“Only in Grenoble” is stamped in red on this file – a track standstill competition. If Vik was here at the Grenoble Six Day 2010 he’d rush the track shouting bad things about la Belle France, the French, and their ways.
We’ve got 15 minutes on the clock and Daniel Mangeas hasn’t stopped talking for more than a few seconds as the big men twitch their muscles to keep those Looks stationary on the pine.
I know a little French but can’t summon up the interest to listen; the crowd adore it….
I didn’t feel good when I woke up, today.
It’s really awkward when you waken up in the ‘death pod’ at the back of the Transit camper, you have to bend double to crawl out.
I was so tired last night that I woke up with my credentials still around my neck.
I stumbled across to the bakers, bought the baguettes, hobbled back to the camper then let gravity take me down to the cabin.
But a shower and a coffee from Franco’s espresso machine, and all’s well… get a bit of Northern Soul (The Elgins; “Nothing Worse Than Being Alone“) on the laptop, and it’s just perfect.
We have good morale in the cabin; Franco’s dad is Italian, so he has that Latino appetite for life. He rides on his morale – if it’s good then there are few who can beat him in a Six Day.
Jens-Erik is much quieter but once you get to know him he’s good fun, his humour is more subtle than Franco’s but it all gels nicely to give a good vibe in the cabin.
Sports psychologists will tell you that the ‘hungry fighter’ is a myth – an athlete will always perform best when all the different factors in their life are calm, organised and as they want them to be.
That’s why a good atmosphere in the cabin is essential.
…. and Bauge wins!
With 20 stationary minutes on the clock; not as grim as the time I remember Arnaud Tournant holding the stand here for 37 minutes – that one really brought the house down.
Kris was talking to Bernard Thevenet tonight and the two times Tour winner – who’s a nice guy, very sympatico – was saying that he feels a bit sad when he sees the track centre diners taking more interest in the circus cabaret than they are in the Six Days.
Kris agreed but reminded him that at least there is a Six Days here, not like at Stuttgart, Dortmund, Munich or any of the rest which have fallen by the wayside.
It’s Danny Stam’s first time here and apparently, he’s not knocked out by it – but like Kris says; ‘where else is he going to ride?‘
I feel a little guilty about all these pictures I keep taking of the Folies girls; but it’s the ‘Pippo syndrome’ – like him, they’re just so photogenic that you can’t help yourself.
Form-wise, the Italians Viviani & Ciccone look good, they lead early today; so do the Czechs, Kadlec & Hochmann.
De Ketele & Mertens from Belgium are consistent, strong boys.
Danny Stam and Leon Van Bon, the other Dutch team, don’t look like they have it.
Danes Hester and Madsen are going well here, solid.
Franco & Alexander Aeschbach are, “riding at 80%” and I can’t see past them for the win.
The podium? – Switzerland, Italy, Belgium.
Best sort out me pictures, a demain.
* * *
Grenoble Six Day 2010 – Results
Points race
1 Angelo Ciccone / Elia Viviani (Ita) 11 pts
2 Wim Stroetinga / Jeff Vermeulen (Ned) 10
3 Mickael Jeannin / Morgan Kneisky (Fra) 10
4 Alexander Aeschbach / Franco Marvulli (Swi) 8
5 Tim Mertens / Kenny de Ketele (Bel) 7
6 Kevin Fouache / Jules Pijourlet (Fra) 6
7 Jens-Erik Madsen / Marc Hester (Den) 5
8 Danny Stam / Leon Van Bon (Ned) 4
9 Francois Lamiraud / Florent Ivars (Fra) 4
10 Jiri Hochmann / Milan Kadlec (Cze) 1
11 Pierre-Luc Perichon / Sebastien Ivars (Fra)
Time trial
1 Angelo Ciccone / Elia Viviani (Ita) 34.989
2 Mickael Jeannin / Morgan Kneisky (Fra) 35.513
3 Tim Mertens / Kenny de Ketele (Bel) 35.985
4 Alexander Aeschbach / Franco Marvulli (Swi) 36.256
5 Jens-Erik Madsen / Marc Hester (Den) 36.266
6 Danny Stam / Leon Van Bon (Ned) 37.580
7 Pierre-Luc Perichon / Sebastien Ivars (Fra) 39.393
Elimination red numbers
1 Jeff Vermeulen 10 pts
2 Kenny De Ketele 6
3 Leon Van Bon 5
4 Milan Kadlec 4
5 Morgan Kneisky 3
6 Sebastien Ivars 2
7 Marc Hester
8 Elia Viviani
9 Jules Pijourlet
10 Florent Ivars
11 Franco Marvulli
Scratch race
1 Kevin Fouache / Jules Pijourlet (Fra) 10 pts
2 Mickael Jeannin / Morgan Kneisky (Fra) 6
3 Pierre-Luc Perichon / Sebastien Ivars (Fra) 5
4 Francois Lamiraud / Florent Ivars (Fra) 4
5 Jens-Erik Madsen / Marc Hester (Den) 3
6 Angelo Ciccone / Elia Viviani (Ita) 2
7 Alexander Aeschbach / Franco Marvulli (Swi)
8 Danny Stam / Leon Van Bon (Ned)
9 Wim Stroetinga / Jeff Vermeulen (Ned)
10 Jiri Hochmann / Milan Kadlec (Cze)
11 Tim Mertens / Kenny de Ketele (Bel)
Defi doublette
1 Mickael Jeannin / Morgan Kn