GIANA DAY 5 6 & 7 AUSTRIA

Just how far is 300 meters?
Day five from Austria

This morning brilliant sunshine graced the mountainsides of Deutchlandsberg and everyone at breakfast has a smile reflecting the sunny skies.

On the menu for both Rob and I was 300 meter street sprints. The fastest four times would qualify for the finals at 5 PM. Sprinting, especially from a standing start, is just not my forte and I looked to the event with a mix of dread and cynicism that this was not a “real” race. After all what can you prove in 300 meters? (To all you sprinters out there – just kidding!) Rob, however, was thrilled to sprint so I kept my smile on, not wanting to begrudge him the enjoyment of such a silly event.

I had to go at some God-awful time in the morning which barely gave me enough time to eat, much less prepare properly. Ironically, the shorter the race, the harder the warm-up so I was on the bike about 90 minutes prior and did a hard tempo ride to waken my legs up. They shrugged at me, uninterested in racing yet another day, especially without my typical five cups of coffee. I knew it was not going to be a pretty event – and I was right.

As we warmed up, we saw all sorts of equipment choices in an effort to scrape together just a fraction of a second more. Time trial bikes, helmets, booties, deep dish wheels, super light wheels, the start area was a real equipment goober’s dream. I was laughing to myself because in 300 meters a time trial helmet is really not going to do you a spot of good but a great jump and a powerful start will get you in the game.

I did give my sprint a good go, using borrowed super light weight Zipp wheels from a really nice Aussie who is staying with us. I was surprised to see I had qualified for the finals, but looking at the list, quickly figured in my mind that fourth would be where I would finish. I was right. I did close on the girl in the finals, almost coming by her; had the line been five meters further down the road I would have had her… but that is for another day. In horse-racing it would have been by a nose.

Rob’s race went much better than mine. Rob qualified second, narrowly missing beating his partner in the first round. The finals saw him giving an awesome effort and coming by the number one qualifier; however, in the end his competitor had a final surge, leaving him with a very respectable second place. Rob was disappointed by his speed (42.8 kilometers an hour) until I explained that that was his average speed and to go from a standstill to full speed in 300 meters and average almost 43 kilometers an hour is actually outstanding. I think he is satisfied with that when he realized that he must have been going at least 50 km/hr by the finish (35 miles/hour for those of you not euro-cized).


Overall today was a fun and relaxing day. We had an adventure at the supermarket, coming home with all sorts of food products including balsamic in a tube, mustard in a tube, a delicious cheese and a loaf of bread that weighed 1000 grams. Considering Rob’s frame weighs 900 grams we got a good laugh out of the fact that the bread here is heavier than a bike frame. But man oh man is it delicious. It has carrots, apples, all sorts of seeds, and yes, pumpkin. You could eat solely this bread and almost cover all the food groups.

We also had a funny experience ordering pizza. Looking at the menu, I pointed to what we wanted and asked for the number (3). When the pizza was ready there were three pizza boxes waiting for us! Good thing everyone here is always hungry from all the riding and pizza always goes over well.

Tomorrow Rob has a 100 kilometer brute of a race. I will be riding to the start and then to his finish with some clothes before we ride home. Unfortunately, rain is yet again in the forecast, and Rob has his work cut out for him with a very competitive field and rolling terrain highlighted by one major climb. It will be European racing in all its glory.

Until then!

Master's Men 1.
2. Rob Dillion

Master's Women 2
4. Giana Roberge

Master's Women 3
3. Julia Emblin
6. Tracy Lea

Master's Men 5
2. Dirk Crowley




UP down and all around the Austrian Countryside
Day six from Deutchlandsberg, Austria

Today was a day off of racing for me but a 96 kilometer hilly road race for Rob. The sun was again shining, although we would get storms later in the day, as we headed out to the start. Rob and I were escorted by Syd Lea who kindly took us the back way, out of harms way and away from the traffic. Of course, I did not know the route he was taking us on so I was a bit nervous and kept checking my watch. Rob did not know where were going, so he did not think to be nervous. But Syd was on perfect track and brought us to the start with plenty of time for Rob to make his last minute preparations.

