bryan Huneycutt, Will Swetnam, Jens Voigt, Margaret O’Rourke, Svetlana Martynova, Julie Trimble, Bob Pane, Scott Hesford
“Jens Vote?”, he exclaimed. I told him to come over and meet them. He genuinely seemed excited to know that Jens was here. Then he said no and kept riding.
We got on the bike path and hammered it for 19 km (12 miles). As we reached France, we stopped, and one of our sagged riders rejoined us for the final push home. Fränk made sure we rode at the pace of the slowest rider, and we would finish the week riding together.
As for me, I pushed through, and maybe I shouldn’t have. But I had to, no? I was fearful all day that Fränk would say “You’re holding us back,” and secretly wished he did, but he never came my way. Jens only passed me going up one climb because he was ahead of me on all the others. As crappy as I felt, I was never last on a climb or even second to last.
It was a challenging day. I was just hanging on at times. I was breaking the ride into five-mile segments, just trying to get to the next one. There were times I wanted to cry out, “I’m done.” But I kept going. And ultimately, I ended the day with the satisfaction of completing the day and the week that I set out to do. At the team meeting, I was recognized for powering through and never quitting. (Translated: I looked like shit.)
What a week it was. Riding with the Brothers Schleck and Jens Voigt. Separate days in Holland, Luxembourg, France, and Germany and a four-country ride that included Belgium.
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