June 2, 2010 (Montreux, Switzerland) – The Canadian National Junior team made the eight-hour transfer from Belgium, through Germany to Switzerland for the Tour du Pay de Vaud in the continuation of our cycling program in Europe. Our entourage included a van and a car packed to the brim with bikes, spare wheels, massage tables and all of our luggage.

We had a Belgian mechanic and soigneur traveling with us as well – Michel and Eddie. I ended up in the van with them for the trip south, it was pretty entertaining ride. We rolled into the race accommodations in the late afternoon and spun our legs on an easy ride to explore and check out the scenery. We were staying at an army barracks near the town of Montreux, which lies on the coast of the Lake Geneva. Huge steep mountains frame the lake and the town is perched on the hillside.

For the time we stayed at the accommodations we were squeezed into a room with three other teams – Denmark, South Africa and Kazakhstan. Things were pretty claustrophobic, smelly and damp. Privacy definitely wasn’t an option. We had to make do and did our best to stay healthy. The race organizers also provided breakfast lunch and dinner for all the athletes – all 150 of us racing as well as the three or four supporters for each team.

It was pretty neat to be eating meals with guys my age – all trying to make it just like me – from all over the world. The food was surprisingly good but a Euro breakfast is not quite the same as at home. It consists of white bread, jam, coffee and if you’re really lucky you might get some cornflakes. This took some getting used to.

The tour was 5 stages over four days – Prologue, three road races, and a time trial. Racing with 150 juniors is quite the experience especially over an extended period of time and this race was definitely not an easy one. A few highlights included an all-day break on the first road race from kilometre one but the Americans didn’t have a man in it so they brought it back with 10km to go, a little frustrating, but that’s bike racing. All the other days went alright, finishing in the main bunch, I think I burnt one too many matches in the break.

The last stage was one of the most epic, miserable days on a bike I have ever experienced. The profile of the stage had an 11km climb at 10km in and then another 7km climb after that. To make matters worse it was raining sideways and super windy. After the two climbs there was a 20km descent – it was extremely foggy, wet and dangerous. The descent was pretty much carnage, a lot of crashes and guys taking risks to make it up to the front group. Two of my team mates crashed and didn’t finish, I luckily made it through and finished the final stage.

I think this was a good race to get prepared for the Trofeo Karlsberg coming up on June 3 in Germany. I am now more comfortable riding in large pelotons. We are currently staying at the world cycling center in Switzerland until Wednesday when we transfer to Germany for the Nation’s Cup.


Results

Prologue – May 27 – Vevey (ITT) 2.5km

1. Lawson Craddock (USA) United States Of America 2:29
2. Joël Peter (Sui) Suitzerland 0:02
3. Lasse Norm Hansen (Den) Team RCR Odense Junior 0:03
4. Gabriel Chavanne (Sui) Suitzerland 0:04
5. Maurizio Damiano (Ita) Bolivia 0:04

21. Craig Logan (Can) Canada 0:08
24. Kris Dahl (Can) Canada 0:08
33. Stuart Wight (Can) Canada 0:10
37. Jean-Samuel Deshaies (Can) Canada 0:00:10
56. Jordan Brochu (Can) Canada 0:12
141. Ryan Macdonald (Can) Canada 0:00:31

Stage 1 – May 28 – Cugy to Echallens, 100km

1. Simon Bigum (Den) Team RCR Odense Junior 2:24:56
2. Jean-Samuel Deshaies (Can) Canada
3. Petr Vacok (Cze) Centre Mondial du cyclisme
4. Jade Julius (RSA) South Africa
5. Pierre Moncorge (Fra) Ain

25. Kris Dahl (Can) Canada
53. Stuart Wight (Can) Canada
74. Ryan Macdonald (Can) Canada
76. Craig Logan (Can) Canada
114. Jordan Brochu (Can) Canada 9:08

Stage 2a – May 29- Corseau to Orbe, 85 km

1. Petr Vacok (Cze) Centre Mondial du cyclisme 2:11:33
2. Fabian Lienhard (Sui) Suitzerland 0:03
3. Lawson Craddock (USA) United States Of America 0:05
4. Asbjorn Kragh Andersen (Den) Denmark 0:08
5. Felix Baur (Sui) Suitzerland

24. Kris Dahl (Can) Canada 1:20
49. Jean-Samuel Deshaies (Can) Canada 3:02
52. Craig Logan (Can) Canada
75. Stuart Wight (Can) Canada 3:42
DNF Jordan Brochu (Can) Canada
DNF Ryan Macdonald (Can) Canada

Stage 2b – May 29 – Orbe (ITT) . 14km

1. Lawson Craddock (USA) United States Of America 0:14:51
2. Lasse Norm Hansen (Den) Team RCR Odense Junior 0:10
3. Ahmet Orken (Tur) Centre Mondial du cyclisme 0:32
4. Asbjorn Kragh Andersen (Den) Denmark 0:43
5. Tizian Rausch (Sui) Suitzerland

35. Stuart Wight (Can) Canada 1:40
38. Craig Logan (Can) Canada 1:43
46. Kris Dahl (Can) Canada 1:48
66. Jean-Samuel Deshaies (Can) Canada 2:11

Stage 3 – May 30 – La Chaux to Aubonne, 120 km

1. Lasse Norm Hansen (Den) Team RCR Odense Junior 3:23:43
2. Petr Vacok (Cze) Centre Mondial du cyclisme
3. Felix Baur (Sui) Suitzerland
4. Simon Pellaud (Sui) Suitzerland 0:24
5. Gabriel Chavanne (Sui) Suitzerland 0:31

44. Craig Logan (Can) Canada 6:00
51. Stuart Wight (Can) Canada 6:03
DNF Kris Dahl (Can) Canada
DNF Jean-Samuel Deshaies (Can) Canada

Final GC

1. Lasse Norm Hansen (Den) Team RCR Odense Junior 8:17:53
2. Petr Vacok (Cze) Centre Mondial du cyclisme 0:36
3. Lawson Craddock (USA) United States Of America 0:41
4. Felix Baur (Sui) Suitzerland 1:20
5. Maxat Ayazbayev (Kaz) Kazakhstan 2:03

37. Craig Logan (Can) Canada 0:10:31
45. Stuart Wight (Can) Canada 0:11:13