The Mehlting Pot: On the Move
It was Moving Day on Saturday for Team RadioShack at the GP Québec. Exactly how do the logistics work on a day like this? The race organizers gave each Team a set of numbers to use as their luggage tags and at dinner Friday evening we were all handed a number and told to pack our primary suitcase, which was then delivered to the large tent that had previously been used as the mechanic’s area. The organizers were willing to transport all the bikes, gear and suitcases, but in our case the mechanics personally packed 18 bikes into two team cars to drive them themselves, so our area was strictly a collection of suitcases. All of the bags were later loaded onto trucks and taken to Montreal, then re-distributed to the Teams at the new team hotel with the soigneurs delivering the goods back to the rightful owners. Whew!
In the meantime, an early morning wake-up call had breakfast starting at 6AM, with departure from the hotel at 7, via bus. Now truthfully this was a ‘little bit’ early for bike racers more accustomed to eating around 8:30, but everyone knew the drill and was up-and-at-‘em for the transfer. The train station was only 1km away, but walking is not high on the list of things to do for cyclists during a race, so before we knew it we were deposited to the station and ushered through the terminal for the “Special” train (their word, not mine). The seats for Teams were not all together and everyone headed to their assigned car so the train could pull out of the station on time – something I’ve been informed is very important to the people of Québec. Case in point: it took about one hour for yesterday’s official race results to be confirmed, printed and handed out, which in my experience at races is what it usually takes. But it was far from acceptable to the race director and he apologized for the delay and said it ‘will not’ happen that way after tomorrow’s race.
Once the train started rolling the attendants came by to take….get ready for it….breakfast orders! I guess I should say Second Breakfast in this case, but hey, it was a three hour ride and the wireless wasn’t working so everyone enjoyed a little more fuel and brief naps. The ride was through beautiful lush green countryside, it was smooth and relaxing, and in general a very enjoyable experience for all with no stress.
Once at the new team hotel, a few of The Shack riders kitted up and immediately went for their training ride, while others ate first and then went for a spin to open up the legs. Massage and rest will be next ahead of a relaxing evening before tomorrow’s race. Reportedly the course is very difficult and if today’s great weather is any indicator of things to come, we should see huge crowds gather all along the course to enjoy a competitive race on Sunday.
It’s been most enjoyable in Québec this past week and seems almost impossible to be coming to an end soon, but that’s the reality. One more day with the Team and then back home to the USA, after an enjoyable week spent sharing a room with soigneur Brenda Phelps. In closing I want to say that here on the ninth anniversary of September 11 my thoughts are forever brought back to the events of that day in 2001 and the lives that were lost at the World Trade Center. We will never forget.
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