Hi everyone. Long time since my last email, I know. I'm having a great time here and have racked up my 4th race as the team domestique ( worker ) It is very hard here, and the way the races are ridden makes it organised chaos! There are always a lot of attacks as teams battle it out for podium honours. And now that the season has just started, everyone wants to be the leading team.

 So far my progress has been consistent, unlike my luck in races. My first race went perfectly and I worked hard for the team and still got top 20. But then my 2nd race was horrible, and my body completely shut down and I finished 15 minutes behind the winner! It was a combination of a bee sting in my ear during that week, the medication I took for the bee sting, and not eating enough for breakfast. It all added up to make my day a waste.

But my 4th race went well and I helped chase down attacks from teams like Neotel, MTN Microsoft, Aksys, and Daikin. But then near the end we started nudging the 55km/h mark so to help our rider who was in a breakaway group, the whole CSC Marcello team rode to the front of the peleton and slowed the pace down to increase the gap to our rider up the road. He eventually finished 5th after a week off the bike with a cold. But it was a hectic race none the less. We averaged 42km/h I believe.

Coming up we have the Construction Du Cape 99er which is a 120km event with BIG prizes. So we are aiming for the podium. The way it works is if the whole team works to help the team captain win, then we all get a share in the prize money. But it is simple in if you do not work to help win, then you get nothing... and probably get a good talking to as to what the hell you thought you were doing ( or not doing )

And more cool stuff... We ordered our new helmets from Giro and our new casual and racing sunnies from Adidas. And our sponsorship quest might end this weekend when the team manager has an important meeting with an old friend of his. But no assumptions. We all know how sponsors or sponsors - to - be change their story and their ideas at the last minute.....

Well all the best and I hope the racing in Oz is going just as hard. Thumbs up to ICC and WSMTB clubs. Nice to see some racing action going on over there!

Joey