The Tour d’Altoona Stage 4 – Martinsburg Circuit Race – 70 miles – 123km
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 4th and missing out but retained her 5th 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.