|
|
|
Last Updated: 2 Apr 2018 - 8:45:17 PM |
 |
| Morgan Fox |
Team Presentation Oostende 17 Jan.
The usual hype that you would expect from a launch of a pro. team was all around us as we gathered at the venue in the Sea-side town of Oostende, one if not the most important Port in Belgium. PJ Nolan and Ciaran O'Callaghan came for the weekend and we had a good time and a few Belgian beers (Not at the presentation of course). There was a big re-shuffle over the winter months and only 7 of the team that I had met during my stagiare in September were present, all the rest were new including myself. Five neo-pros. and the other 5 drafted in from various teams to add strength and experience to the campaign. We had a good meal, did a lot of interviews and photo sessions and the reporters were all curious as to why there were not more Irish pro's I told them of Ciaran "Strong as an Ox" Power and the rest he asked, "They are coming" I answered.
Lloret de Mar (Spain) 14-18 Feb.
My first race and I am not in the best of shape. I have been training hard but too many disruptions over the winter, with two bout's of flu and surgery to my eyes have taken their toll. The funny thing is that it was this race last year that first brought me to the attention of the Pro. Teams so despite my condition a lot is expected. I finished 6th overall last year and was third up until the last day when two badly timed flats cost me my place and the possibility of the win. We start the race and I realize directly that when you are not 100% 15km climbs are very, very hard. I finish every day but only for training, and if that wasn't enough we do 3 hours more after every stage. The team is great, superb organization and Gerard comes every day and whispers "no pressure" to me He realizes my problems in the winter and it's good to know that he is not one of those D.S. that treats every race as if it's the World Championships. The lads are a good laugh and there is plenty of banter during the week. We ended up winning the race overall with Van-Haecke taking the final stage and the bonuses to take the lead .It's a good start and morale is high.
Het Volk 1.1 uci 26 Feb.
Now this is what Pro. racing is all about. Thousands of people crowded the streets in Ghent for the start, and the rest were on the Muur, and Kwaremont etc...We arrive early (It's team stipulation that we are in the dressing rooms 1.5 hours before the start). Everybody is nervous. I change and we listen to the orders for the day. Outside the reporters are fighting with the kid's for places to get the best shot of Van Den Broek or Musseuw, while the kid's stretch to the limit to get their carefully prepared autograph books into the line of sight of the stars. Some succeed others look despondent asking "when will I grow" ? to parents. I make a special effort when I come out, I was one of those kid's when the Nissan Classic was at home. After a few minutes I am ushered away and head for the square and the sign on. The square in Ghent is cobbled and all of the team cars are parked neatly on the fringes. People are everywhere asking for bidons, hats, autographs or photos. I decide to leave my helmet off until the start as every time I put it on somebody asks for a photo " Morgan, can you take the helmet off please?"
I go to "sign on" riding through a corridor of people to get to the podium, up the ramp to the table, name announced "Ierse renner Morgan Fox, L'Irlandais Fox Tonissteiner " I feel good but don't recognise the signature I have just given. I roll away, I didn't notice the steepness of the ramp on the way up but Holy S*#* it's steep coming down, 45 degrees. I try to look confident and tear down the ramp onto the cobbles and away, claps on the back, words of encouragement, "Alles Fox".
The race starts and I am straight into the role of keeping an eye on Van Haecke, We hover close to the back as the bunch rolls along at 35kph, but not for long. Michel knows the parcours and after a few more kms He nods and we head for the front. Just as we get there the wind changes from tail to cross and the lineout starts. Over the Kluisberg, then the Mont de L'enclus, Muur de Gerrardsbergen, Valkenberg, Eikenberg etc.. I am feeling O.K. and the bunch is thinning out. After 140kms there is a section of cobbles 4km in length .I am in a bad position, but on the wheel of Jacky Durand. "He wont let the wheel go" ....He does.! I chase to the next group but there is another in front, I chase again , it's all over. I ride to the finish with Jay Sweet and Robert Hunter. Michel finishes in the front group behind a superb Johan Musseuw.
GP Lillers France 1.5 190kms 5 March.
Uneventful race, In a few groups came to nothing. Finished in the second group. Winner Francis Moreau (Cofidis)
GP Bodson 1.4 195kms 11 March.
Finished nothing special.
Omloop Waasland Kemseke 1.4 205kms 12 March.
Did a good ride today but was a little tired after yesterday. Average speed today was 46.5kph for 205kms .Came down to a bunch sprint finished 22nd, Winner Jans Koerts (Farm Frites). I make myself ride the 70kms home after the race for not reading the sprint correctly but also because I need the kilometers. It's dark when I get home ,I am dead today but confident I am coming good. A bowl of soup and some bread, shower then some dinner and to bed .What a life!!!!
Dwaar doors Belgie 1.2 205kms 22 March.
Felt great today. In every decent move from the start and then disaster, on the Kluisberg 17%(100kms) I feel a twinge in the area of my right calf muscle. I think it is the tendon. I have had this injury before and when the pain is still there 20kms later I stop and climb into the bus. I am disappointed, Gerard (Bulens D.S.) is supportive and after the race organizes for me to go to the team doctor Hans Cooman at the Hospital in Aalst the following morning. Tristan Hoffman (Jack&Jones) wins from Peter Van Petegem in a sprint from 25 riders. Tchmill hits the barrier after fighting with Jo Plankaert in the last 150m and has a bad fall.
I arrive at the hospital 9am and have an MRI scan, the damage is muscular not the tendon, I will be back in a week. The doctor making the scan says I am the happiest injured guy she has ever seen. I explain and she understands. Back down to Hans and he confirms, a week of light training with massage, differential and ultrasound every day for 5 days. That is the good thing about a pro. team they do all they can to get you back on the road as fast as possible, both parties are losing when a rider is out. I cannot ride my scheduled races this week of GP E3 Harelbeke 1.1, Fleche Brabanconne 1.2, and The 3 days of De Panne 2.1, but not too worry I am a permanent optimist and laugh in the face of adversity. I am using this time to adjust my short term goals, and training .
Next week I am riding Ronde van Drenthe (Saturday) in Holland and then either Ghent-Wevelgem and GP Pino Cerami or Circuit de La Sarthe stage race in France, depending on what way the team is split and on my progress with this injury.
Tot ziens (Bye for now)
Morgan.
IrishCycling.Com: Would like to thank Morgan for allowing us to share his diary
|
|
|
|
