Rigoberto Uran's Race File, Stage 1: Houdan - Houdan 154.5km
Stage 1 Paris-Nice
Houdan - Houdan 154.5km
1.Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 4:05:06.
2. Jeremy Roy (Fra) FDJ
3. Heinrich Haussler (Aus) Team Garmin-Cervelo
174. Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Team Sky 8:20
The following in an excerpt from Rigoberto Uran's TrainingPeaks Daily log following the first stage of Paris-Nice.
I awoke this morning to blue sunny skies and crisp air.... oh and good legs. Although it was just above freezing the temperatures would soon rise to provide us with perfect racing conditions and I was more than ready to start my second race of the year.
The first stage (after the usual prologue) of Paris Nice is always nervous and today proved to be no different. First, the usual break went away (that today consisted of two riders) and the peloton gradually brought it back 40km to go thanks to Xabi Zandio making some long hard turns on the front with the other sprinters teams.
From this point on the counter attacks started and the peloton was nervous with riders and teams fighting for the front on the narrow, rolling and windswept roads. Three riders got a gap with me and the rest of my Team Sky teammates perfectly positioned in the front echelon as the race roared towards the finish.
Next, with 15km to the finish riders started to crash infront and to the side of me and down I went. It was one of the typical nervous crashes that happens at this point in a race and a real shame as I was feeling strong, with good legs and in a great position at the front with the rest of the team. Sometimes you need more than just good legs, you need a bit of luck, or should I say no bad luck?
Instantly I got up, checked the bike (1st bike then 2nd body) and it was broken, but the car was behind the fragmented peloton. I finally got my bike but the peloton was long gone and I rode into the finish alone, battered and bruised.
Tonight I am nursing a gashed knee, scuffed back and a bruised shoulder. I have been treated by our Doctor and Physio and I'll be ready to race again tomorrwow. No pasa nada.
