September 29, 2010 – Today’s first stage was held under the height of Tobago’s blazing sun in mid-afternoon. Our riders were in for their first taste of Caribbean racing on the relatively flat 120km stage. The race started only 10 minutes late, which was a new Tobago racing record!

I spent the race following closely behind the peloton with a 125cc scooter, 30 bottles, and two wheels strapped to my back. The race started out with heated attacks from the gun. We started conservatively with a few decent attacks represented by everyone on the squad.

At the beginning of lap 3 a few riders got a gap on the peloton but the group was content to let them sit at that distance. Andre bridged the distance, with riders jumping the gap in ones and twos. A select group was eventually formed that stayed away.

The group was working smooth together and a maximum gap of 5 minutes was attained. Back in the peloton the rest of the TDQ/Waltersforensic.com crew organized to shut down any chase attempts.

Last lap in the break, attacks were made constantly. Jamie Sparling made a final attack on the last corner before the finish with two other riders following. Andre sat on the wheel of a German rider hoping to reach the trio ahead, but they never connected. Andre rolled in for 7th.

Tomorrow we start early at 6:30 am for the time trial.

Notable events:
– During the race Brad Clifford performed a bunnyhop over a literal gorge that would have made Evil Knievil proud.
– Yesterday while training we passed a 14ft python on the side of the road. The snake was long dead, likely hit by a truck, but the sight was a precursor to understanding that we are racing a long ways away from home.
– At Store Bay we saw a double rainbow, all the way across the sky. Double rainbow. 🙂

Chris Atkins

Results

1. Martin Lang (Ger) L. Racing Students 2:40:03.6
2. Daniel Craven (Nam) Rapha Condor Sharp 00.3
3. Jamie Sparling (Can) Team Exustar 01.1
4. Roman Stoffel (Aus) Team Moser Wirt 02.6
5. Timo Scholz (Ger) Team Osc Potsdam 04.8
6. Ben Greenwood (Eng) Rapha Condor Sharp 05.9
7. Andre Tremblay (Can) Tdq/Waltersforensic.Com 06.1
8. Denis Bojarkin (Ger) Racing Students 41.2
9. Julian Rammler (Ger) Team Osc Potsdam 41.3
10. Matthias Schroeger (Ger) Team Osc Potsdam 5:11.5
11. Graham Briggs (Eng) Rapha Condor Sharp 5:11.6
12. Adam Alexander (Tri) Team Foundation 5:11.7
13. Soeren Schwarz (Ger) Bike Aid 5:12.1
14. Joe Lewis (USA) Tdq/Waltersforensic.Com 5:12.4
15. Ryan Parnes (USA) Team Exustar 5:12.6
16. King Ettienne (Tri) Team Foundation 5:12.6
17. Lukas Malgay (Aus) Team Moser Wirt 5:12.7
18. Remy Caristan (Ger) Team Osc Postdam 5:13.1
19. Raymond Newton (USA) Team Foundation 5:13.3
20. Dominic Ollivierre (Svg) St.Lucia/St.Vincent 5:13.5
21. Kristian House (Eng) Rapha Condor Sharp 5:14.0
22. Jassette Bromfield (Jam) Tdq/Waltersforensic.Com 5:14.2
23. Colin Wilson (Tri) Team Trek 5:14.3
24. Jovian Gomez (Tri) Bike Aid 5:14.7
25. Orano Andrews (St.) St.Lucia/St.Vincent 5:14.9
26. Phillip Clarke (Bar) Team Trek 5:15.0
27. Marc Codrington (Tri) Tdq/Waltersforensic.Com 5:15.3
28. Nate Parks (USA) Team Exustar 5:16.4
29. Tim Ottens (Hol) Team Exustar 5:16.5
30. Joshua Alexander (Tri) Team Foundation 5:16.6
31. Felix Doring (Ger) Racing Students 5:16.7
32. Curtis Juteram (USA) Team Foundation 5:16.8
33. Jannes Wessels (Can) Tdq/Waltersforensic.Com 5:17.1
34. Phil Mooney (USA) Team Exustar 5:18.0
35. Matthias Schnapka (Ger) Bike Aid 5:18.1
36. Christian Brockhoff (Aus) Team Moser Wirt 5:18.2
37. John Mc Gill (USA) Tdq/Waltersforensic.Com 5:18.5
38. Dominic Boke (Aus) Team Moser Wirt 5:19.1
39. Lisbon Quintero (Col) Team Foundation 5:19.1
40. Brad Clifford (Can) Tdq/Waltersforensic.Com 5:19.4
41. Evan Mundy (Can) Tdq/Waltersforensic.Com 5:19.6
42. Atze Dijkhuis (Hol) Team Exustar 5:19.8
43. Warren Mckay (Guy) Team Trek 5:20.1
44. Sebastian Wagner (Aus) Team Moser Wirt 5:20.5
45. Andreas Feistel (Ger) Racing Students 5:20.9
46. Sebastian Kehl (Aus) Team Moser Wirt 5:21.0
47. Quinten Winkle (Cur) Team Foundation 5:21.2
48. Daniel Glaubitz (Ger) Racing Students 5:21.6
49. Linford Blackwood (Jam) Team Trek 5:23.6
50. Steffen Beck (Ger) Racing Students 5:29.0
51. Jurgen Dietsche (Ger) Racing Students 5:35.4
52. Barry Luces (Tri) Tdq/Waltersforensic.Com 6:40.6
53. Kevin Tinto (Tri) Bike Aid 8:27.0
54. Max Podschun (Ger) Team Osc Potsdam 9:52.7
55. Gino Hodge (Cur) Team Foundation 10:34.7
56. Gevan Samuel (Tri) Team Trek 15:29.7
57. Rudy Ashton (Tri) Team Aid 30:15.4
58. Varun Maharaj (Tri) Bike Aid 30:15.4
59. Shimano Bailey (Svg) St.Lucia/St.Vincent 30:15.4