Saturday, June 30, 2007

GOT TO REBUILD, WHY NOT IN ITALIA?

So for those of you, who sit at home and read this on your big computer screens and still think "wow, what an awesome life these guys get to live", picture me now, in a beautiful Italian cafe, sitting here with wireless internet and enjoying a latte with my beautiful girlfriend.....is that rubbing it in enough????

Kate and Alex's sweet Italian pad. Her bedroom is bigger than my parents!!!






My stuffed sheep, Palmy, keeping me company on the road during the Nature Valley GP. Kicking back, laughing to Ricky Gervais stand up...if you see it buy it.

So that is where my life has now brought me. With a month off racing i figured that i would come over to Europe and support my better half through some of her racing. Jet lag aside, this is a beautiful place to ride your bike. The roads, while rediculously skinny, are sceanic and amazing for training. Kate has herself a great little apartment in Castrono, just around the corner from the AIS Cycling HQ, so i find myself with no shortage of Aussie accents and riding partners for the perfect training camp.

The only thing bad about wireless internet....reading about everyone in my much beloved sport getting involved in a drug scandle. Come on DeLuca....did you honestly think you were fooling anyone??? It is a damn shame that people cant just be honest with themselves and just ride clean. I think that all cyclist should have to earn what i earn and then see if they can justify the expense....anymore than that and it becomes too easy for them.....Its a sad sad time for cycling and while we thought we saw the light at the end of the tunnel after last year, im not convinced that it is there. Im just happy to be associated with a team of clean and dedicated athletes who do the sport for the right reasons...why? beacuse they love to ride their bikes and challenge their bodies to continually improve. And when they stop improving, like mine did for a time last year....they dont go to the pharmacy....they get depressed and just keep trying to work harder and push through....because cycling is like life.....sometimes it sucks, but you just have to work through it. I think my new cycling hero is Aaron Olsen....he and a few others will know the exact details of why.....but he stands on higher ground for me than many others, particularly in the protour....I just cross my fingers for the friends of mine who worked hard for the talents that they posess and have gone into the protour, that they can overcome the trend and prove to the people that cycling can be clean....

So thats what my life is all about at the moment....im a happy camper with where im at....just hope that the world approves around me.

Later all

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Not even a single mention of your faithful domestique, Omer. Even your soft toy monkey made it in the blog....

Mak said...

Nice one Rich....soft toys to relieve the stress on the road hey!!!! dude Dopers Suck. have a nice month off

iamTedKing said...

Any Cameron Wurf sightings in Italy?

And has DiLuca been proven guilty of anything? I haven't seen his name in the news, but I'm probably just missing it. Word up. See you in a few.

Anonymous said...

Well well well. Wasnt that a big write up on your feelings. someone has a passionate topic of not taking drugs. Interesting i respect (sshhh travis hide those). Why hello Richard. Oh and Miss Kate Bates. Well you may aswell rub it in more what you reckon. Hmmm what can you add. Its warmer then canberra also. Ah get me out of AUS....... Long time no talk. I have so much to say. Where to start. Me and trav bought a car maybe ill start there. One problem cant drive it cos we dont have our license. Stop laughing you two. So not funny. Ill have it next week cos guess what i passed my drivers test. Woo Yeah. Big updates to be made on topics of S and E..... Oh look at Kates ears just touch the roof when i said that. Kate sit down calm down. Dont know if i want to say much more while you guys are off over in nice Italy and sent me home yes by myself to cold AUS and decided oh we aint coming back till september or whatever it is till you come back. Hmmm am i rambeling a bit. Maybe but im still lonely so im alowed to ramble. I put new pics up on myspace and you both got a showing so any sponsorship deals that may arise from it i want a chop. Hmmm form. Not to bad except for the ergo session today we wont go there but in the gym i have moved up from squating with a broom stick to the actuall bar. haha. Oi stop laughing that wasnt funny either i am strong i just dont let my strengths out. So anywhos maybe a phone call soon.... Might do the trick to clear all this up. Also more info on coach topic. Oh the entertainment i give you two i should get paid for. Be good children. Over and Out. Cam the Man

Anonymous said...

Hey Rich, road season seems to be easy these days. We think you have more holidays than racing days. Hope you have a great day for your birthday and all your wishes come true. Caitlin kicking butt at basketball at the moment and she is still not to shabby at the tenpin bowling either. Have a great day Luv Brad, Marlene, Sally and Caitlin. xoxox

Anonymous said...

Hey Rich, happy birthday! Hope you enjoy your time in Italy with Kate. Gunnar

Natalie Bates said...

Hey Richie,
Happy Birthday! Hope you´re enjoying being part of the Giro circus!
Sorry but I was part of this silly ´tagging´thing...see my blog...you have to take part!!
Nat

Mak said...

ur life seems to be all play and no work!!!!want to swap!!! when u racing next

Anonymous said...

Thanks for writing this.