International Dave

hey everyone,

I have finally found a non-smoking internet cafe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wow! I can last for more than 2 minutes and the dude here is really nice!!!

Anyway, I hope you have all been well and have been enjoying Mel's updates. (I have heard they are pretty good)

I will let you all in on what has been going on over here. I finally achieved my dream of representing Malta in international competition at the games of the small states of europe. I know it sounds small, but let me tell you, the Maltese fully dig this event. Also, there was some stiff competition in the road race as traditionally strong cycling countries such as luxembourg; leichsestein(spelling???) san marino and andorra were present with some current and ex-pros.

The whole week preceeding the event I was feeling weak and ill, and could not figure out why, I simply put it down to the travelling. The day of the road race came aound and my legs and body did not feel 100 %. Anyway, I found myself in an early break of 6 with a lux, 2 iechs a san marino and an andorran. I thought this would be a good mix and that the stronger teams would shut down the race. However, the lux's decided to bridge across bringing others with them. So after 3/4 of the race up the front we ended up with a front group of about 13 or 14. My teammates had either abandoned and gone home, been dropped or even been lapped once or twice. So this lonely malt founfd himself in a break with some strong teams; the 4 luxs, 2 leichs 3san marino and 2 andorrans. So, i knew if i were to medal it was going to be difficult. The lux team were using the numbers to their advantage, taking turns to attack the bunch. With no teammates i had to respond to each as there was a good chance they would stay away. After about the 7th lux attack one guy caught me by surprise and got away with another. So there were two up the road, we were fighting for bronze. With about 12 kms remaining a few of us attacked, and after some driving there were only three of us left in between the peloton and the front two. We had a really good gap, but unfortunately, there was no lux among us, so we would have to work hard to fend off the luxembourg chase. With about 5 km to go the 2 guys with me decided to stop working all together in the hope that i would tow them to the line to outsprint me. If they would have kept working i am sure we would have fought it out for the bronze, but summing up the situation i did not think that a solo attack would be a wise move with the lux team chasing; alas i had to go back to the bunch with the two slackers i was attacking with.

At about 1km to go I attacked the group (even though you all know I possess a blistering sprint haha NOT). I knew this would be my only chance, but a few of the guys stuck with me so it was in vain. Outsprinted and in 10th position. Disappointing, however the major goal is still to come in the Commonwealth Games next year in Melbourne. But that is up to the Maltese Federations etc who seem to hqve been more pleased with my lapped colleagues' efforts (for not giving in even though he was so far behind they dnf'ed him) than my race. Maybe because they dont consider me "true maltese"?????So we will see.

So reunited with my baby in malta i found new strength and travelled back to belgium to continue racing with my team, kingsnorth in gent. the first race back i felt really weak, and even in training felt dizzy, simply could not focus. I went to the doc, and he said my blood pressure was way too low and this would explain how i had been feeling the last 2 weeks. So no racing for a few days and backing off training. And yes this means i have been really easy to live with :-). Thanks again to mel for putting up with me.

We are looking for a scooter to get around on for the next few weeks, so mel and i can get around and see a bit of belge before we leave. So this should be a bit of fun.

I think I will be home around mid to late july------ I am getting pretty home-sick now and miss everyone so much. I am not being bias, but now i can truly understand why the world loves oz and its people.

So i have gone from no emails to a really long boring one---- sorry guys.

One more thing; thankyou to all who have replied to mel and written suppoortive emails to me. The Games were a really difficult time for me , being sick, not having mel and with the politics of cycling. There were several times i was ready to pack up and come home. But reading your emails got me through, knowing that you guys were behind me made all the difference to me. SO A HUGE THANKYOU TO YOU ALL.

It would be great to hear from you all and i hope i can be in more regular contact.

Your true maltese australian buddy,

Dave Treacy