What are they saying? Was that "GO?"

It was quite a festive start with a band playing and lots of locals there to cheer on the competitors. A quick introduction and Rob was off onto the narrow, twisty back roads of Austria.


Look - there is a band!

While he was racing his guts out, I headed to the finish riding his course. The crowds were just awesome on the main climb and as I approached the 100 or more spectators let out a tremendous cheer, only to be followed by a disappointed “damen” as I approached. There were no women’s races today, so once it was known a woman was on the course the excitement came to a quick halt. Although I was climbing just fine, I had many offers of pushes up the mountain. Amazing how much the spectators want to be helpful when they see a woman climbing. I declined many times and had to almost sprint away from one very persistent older man who was sure I really needed some help.

Once I got near the finish, I realized I still had 90 minutes until Rob would finish so I kept on rolling up the 17 kilometer climb to Slovenia. It was a stunning ride and just my kind of climb. Not too steep, with incredible vistas, big sweeping turns and smooth pavement. (I am not sure it was the best preparation for tomorrow's race but it was a climb that needed to be climbed.) The descent was wicked; fast, fast, fast. Good thing my Mom has no idea of just how fast those skinny little Michelin tires will go down hill!

As I neared the bottom I passed a man who was working pretty hard. I guess in any country it is the same: a man gets passed by a woman and he just can’t let it go. No matter if he drops dead from the heart attack it takes to catch her, he will absolutely kill himself to pass her. I can guarantee you this man had never ridden as hard as he did in those five minutes it took for him to catch and pass me. However, as he came past me I upped my cadence and was by him once again. I am sure I was smiling as I went by, and I did the polite thing by giving him a little wave and hesitating for him to get on my wheel. He declined and I did not see him again.

Back in Eibiswald at the finish, the crowd eagerly anticipated the finale of the group Rob was racing in. His category is very competitive and the crowd follows the results with enthusiasm. The finish had a 1 kilometer kick that was a quite a digger after 90 some odd kilometers. The winner and second came in solo but as the chase group rounded the corner to the finish, I could see Rob’s Soulcraft kit come into site. Digging deep in the sprint, Rob came up with a fifth place finish, another very respectable and well earned placing.

All the people in our group had a great day, highlighted by Dirk Cowly's (Sports Base Online) win in the Master’s five category. Dirk attacked from the gun and stayed away for a really impressive win.

After a quick stop at the local gas station to refill bottles, we began the ride back to Deutchlandsberg. Every racer was taking the same route home so there were 100s of riders on the road. We watched as our group from the hotel went whizzing by and quickly took off to catch them. After about 2 kilometers of chasing we were on the group and after 500 meters at the front on the front of a group of about 60 riders. It was so cool. All the cars were very patient and as we caught and passed group after group the Americans and Aussies all commented on how well bikes and cars got along in Austria. It was truly refreshing to see that it is possible.

Back at the hotel, a quick bike change saw us out on our time trial bikes riding tomorrow’s team time trial course. It is 14 kilometers and we are competing in the mixed team category. I am pretty psyched, happy to be competing in something I am a little more prepped for. Rob and I should have some fun on the out and back course. Winning times in the past have been in the mid-20 minutes, so we are gunning for that. From what we have been told it is an extremely competitive race with people coming from all over Europe to try their hand at this event. We will have our work cut out for us.

Until then!

Master's 1
5. Rob Dillion

Master's 5
1. Dirk Cowley


Oh for six seconds
Day seven Deutchlandsberg, Austria

Today started at the crack of dawn with the peeling of church bells celebrating the holiday here in Austria. It is Mary Farht day (yes that is right). Fahrt (a very popular word here) means “to go”. Today celebrates the day Mary ascended to heaven, or so Tracy explained to us (with a good bit of giggling on my part) at breakfast over enough coffee to help me ascend somewhere, though I am sure it would not be to heaven.

No amount of seriousness worked for Rob and I today as we headed out to the time trial course. Maybe it was the early hour, maybe it was the lack of sleep because a band outside our window played raucous Austrian music until 4 AM, or maybe it was just that we were punchy, but in any case neither one of us were in the mood to work hard. Our warm-up consisted of bantering back and forth and envying the cows still asleep in the fields.

