Stage 4 – Martinsburg Circuit Race – 70 miles – 123km

With everyone thinking about tomorrow’s most difficult mountain stage, most riders were happy to conserve today with the stage being largely uneventful.  We were content to let a Verizon Wireless rider dangle a few minutes up the road but she was caught with 5km to go when Genesis decided they wanted the bonus seconds and stage win.

About half way through today’s race, a media motorbike bumped me hard as he rode up the side of the peloton.  I held it up but was angry that he had nearly caused a crash and radioed back to Andre to make sure the officials reprimanded him.  Only moments later we were neutralised and I took the opportunity to stop for a natural break.  As I rejoined the peloton, a New Zealand rider with blood all over her from an earlier crash, swerved suddenly and without time to react, I ended up on the ground.  Admitting to some profanity in her general direction, I put my chain back on, checked my wheels and brakes and then rejoined the peloton, feeling sore down my left side.

The final 5km were technical and dangerous.  I ended up getting bumped off the road into the gravel, held it up, but lost my position.  I think the combination of today’s incidents unnerved me and I didn’t ride as aggressively as I should have.  Our objective was to help Gen earn herself some bonus seconds but she finished 4^th and missing out but retained her 5^th position in GC.  After the race, our director André, nicknamed me – Killer, although I am not sure of the exact reason.  The team has since adopted this new name for me and it was used for the remainder of the stage race.