Update 4-1-00

Eki Wins 3 Jours de Panne !!!

As I explained before: After 132kms in stage 2 Cedric, Benoit and myself set a stiff tempo leading to the Kemmelberg. Eki was positioned behind us, he maintained this excellent position going over the Kemmelberg. The successful break formed shortly thereafter.

Stage 3 was a 114kms in the am... we were to keep Eki out of the wind and near the front.... it was meant to keep him as fresh as possible for the afternoons time trial. Initially Eki stayed on the wheel of George, as he is very good at staying at the front of a nervous bunch. Cedric, Benoit and myself seemed to be rotating to find George and Eki, then taking them to the front over and over again.... Eventually the pace was very fast.... Vainsteins had put his team on the front earlier to keep control of things and later as a small group escaped. They were riding an echelon due to the strong winds..... We were protecting Eki from the wind at this point... he had three of us at this time , Cedric, Benoit and myself..... 3 of us riding in the wind behind the first echelon of 12 riders or so.... the peloton was getting smaller as the pace increased and with the constant change in course direction.... The work at the front had us on the limit..(rivat). riders were getting dropped out of the back... we lost George and Dillon; Kirk was fighting to keep us in sight and played a role in the last 10 kms. The three of continued to keep Eki out of the wind.... and each of us had blown up to fade into the bunch, only to recover and return to block the wind (for Eki)... we were expended by the time we hit the circuit. Kirk then found Eki and they stayed close until the sprint. Benoit and I stayed with the bunch which was down to 50-60 riders.... Cedric was the strongest on the day and managed to stay nearer to the front with Eki and now Kirk....

After the stage Eki thanked us/myself 3-4 times, he said that he had only to really push on the pedals a few times... that he was able to spin a comfortable gear behind us.... no rider would challenge Eki for his position.... mentally and physically he would have one of the easiest rides for the morning stage...

Eki started the tt 10 seconds down (in gc) on Vainsteins and would win the overall by 3 seconds... What a Victory!!!! sweet , sweet

I feel good about the work we did.... we were proactive and it paid off... we did not have to set the vicious tempo leading to the Kemmelberg...but, for every action there is a reaction, I happen to enjoy the reaction to our action..... A WIN !!

Something about Eki...... he explained to us that his first massage ever was when he joined Panasonic as a professional!!!! he had already been to the Olympics, had more than one World Championships etc...... never had a massage as an amateur...... the substitution was am and pm rides on the rollers, very easy max 1 hr.

One of his first races in Belgium....... ended on the velodrome in Roubaix..... which was full of people, as were the last several kms..... there was a giant TV screen showing what he thought was his race... Eki had won this race.... but later realized that the crowd was not assembled to see him win, they were anxiously waiting for the professionals in Paris-Roubaix....(language barriers)

Visit www.exerscape.com , During and after the Sea Otter stage race I spent some time filming what will be turned into DVD and used with Exerscape products. A scenic ride up the Big Sur coast, my time trial in Sea Otter, and a beautiful ride up Carmel valley. soon to be available......... sold through Blackburn

Marty