so happens that all my blog entries were created or relating to events beyond our continent. I think I'll do this unwritten rule (or rather, written, because I wrote it just now), because it would be and this time. Somehow I landed on the island of Corsica.
idea for this trip appeared relatively late, because two weeks before departure, when Lance Armstrong has confirmed his participation in the Criterium International race. 3 stages in 2 days around the Corsican town of Porto Vecchio, with a 7-times winner of the Tour de France. So much for me enough to convince almost 19 hour trip (by bus to Brussels, plus plane to target). When I got there I realized that everything that surrounds me is the opposite of the United States. So theoretically, I, American nationalists, should not be there like it. Everything was small. The houses were low, with a stone, and in addition permanent. A tiny road, a car is not greater than Matchboxów to fit on them. Portions in restaurants are adequate, but probably only for anorektyczki, which in addition just something przekąsiła. Just had a huge baguette. Additionally
hardly anyone spoke English, the guys kissing in greeting, and the TV in the hotel had only 11 channels. After a closer look Porto Vecchio, but I could not complain. But do not kid ourselves. Mountain landscape, crystal blue sea water and the weather, which would not be ashamed Zubilewicz Thomas was not the most important in all this. I came here to to see Armstrong in action and it could take place during a storm, the gangster blocks, around the spilled diesel.
arrived on site on Thursday. On Friday pobiegałem the surroundings, I received the accreditation of a journalist (i did not intend to play in journalism at this race, but thanks to this I could fall in such places that an ordinary mortal could only be photographed from a distance), and began hunting. At Armstrong. I knew which hotel is asleep, I knew when I landed on the island, I knew how it looks. So I had all the elements needed kibicowi or on behalf of a murderer.
race started on Saturday. At 9:47 came the historic moment when the first time in my life I saw a seven-times winner of the Tour de France. It is true that Armstrong saw it in 2004 in Prague, but then it was only a six-times Tour de France trophy. Drove into a crowd of journalists (he was less than might have been expected) with my voice recorder and pretended to work. Later, the American went on tour. Previously, I was able to arrange transport to the finish stage. I met the French L'Equipe journalists (that this newspaper is responsible for the existence of the Tour de France), with whom I rode in the car for the race.
next meeting with Armstrong took place at the finish line first stage at Col de l'Ospedale. Texan had the best day and came away a winner. Despite this, and so were directed at him all the microphones, cameras and equipment. On Fedrigo, the winner of the stage, perhaps waiting only youth from the journalistic circles of the Youth Palace. It is true that everything has an altitude over 1,500 meters above sea level and the temperature dropped lower than the window in the kiosk, but it does not surprise you as I write that in general it does not bother me.
Later that same day, managed to interview Michael Gołasiem, one of the best Polish riders and only Pole competed in Corsica. In the race he took part as Richard Kiełpiński, Polish masseur RadioShack group, or team, which rides Armstrong. Mr. Kiełpiński rides for Lance over the world and is one of his closest associates. A nice long and talked. Very interesting man, with an even more amazing work. And in anticipation of your questions. No, I do not arranged. No meeting with Armstrong, no bike sweaty socks or remnants of breakfast cycling legend. And he did not have it as bad and he is not surprised. It is with this that does not do such things, today is where Armstrong has for him, and such confidence. On Sunday, there was a 2 stage. Morning 75-kilometer Mass Start and afternoon time trial. For this first I do not have special memories. Took place and so. He won a Briton whose name you do not speak. Important things happened after the stage.
in childhood often drove to the Hotel Warsaw and other places to spend the night
athletes before matches in Katowice and the Silesia Stadium. And this is Inter Milan, and a Polish national team in soccer or volleyball. Then I spent the whole day on the acquisition of pictures and autographs. Earned if the necessary experience, which used the 28 March 2010. After 2 hours of waiting, the 48 people who seemed to look just as Armstrong managed to make this picture. At this point, I consider the entire trip to be complete. the afternoon took a ride on time. Armstrong fell again not sensational, but we all expected. He is to be strong only in July, the Tour de France, and this event is still a lot of time. After the decoration of the winners have snapped a photo with another, perhaps even bigger star in cycling. Bernhard Hinault win 5 times French, three-week race. He also has won the account in such races as the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a Espana - Italian and English equivalent of the Tour de France.
On Sunday evening in Porto Vecchio deserted. The vast majority of riders left, and the place they were only a handful of organizers and journalists. French themselves and me, a Pole. I was invited to dinner, where any fish cost as much as the cost of my entire trip. After her contract, I started to plan the next part in the program Work & Travel, for her to earn. Later it turned out that the organizers put.
Their Generosity on this is not over yet. And thanks to them I could write another post on the blog, because they offered me a trip to Race around Turkey. So in Asia, outside of Europe.
Epilogue:
I could not weave in the above post, but there were insinuations that I have to add that on the return journey, in Brussels, I had a 24-hour break in between flights. So there was a great opportunity to explore the capital of Belgium and the European Union. Double-decker buses offer tours around the city and zawożą you to the most attractive tourist destinations. Sure, the European Parliament and the Royal Palace are impressive, but it was the coolest Heysel stadium and running after a monumental court building in search of the toilet (under extraordinary pressure passages seem longer).
After returning the first thing I did was throwing pictures on our-class. Not that przyszpanować (well, maybe little), but not to loose it. I lose the card, your computer may explode, and the Internet will be hard to destroy me. Unfortunately you can not throw on the social networking mp3 files (well, unless podeślę this idea to the leadership of facebook), and on my dyktafonie/mp3 have a little speech. Besides Gołasiem managed to talk to Armstrong's sporting director, Johan Bruyneel and Armstrong's colleague in the group, Chris Horner. Sam Armstrong also be there. It is true that the questions I asked him not (with the experience I tonsil probably sat on the vocal cords, lungs, or want to look through the throat what was happening and bit them przyblokowały), but even once the moment arrives. You have to believe it.
Well, now I have before me the next target. Michael Jordan prepare to.
0 comments:
Post a Comment