The smallest and tallest riders in Etoile de Bessege; Sam Dumoulin (5' 2") and Conor Dunne (6' 8")
Having signed for An Post-Chainreaction in the off season, Irish international Conor Dunne is getting used to life in the European pro bunch. Just a fortnight into February, he has the Etoile de Bessege stage race in his legs and the one-day GP Marseillaise. And having dreamt of life in the pro bunch as a kid he's enjoying what has thus far proven to be a tough challenge. www.lesportif.cc
After the exertions of GP Marseillaise the team and I had a few days of recovery before travelling north to the city of Nimes. Here would be our base for the next six days as we undertook the historical early season L’Etoile de Bessege stage race. With similar competition to that of Marseille, it would be another taste of some super fast bike racing.
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We had every possible type of weather. Grim rain and wind pelted us on the first stage, before blue skies and sun lent to a mild day out. I could almost describe those days as a lovely bike ride though some stunning French countryside.
Of course this is what it would have been if I wasn’t holding onto some of the fastest line-outs of my life and cursing myself up the climbs for having had extra helpings of Christmas pudding.
The rain and wind only added to the suffering. The stand out tough day was stage 3 which went up a 6km climb from the gun and then proceed to either go uphill or downhill for the rest of the stage.
As we drove home from the stage in the campervan I lay down on one of the beds in the back feeling completely spent. It felt like I’d just been thrown through a wall by the Hulk. Legs recover though, and I felt like my fitness was where it should be.
I had my moments where I could prove my use and hold my own, so I think it has been a perfect week for me to build some form to take forward into March. Every time I was suffering in the gutter I would just repeat the mantra ‘this is good for me’.
I tried my best to make the early break on each stage but unfortunately was never successful. The closest I came was on a descent during the early moments of stage 2 as I got off the front in a group of 10ish. A cry of ‘Allez’ came from behind and Brice Feillu then subsequently drilled it down the hill.
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I hung onto his wheel for dear life as we used every inch of the road, swinging down the valley at full whack. It was maniac, frenzied, rapid and so awesome; like racing a motorbike instead of the pedal variety. Alas, we were caught later down the road, a fresh group of riders countered over the top and I gasped to regain my breath in the bunch.
My team mate Marcus Christie had better luck than me though, sneaking into the early break on stage 1 which ended up staying away for the win. It was a great moral boost for the team and we were all super chuffed for Marcus.
We suspect he rode the stage at complete full effort but didn’t notice due to the fact he was imagining a monkey banging a drum in his head. Marcus ride bike fast.
L’Etoile was a great experience; I learnt an incredible amount and enjoyed it massively. After reading books on cycling as a kid and hearing stories of ex pros riding these very same races, it felt surreal to be part of the madness myself.
After Sunday’s stage we then undertook the 10 hour journey home and the by far less glamorous side of cycling; travel. Sleeping in the foetal position on a small couch, straddling a TT bike, in the back of a campervan, counting Km’s on a sat nav.
They never show these moments during the glorified road trip montages of Hollywood movies but they exist and they do not deserve an uplifting soundtrack.
The journey finally finished in Belgium and I have now settled into life at the team house in Buggenhout, solo for the time being. I’ve got all the essentials here and a team car to drive about in like a boss man.
Over the next few days I am going to wrap myself up in cotton wool, enter epic recovery mode and get some good healthy food down me.
It feels amazing to have a few days of quiet and time to relax but I am already looking forward to the next race. It looks like it will be in Slovenia the weekend after next. I’ll keep you posted.
Cheers
Conor
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