Stage 12… Damn! That is a lot of bike racing, with still many more days to go.
Since I am equally as tired from writing about all of my daily suffering as you are from reading about it, I figured today I would give a shortened version of the stage…and some thoughts that went through my head as the Spanish countryside flew by around me.
Today was another ‘supposed to be flat’ day that wasn’t. I have learned by now never to expect ‘easy’ or ‘flat’ and so I knew what was coming.
I suffered early, and often. A break went, but the road never stopped rolling. I briefly felt better as I got into a rhythm on the first climb…but then Stuart O’Grady got to the front and put me right back in the pain cave. I then almost got dropped on the next ‘climb-that-was-not-a-climb’, and continued to hold on over the second (and last) categorized climb.
As we geared up for the last rollers coming into the sprint I began to feel a bit better, getting up to the front and making sure Greg was taken care of. As we hit the last roller I was cooked, got dropped and rolled in with a grupetto that included my hombre Andrew Talansky who had been working hard at the front for the last half of the stage.
Another day, another…dollar? That saying doesn’t really apply here but I’ll leave it anyways. It sounds good, so…
I actually think a lot about this blog when we are racing, to pass the time… I think about what the title will be, what I will write, how I want to come across. Today I decided I was tired of delving into details about how bad my legs feel, and instead I though I would share some random tidbits. So here you go:
Pablo Lastras.
Pablo is, quite literally, the nicest professional bike rider I have ever raced with. If he needs to get by you he asks nicely and then when you move out of his way–he thanks you as if you have just saved his first-born child from the jaws of a black bear. Also, he encourages me. I have said hello to him once, in passing, but other than that we haven’t spoken…yet, when I’m going backwards on a climb, he will encourage me, saying things like ‘come on Taylor’, or ‘you can do it, Taylor’. Pablo is a man who leads by example, and I’m incredibly honored to be racing here with him. Some would say that assholes finish first, especially in this sport… Pablo is here, not to tell you, but to show you that even nice guys can win bike races, and win them in style. You’re the man Pablo!
My musette bag.
I grabbed a musette full of food and bottles from Fox our soigneur today, put it over my head, and replaced my bottles with new ones…but then I just left it slung over my shoulder. I was so tired I had no desire to take any food out, I had no desire to throw it away, I just kept it there. For about 10km…
Whatever.
Blasting Kohler.
I inadvertently launched a snot rocket directly into the face of my poor poor teammate Martin Kohler today. I apologized.
The front.
I desperately wanted to ask if I could ride the front late in the stage today…but remembered the 4500m of climbing we have tomorrow and decided yeahhh, maybe not.
Peter Sagan.
Wow, the guy is incredible. Not only is he super nice, but he is my age, doing what he is doing… Really really impressive. He makes me feel like a pansy on a daily basis. C’est la vie! Big congrats to him and his team today.
Contador’s shirt and the Latino vs Anglo Saxon ‘war’.
Earlier this morning I tweeted a picture of Contador, in an interview, speaking about his ‘issues’…with a shirt that said ‘DIRTY’ in capital letters on it. I intended this picture to be a joke because let’s be honest–it was not the BEST wardrobe choice–but as per usual, some people thought I was making a statement to further THEIR belief that there is a separation in the pro peloton when it comes to Latinos vs Anglo-Saxons. Manuel Quinziato and I shared a good laugh about this. People love to start drama!
Beauty.
This area that we are racing in–I believe it is called Galicia–is absolutely gorgeous. Besides the pain I feel constantly when I’m on my bike, I really enjoy it.
Grilled cheese.
I just arrived back to the hotel to grilled cheese sandwiches which almost made me jump for joy. Am snarfing down a couple now… These things remind me of my amazing mother who would make me grilled cheese sambos all the time when I was younger. Love you and miss you mom!! I’ll be home soon 
Tomorrow.
Will be very difficult…I am hoping to make it out alive, and within time cut.
All for now.
Ta-Ta!
-tp
Drama? Didnt know ronny and sammy where cyclists….
Even if you write about the pain and suffering I still enjoy reading it. It’s nice to read about pro cycling from an honest approach. It always seems so easy on tv, so it’s nice to see you guys feel some pain like we do in the saddle from time to time.
Thanks!
Great stuff Taylor, really enjoyed the peek inside the peloton, what you wrote about Pablo Lastras has only made me enjoy his great win earlier on in the Vuelta. Congrats too on your new teammate Marco Pinotti, he’s one of my favourite cyclists! Keep riding hard!
I’ve hit a riding partner with a snot rocket before, but it was his own fault for being behind me.
Your mama says…..thanks for the shout out! The little comforts of home indeed….
Keep riding and writing – you do both really really well.
xx
Great random thoughts – these are most welcome once in a while, between all your great “damn-no-roads-are-flat-and-my-body-isn’t-doing-what-it-is-told-to” posts.
Cheers for sharing your life
- from a big fan in Denmark…
Great writing, as always! I’m glad some of you guys can spare a few thoughts for your fans.
I enjoy everything you write – pain included. Lots and lots and lots of good luck tomorrow 
Good stuff! This post was different but just as good as the rest! Really enjoying reading these. Absorb all that pain and suffering and you will use it well in your future – and a bright one it will be with time (like a fine wine!).
Really enjoy the tidbits from the peleton. Lastras and snot rockets and all.
Rest up.
Great write Taylor, first time reading your blog, quite nice. I think the next stages can be too hard for you if you have been suffering until now. Stage 13 is short but the Ancares pass is like an HC Tour climb, and there are 4 more climbs in the stage, and more not categorised! If you pass that stage, then you will pass Stage 14 despite having two hard climbs, and the Angliru… well, do your best! I know you will
Thanks for sharing! I will now always try to thank people as if they just ‘saved my first born child from the jaws of a black bear’. Very entertaining post!
thanks for such an insightful and entertaining view of racing from inside the peleton, as said by someone earlier, you all make it look so easy on the tv, it’s hard to comprehend that a lot of you are really suffering out there! Your blog makes me laugh and smile, thank you
And it makes my passion (as an armchair expert!) even greater. Keep up the great work on the bike, in the Vuelta and in the blog. Looking forward to the next stage and blog.
Indeed, good stuff. It seems honest and unpretentious. I really enjoy the more human details of professional cycling. I have often heard TV commentators say that cyclist don’t have time or interest in viewing the countryside. I found that hard to believe considering the hours spent on a single stage. Thanks for the insight. I am anxious for more. Keep up the good work.
I share the comments above, and thanks for the nice words about Galicia
Enjoy mate!!
Love it when you can disprove the whole “nice guys finish last” thing. Everything I’ve read about Pablo Lastras has been overwhelmingly in agreement that he’s a class act, a nice guy, etc, and your anecdotes really bring his character to life for us
I always feel so privileged reading your blog, thanks so much for taking the time to share your thoughts with us, and putting them into words so delightfully…
Yes, Galicia is beautiful, but there are liars, damn liars, and “My Fair Lady”. The rain in Spain falls mainly in Galicia.
They just reported that in the sadistic stasge 13 you had to end your Vuelta. Don’t let it get you down. As your mom said, keep riding and writing, you are really good at both. (ps-your mom was an all rounder who never went through anything like you have the last 13 days. She just demolished the field. Your dad knows exactly what you’ve been through. You have a head start on him, and when you win your third stage in the TDF, you’ll see the head start pay off!)
Fantastic post, my 1st time but not last. It’s a pity now you will not see Asturias and Basque-Country’s landscapes. Now rest and keep going on.