August 4, 2006 - China Concludes

Miller Conquers Tour of Qinghai Lake, July 15-23

So, I survived. After that 5th stage, things didn't get "better" so to say, but we managed. The 6th 7th 8th and 9th days were all crazy hard. Two of the stages had 2 more climbs up to 13,000ft, and the other 2 "flat" days were again, super fast, and we spent a lot of time on the left side of the road, staring at the wheel in front of us, in a long single file line, trying not to smoke those little reflectors that sit about one foot from the edge of the pavement.

The 6th stage we averaged 51kph for the first hour and then with about 30k to go the rain started coming down, and made for the most dangerous field sprint I didn't contest in my life. Damn dude.

The 7th and 8th stages both horribly hammered us with rain and temperatures a few degrees above 32. At the tops of the mountains sometimes we couldn’t see further than 20ft in front of us.

We made it to the 9th stage with 5 of the 7 starters. One rider fell victim to severe fluid loss (out the wrong end if you know what I mean) and the other had some massive lump on his foot, and couldn't have his shoes on without pain. So all and all we managed to do pretty well considering the situation we were put in.

Trust me, the next time you get the chance to go to a race half way around the world that starts at 3000m above sea level, make sure you do the following.

A - Bring lots of coffee (pre-ground) and a French Press.
B - Spend at least 2 weeks at altitude before you go.
C - Bring lots of Imodium.
D - Bring lots of Jam (I know where you can get some good stuff!)
E - Bring tons of laundry soap.
F - Make sure you don't get to your hotel at 3am the morning of a 9 day stage race after 3 transfers and over 8000km of traveling.