Phil Zajicek

Stage 2.

// April 19th, 2006 // PZ training.

Well, glad that is over with. The first two days of Georgia are always a bit nervous. Big, wide open roads for the majority of the day then tight and difficult circuits at the finish. Todays stage was extra disco since the majority of the stage was spent at a pretty moderate pace. One lone rider from Target Training spent 150km off the front and the field cruised around. Once Lotto, CSC, and Phonak started to ride the gap came down quickly and we caught the breakaway rider as we made our first ascent of the climb on the finishing circuit in Rome, GA. Luckily the circuits were dry and sunny, rain fell for a good portion of the stage. In ‘03 we rode this circuit in the rain and it was very dangerous. So, no slick roads but plenty of fresh legs ready to take insane chances and give it a go. I did what I could to help the boys and stay out of trouble. Cesar the Rockspider mixed it up and rode good position into the last circuit and pulled off a 6th place. I just saw results and it looks like the officials decided to be very strict in giving gaps between riders. Bummer, normally the results would be everyone at the same time on a finish like that but I guess that they wanted to create some gaps in the GC going into the TT.
Ah well, I think that a few seconds won’t be mattering too much after Brasstown. Tomorrows tt is going to be a huge decider as well. I’ll be throwing down and giving it everything, sounds like quite the climb halfway through. The knee feels good and we’ll see how the legs are turning over.