This one started with a nice little uphill time trial, I did ok, but wasn't really on top of it finishing in 6th. My Team mate, Andrew, smashed the field and the race record. Day two was looking to be a long day with 110 miles and the leaders jersey to defend, luckily it was a

tail wind start, so all the attacking between teams trying to make the break naturally just carried the pelotons momentum and I didn't need to touch the front. It all came undone when a rock started playing ping pong within the peloton, attacking Andrews bike. I dropped back with him for what we thought was going to be a simple wheel changed, which ended up being a broken fork = a bike change. Now we had some serious chasing to do. As with most races at that level there are plenty of team cars around to get a sit behind. Unfortunately it didn't work out in our favor this time, the chief official, as put in his own words decided to "make an example" out of Andrew and we got hit with a 1 minute penalty-good bye GC. That pretty much changed our agenda for day 3, I decided I was at least going to have a solid training day and made sure I covered every move to make it into the break. Was joined by Andrew and two

fellow Tassie Mates, Bernie and Karl. At one point they were 1st and 2nd on the road. Talking of Tassie Mates, what about Ritchie Porte?!? Leading the younger riders jersey in the Giro and less than a second from the race lead. I knew it wasn't that I was just unfit that I was struggling last time we rode; he's giving some of the best riders in the world an ar#e whipping!! Oh and Gossie, another Tassie Mate is right up there, for a state with a small population we've got some bloody good bike riders. One thing is for sure, I'm going to be sitting on the edge of my seat the next few weeks, All the Best boys!!!

Sid Taberlay