Diaries 
Grenoble Six Day 2006 – Second Night(0)
17.45: Where did the day go?
They are playing Puccini over the stadium PA, the folies girls are rehearsing their routine, you would have to be here to appreciate it, but it’s awesome.
The juniors are whizzing past, best keep away from the bottom of the track, last year they were sliding about the boards on their bums like there’s no tomorrow.
Grenoble Six Day 2006 – First Night(0)
11.20: Picked-up the Danish guys, Alex Rasmussen and Michael Mørkøv at Lyon airport. It’s a hassle because it’s hard to park the camper and security is tight. Alex looks slimmer than last season whilst Michael is still skeletal.
We have to drive all the way back to Grenoble now. At least the sun is out and the scenery is good.
Grenoble Six Day 2006 – Getting there(0)
“What a difference a day makes,” as Esther Phillips once sang. Tuesday afternoon, Charleroi, Belgium and it’s cold, grey, wet and windy.
It has taken us nearly ten hours on the motorway to get to Lyon having been battered by cross-winds and cut-up by manic East European truckers.
It was wearing-on for 1.00 am when we dropped into comas at L’Hotel Tour de Fawlty; but the beds worked just fine.
World Road Championships – Day 6: Postscript(0)
It’s 3.45 pm CET. I’ve been doing the tourist thing today. Salzburg is beautiful no-doubt, but it’s a tad de-caffeinated, a good place to come with your girl but lacking that real-life’ edge of say a Gent or a Lisbon.
It’s hard to find a proper bar but this one seems OK, complete with busty barmaid.
World Road Championships – Day 5: Elite Road Race(0)
It’s Sunday now and Paolo Bettini is World Champion.
Erik Zabel’s last chance of a rainbow jersey is surely gone, Valverde has another Worlds medal and I’d better try to get this diary up to date.
I left you yesterday as the women’s race was running its course.
World Road Championships – Day 4: Espoirs Road Race(0)
I was up before the bells, showered, washing done and on the street. Even at 08. 00 it’s buzzing.
The first rider I saw was from Brazil, then the Russian team – looking good in their Itera kit on white carbon Looks. 177 riders from all over the globe; 47 nations. I just saw the Mexicans sign-on.
World Road Championships – Day 3: A Little Downtime(0)
Not much exciting so far and its gone 2.00 pm. I awoke to the bells at about 7.30 and was first in the shower room. Breakfast was fine, but there’s still no small-talk n there; it’s not a bad thing I guess-you are out the door pronto.
I was sat in the press centre immediately it opened at 9.00 and I’ve been writing ever since. I did my piece about Vino, Zabriskie and Cancellara plus their respective bikes and since then I’ve been getting the old Veloresults dairy up to date.
World Road Championships – Day 2: Elite Time Trial(0)
The alarm went at 08.00 and I hobbled out of bed. The shower room was occupied so it was the full wash in the sink routine-hope nobody filmed it. It has to be the most unfriendly breakfast room in the world – nobody speaks so it was quick bowl of muesli and out the door.
The accreditation centre was on the other side of town; another taxi ride but fortunately the fares here aren’t too brutal. Despite friendly exchange of emails in the weeks before with the UCI guy, there was no pass waiting for me – “It’s not unusual” said the girl as she rolled her eyes.
World Road Championships – Day 1: Getting there(0)
It was a 04.00 alarm job to get ready to leave at 06.00 and I hadn’t had time to pack the night before.
It’s always the same driving to Prestwick-you think you are making great time until you get to Stepps and the vast car park that is the M8 during the rush-hour.
Check-in at Prestwick wasn’t too bad but the Colgate had to go-I wouldn’t mind but it drives me crazy not knowing how to convert it into an explosive device.
Tour of Britain – Day 6: Stage 6, Greenwich to The Mall(0)
We caught-up with Evan at Stanstead Airport on Sunday night, en route to Edinburgh.
A lift to the airport from the GB squad bound for Italia and a cheapo Easyjet flight meant he would be home just hours after racing in central London.
Tom Boonen went from villain to hero in 24 hours, winning the final stage to take his total of wins to 20 for the season so far.
Tour of Britain – Day 5: Stage 5, Rochester to Canterbury(0)
“What are you doing, you red fu**er?” The words of world champion, Tom Boonen (Belgium & Quick Step) to Danish rider, Michael Mørkøv when the youngster attacked, on team orders, in contravention of a Boonen-imposed ban on racing in yesterday’s stage of the Tour of Britain. As well as following Evan’s progress around Britain, I’ve been talking to Michael Mørkøv for pezcyclingnews.com.
Before we hear what Evan has to say I thought you should hear Michael’s story from yesterday.
Tour of Britain – Day 4: Stage 4, Wolverhampton to Birmingham(0)
In the next day’s stage four, Manning did indeed go up the road. Third place on the stage was the reward for his efforts, behind Mark Cavendish (GB and T-Mobile) and the winner, crafty Frederik Willems (Belgium & Chocolade Jacques).
Tour of Britain – Day 3: Stage 3, Bradford to Sheffield(0)
We caught-up with Evan after a wet and wild stage three, won by the mmaculately coiffed 2006 Milan-San Remo winner, Filippo Pozzato (Italy & Quick Step); our man had just finished dinner.
Tour of Britain – Day 2: Stage 2, Blackpool to Liverpool(0)
Evan was out of the team car and just off the massage table when we caught-up with him after the second stage, into Liverpool, won by GB man Roger Hammond.
Tour of Britain – Day 1: Stage 1, Glasgow to Castle Douglas(0)
The Tour of Britain kicked-off in Glasgow on Tuesday morning with a 101.1 mile haul from Glasgow to Castle Douglas.
Last year Evan Oliphant (Recycling) grabbed an excellent second place on a stage behind Russian champion Sergei Ivanov (T-Mobile).
This year he’ll be talking to VeloVeritas every day after the stage, we caught-up with him before the stage whilst he was stocking-up on victuals for the stage and receiving a light massage.
