Lucky bastards we were, despite the lousy weatherforecast me and my colleagues from work had a lovely sunny weekend in Medembach, in Nordrein-Westfalen, Germany. Last year our secretary had won a trip on a radio show, and last weekend we cashed the price. A great moment for me to do some cycling training through the beautifull hills of the area that surrounds Medembach!

Last sunday the 17th of february was the day I went riding outdoor again. This was the first time since october last year. For february the weather was beautifull. Around 8 degrees Celcius, almost no wind, a bright sun and blue sky. Wohooo! I really enjoyed the 70 km ride.

A new year, a new plan, a new schedule. And tougher then last year. A few cyclo's in the Dutch Lowlands and in Belgium. I'll be trying to ride a good race in the Steven Rooks Challenge and the Shimano Fiets Challenge. Starting from June I will do five weeks of tough racing in France. I expanded the planning of the French cyclo's compared to last year. In stead of three cyclo's the plan is to ride seven out of the eleven races of the Grande Trophee, organised by Sportcommunication in France. Like in 2007 the Trophée de l'Oisans is also a part of the program, and offcourse the Ardechoise that starts in Saint Félicien. I'm not doing the 650km but the 420km in three days, because one day later I will do the cyclo in Morzine and I don't want to get the doink on the Col de Joux Plane. So 2008 promises be a very exiting year!

Every year in december the registration for the Marmotte is opened. Last night I checked their website, and noticed that it was possible to registrate again! Without a second of hesitation I took a sprint to get my credit card, filled in the forms on the website and registered not only for the Marmotte, but also for the Vaujany and the Grimpee de l'Alpe d'Huez. When was I finished I had time to think again and I started to realize what I had done... In just a few seconds I had commited myself to another year of hard work, pain, sweat and tears.

Well, I registered. The point of no return has passed, there is no way back anymore. I have to go now. I can't loose face. At least I got some great starting numbers. For the Marmotte number 903 and for the Vaujany number 12. Yes, number 12! So cool. People will think I'm really fast. And let them be scared of the Tall Dutchman for a while. They will find out sound enough I am just fast in using my credit card.

Het is een geweldig gezicht om al die duizenden fietsers bij elkaar te zien bij de start in Bourg d’Oisans, daarna als een lange slang de Glandon opkruipend, en steeds meer uitgerekt, uiteindelijk weer samenkomend op de Alpe d’Huez. Op mijn terugweg naar de camping daalde ik af via Villard Reculas, zo kreeg ik ook een mooi overzicht van de klimmers die al slingerend over de weg nog bezig waren omhoog te fietsen, te lopen of desnoods te kruipen. Dat zou nog enkele uren doorgaan.