Sunday, April 20, 2025

Grenoble Six Day 2006 – Sixth Night

-

HomeDiariesGrenoble Six Day 2006 - Sixth Night

The last day at Grenoble Six Day 2006 isn’t too hard for the riders, there’s a points race, a time trial and then the big chase – 180 laps of the 210 meter track. I did hear guys complain though that the lack of warm-up races made for sore legs early in the Madison.

I was up at 9.30 and straight into my jersey-folding routine.

Panic; one pair of Alex Rasmussen’s mitts have gone missing; in a world torn by wars this may not seem like too big a deal, but in the cloistered world of the six-days it’s probably a day’s worth of gossip: “You hear about de big fat, bald Scottie runner with Kris? He loses Razl’s best mitts, eh?”

I searched everywhere, but to cut a long story short, Alex had taken them back to the hotel with him. I was too relieved to be mad.

Grenoble Six Day 2006
Franco meets the fans.

The last day is stressful because you have to break camp and be away as soon after the race as possible, especially if you have guys catching a plane to Australia. Franco Marvulli doesn’t like the cabin to be broken down until as late as possible – he hates coming in there when it’s bare.

I had two trips to the bakers today plus one to the mini-mart and one to the chemist.

I also managed my daily five minutes of peace over a beer at bar Le Clemenceau, not a bad wee place it is too.

A few of the guys didn’t do their afternoon training today, end of race blues. Franco went out with the local cycling club for an hour and a half.

Since Franco teamed-up with six-day legend and compatriot Bruno Risi he’s found a new seam of enthusiasm. Whilst Franco was riding at Grenoble, Bruno was up in Dortmund winning there with German road star, Erik Zabel.

The two Swiss’ big target is the Madison at the Bejing Olympics in 2008. They were second to Aussies Graeme Brown and Stuart O’Grady in Athens but want gold this time – you heard it here first.

Bejing or not, he fancied a pizza, as did our young Danes; I was duly dispatched to Natalie’s pizza van, returning with three pizzas which were scoffed without ceremony – that’s on top of the steak and pasta Kris had already served them. Those boys can eat, especially Alex. Once the boys were fed we began taking what kit we could up to the camper, a process that went on all evening.

First-up was the Points Race won by Bettini & Villa then a flying start three lap Time Trial won by Van Mechelen & DeFauw with French sprinter Tournand as third man. The two Belgians we’re quick but Tournand wasn’t ‘pinging’ – they still won though.

The climax of the night – the 180 lap chase. I missed most of it due to loading the camper but caught the finale, which was good racing.

Peter Schep and Jens Mouris of Holland tried hard to take the lap which would give them victory but with Franco on the form he is in there was slim chance of a Dutch win. Marvulli & Aeschbach duly took their fourth Grenoble Six with the Danes second.

It was the usual chaos after the finish and you have to be careful of the riders’ kit; there are laptops, gameboys and mobile phones scattered about the place and fans there who shouldn’t be.

Grenoble Six Day 2006
The Presentation.

Michael was disappointed with the presentation: “The Folies girls are on the podium but for the first time they have tits covered-up!”

As we man-handled the last of the kit into the camper and tried to fit in Alex, Michael, two bikes and all their kit, Bettini sauntered out, bid. “Ciao” to everyone, kindled-up the Porsche and was gone.

Word is, he was on 30,000 euros start money – not bad for six days work, but he’s got all the expense that goes with running a high performance car remember.

Lyon airport 03.30 am, that’s the guys dropped-off to catch their flight to Sydney. Can we find a bed now please Kris?

Ed Hood
Ed Hood
Ed was involved in cycling for over 50 years. In that time he was a successful time triallist, a team manager and a sponsor of several teams and clubs. He was also a respected and successful coach and during the winter months often worked in the cabins at the Six Days for some of the world's top riders. Ed was a highly respected journalist, his tales of chasing the Giro, Tour, Vuelta, Classics and World Championships - and his much-loved winter Six Days - are legendary, never the same twice, they gave our site an edge other cycling media could never duplicate or challenge. Sadly Ed passed away in January 2025, two years after suffering a devastating stroke.

Related Articles

Grenoble Six Day 2009 – Day One; Settling in

I'm sitting beside the track, it's nearly 3:00 pm and last night seems like a long time ago. Gianni Meersman and Iljo Keisse are up training, they rattle past every 20 seconds - legs have to be kept loose.

A Pictorial Look Back at the Berlin Six Day 2014

Watched by 75,000 spectators over the course of the event in the velodrome Landsberger Allee, Andreas Müller and Kenny de Ketele won the 103rd edition of the Berlin Six Day. On the last day and the last race they overtook the long-time leaders Leif Lampater and Jasper de Buyst with a race winning attack - exciting stuff. Third place went to Robert Bartko, which was his last time in Berlin at the Six with his young partner Theo Reinhardt.

Giro d’Italia 2012 – Stage 9: San Giorgio nel Sannio – Frosinone 171km. Pippo causa una caduta!

It looked to us like Cav and Goss were out of it anyway. There were a lot of riders round that wild bend in Frosinone before we saw Matt on the deck and Pippo looking a tad sheepish as he stood in the road checking to see how that nice Cipollini had stood up to being dropped.

Giro d’Italia 2010 – Day One, Arrivo in Viareggio!

Ciao, come sta? Viareggio on the west coast of Italy, 06:30 Saturday May 15 and VeloVeritas is on the Giro - well, not quite, we have our credentials to collect from the Gazzetta camper van, this morning at the stage start in Carrara. The trip down wasn't too bad, Edinburgh to Luton, then Luton to Pisa - there was an hour's delay at Luton, but we were on Easyjet, so no one gets too stressed.

At Random

Copenhagen Six Day 2010 – Day Four

I decided not to mention the demise of Franco Ballerini in my reports; a Six is a joyous thing and it's hard to write about a tragic death and be upbeat. All I would say is that he was a man; any Italian who can come to the North and win the biggest races, has my respect. His work as Italian boss was excellent; probably the best drilled national team in the World.

Stuart Balfour – Moving up to French DN1; “A big focus in 2017 is making a name for myself”

Young Scot, Stuart Balfour is off to France again for season 2017 – VeloVeritas decided we needed to hear this young man’s story...

Tour of Britain – Day 5: Stage 5, Rochester to Canterbury, Michael Mørkøv, the red f-r

"What are you doing, you red fu**er?" The words of world champion, Tom Boonen (Belgium & Quick Step) to Danish rider, Michael Mørkøv when the youngster attacked, on team orders, in contravention of a Boonen-imposed ban on racing in yesterday's stage of the Tour of Britain. As well as following Evan's progress around Britain, I've been talking to Michael Mørkøv. Before we hear what Evan has to say I thought you should hear Michael's story from yesterday.

Adam Hansen and his Vuelta a España – Prologue to the Rest Day

It was a sad day today for VeloVeritas' newly married editor Martin; he had to go back to his day job-and on the rest day! Life just isn't fair! Meanwhile we caught up with Columbia's ex Aussie Elite TT champion and twice podium finisher in the Aussie Elite road race champs, Adam Hansen, to get the story so far as the Vuelta eventually returns home.