I can´t say I have much of luck at the time… I was riding with a good feeling on the second lap in a group from about 25th to 35th and I overshooted a jump and landed way to hard, which made my front tire expload! I had to run for a few kms before I got a new wheel on place. Lost about 6mins and got to ride 2 laps before they picked me of the course due to the 80% rule.
I am happy that I could pedal hard again without feeling to affected by astma. Not so happy about my misstake, it costed me a lot.
Now travelling back home and I am really eager to get some good results back in the book. It´s frustrating as hell, but it gives me motivation as well. I get even more motivation of seeing Team mate Fabian Giger score his first top 10 today, finishing in an inpressive 6th!!!
Cheers/ E
Have been without internet for a few days so not much updating here. Starting from the begining of last week it pretty much looked like this.
Tuesday I spent most of the day going to Alkmaar, a town north of Amsterdam to meet one of our doctors who is 100% into lungs. I made some testing there which shows that I have ASTMA! Big shit, but in the same way good to know why my body feels pretty slow sometimes. Now it´s going to be a period of trying to sort out the right medication so I can keep on doing what I like the most, racing my bike in a fast and fun way.
I had to stop my medication a couple of days before the test and it took me a few days to get back feeling ok again when I started with them again.
We travelled to Dalby and I took part in the sprintrace friday evening. I was feeling rather ok but the format with about 1,5min racing in heats doesn´t suit me perfect. I like better the shortrace format racing 10-20mins.
Sundays XC race was ridden with the “cruise control” taking control over my body. I have a quite high speed but I can´t go turbo at any time. It shows also on my laptimes where I more or less have the same time per lap. I just can´t go into the red zone and fight because I don´t get air enough to muscles and brain.
I am not that happy about the 43rd place I made in the end, but I am happy that I continued fighting with the speed I have at the moment. I know that it will soon change again and I will be up fighting again. Untill then I hope for rain at the races, which is making my breathing a lot easier.
So, all of you that has astma. Let´s prove that it doesn´t have to slow you down to much. I am eager to get this working out!
Cheers/ Emil
At our sports directors home now. I use to spend some time at his house in between races. It is a calm place and I find it nice and relaxing here. Today I will do some recovery training alon the river Rhein.
I got 4th in yesterdays XC race in Saalhausen. I had a good start and halfway on the first lap sitting in 5th possition when a rider crashes in front of me. We lost contact with the 2 leaders and had to chase to try to get back. I didn´t have enough gas in the tank to close the gap.
Later we caught Manuel Fumic, and the group of 4 raced for the second place. Thomas Litscher attacked halfway and I couldn´t follow. The last lap I was smoked and finished in 4th close followed by Team mate Fabian Giger in 5th.
My feeling is way better then last few weeks. I have listened to my body and it pays of. Tomorrow I have an appointment with the doctor of the Rabobank teams. They are doing a great job trying to sort out my breathing problems.
Now time for some training.
/E
