Road Trip for BikeNZ

Tim here. Thought I would contribute to the blog too as I have a spare few minutes and I have parted ways with the family for a short while.

Yesterday the BikeNZ staff (Steve, Chris, Mark and myself) had a bit of a roadie as we had to get all the BikeNZ vehicles down to the French Alpes for our next Tour, the Tour des Pays de Savoie.

An early start heading out of Leuven at 6am (well a bit later than that for me as I couldn't work out how to get the bloody Navman back on its bracket, so I took the bracket off the window, got the Navman on and then couldn't figure out how to get the bracket stuck back on the window, 15 minutes later I was on my way, just a pity that the Navman didn't work anyway.)

It was quite a hike to our destination, the high country town of Aillon le Jeune, but first we had to pick up the athletes from Geneva as they had flown down from Brussels.

I was driving the Mercedes Vito van down by myself so kept myself entertained with nine hours of french electro music (with a good rendition of "Somebody I Used to Know"...might be this one I think http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxAnLYhM6Cg) and some French remakes of English songs (Phil Collins "Another day in Paradise" took the cake there -d'Un jour de Plus au Paradis)

So all discoed out I finally reached the Swiss border, jumped in the line of cars and reached for my passport folder as I was only about 20 meters from the front of the que, only to discover that I had no passport! Definite heart palpatations were going on as I got nearer the front and I was already working out in my head how we could transport the riders from the airport to the border post when I was waved on through by the friendly customs officer. Whew!

Picked up the boys and drove nervously back, but no worries at all going the other way as there is no border/customs at all. Obviously the French are more keen on having Swiss in their country than the other way around. I found out today that Fee has it with hers and the kids Passports from our trip up north so will recover it in a few days time.

The drive up to Aillon le Jeune was a bit of a mish but definitely very beautiful countryside up here. Quite Swiss with all the cows with bells, green mountain meadows and ski fields.

Off to Chambery tomorrow to recon the course for the Prologue time trial. Should suit our riders down to the ground and I think we may come away with some good results from the guys.

Talk soon. Cheers. TC.