Because we have been racing and training so much, warm-up really was a snap. You either have good legs or no legs at all. Initially, I thought I had good legs but after the first hill in my warm-up my legs were bitching at me like an old house-wife whining about having to work again. I also think the cigarette smoke is catching up with me because my asthma was so bad this morning I sounded like an 80 year old woman with emphysema and a voice box.

No holders at the start left me clipped in and balancing on the gate so I could lead us out when they said go. The opening to the road was about three feet wide and it took all I had when I pushed off not to swing into Rob as he got clipped in. “Great,” I thought, “I am going to crash us before we are even on the course!”

Each team was at one minute intervals and it was not long until we came upon our one minute, then two minute, then three minute couple. We were doing things pretty close to right, although it was our first time on the TT bikes going full on. Our pulls were smooth, we stayed in a tight formation, despite the fact that Rob probably did not want to stay behind me after last night’s pasta. We hit the turn-around and came back down the gradual descent into town at an average of over 50 kilometers and hour.

Rob and I were doing a fairly good job at swapping turns, although I almost crashed us at one point waving him to come by. My arm warmer caught on my bar pad and woops, we were almost on the pavement. Rob gave me quite a look as he came by and I smiled merrily; my way of saying “Sorry that was a close one, wasn’t it?” I just could not stay as focused as I needed to be; I was having way, way too much fun out on the course doing what I love with someone who I enjoy riding with so much. But Rob was focused and kept us on track, upping the pace at a steady rate and taking some super hard pulls.

We lost some time coming into one of the round-abouts when I saw the sign pointing straight. I hesitated, knowing we were supposed to turn right, probably costing us the six seconds that would have won us the race. As we came into the finish we rode side by side, of course, pushing each other all the way and crossing the line together in a time of 19:25. (Yes, that’s right, 19:25 in 14 kilometers… not too bad!) The Austrian Team beat us by a mere six seconds; acceptable considering that the man is a professional and the woman has been racing all year… they have won it many years in a row.

I was, of course, disgruntled at being beat, especially by six seconds, but Rob in his infinite wisdom pointed out the obvious to me (my 10 weeks on the bike, our first TTT together, racing yesterday (which neither of the winners had done) and by lunch time I had come to terms with second place. I aim to win on Saturday though.

After an hour spin we headed out to a “real” lunch. What we really craved was a cheese burger, but there is nothing like that here so we settled on Chinese food which, in the end was a passable lunch. Not great but not terrible. What was fantastic though was dessert which was a minimum of a quart of ice cream featuring 5 different flavors, chocolate sauce, fresh fruit (which is why I ordered it, honestly) and a blue colored sauce which was heavenly. I have to admit (sheepishly) that with Rob’s help we managed to eat most of it. The glass it came in was big enough to bathe in, and the amount of ice cream would have normally held me for a year, but I couldn’t stop eating it. Ice cream over here is so totally different than the states; it is fresher and the milk is not as pasteurized so the flavors are really wholesome and fresh. Rob will probably never let me order again; between the three pizzas and the gallon of ice cream I am sure he is a bit skeptical of my skills with menus in general. He did not complain too much though as he helped me with finish the dessert.

As we walked back to our hotel we stopped in the lobby to look at the pamphlets. We are staying at a hotel that is run by a butcher family. We got a great chuckle out of the pamphlet (see pictures below). Meat is a mainstay here and there is meat here I have never seen and hope never to eat. There is “meat” here that is solely fat, the meat has maybe been rendered away or fled for its life but it is certainly not in the final product. I guess that is what they mean here by “meat bi-product.”


How would you like a flying weiner for lunch?


No really, this is meat!

Tomorrow is a handicap race for me and a day off for Rob. My race begins with the category four riders starting, then 40 seconds later the threes, then the twos, etc. The point is to catch the front group as the points for the overall series is up the road. After the last road race, I am still designing a plan to get me clear of the European mafia.

Until then!