TOUR DU FASO 2019: At the end of May, my coach informed me that I could participate in the Tour of Faso 2019, UCI 2.2 event in Burkina Faso. Immediately, I show my enthusiasm, seeing this as a great opportunity and a great experience. Some time later, my place was confirmed and I was impatient to take part in my first UCI race from October 25 to November 3.
The core team, formed especially for this tour, compose by Alexis Maret, Timo Güller, Antoine Aebi, Jonas Döring, Iwan Hasler and myself. We will leave with a mechanic, a masseuse and the conductor of all this, Jean-Jacques Loup.
Mid-September we have the pre-race team meeting. We receive all the information concerning the race and also the preparations to be made. Going to this country requires a minimum of organization and preparation, both material and sanitary.
Shortly before departure, we learn that our masseuse and Antoine will finally not be able to come. This is the first blow of this great experience. Antoine, because of his experience and his level, would have been invaluable for the team and doing 10 days of racing without a masseuse turns out to be a task. compliquefied in terms of recovery.
October 23, D-Day! We leave for Ouagadougou (and yes, this city exists). The first shock on leaving the plane was the heat (between 33 and 37 degrees depending on the day). Crushing heat to which you will quickly have to get used to. However, we are all smiling and we are waiting for only one thing, the team time trial on the first day! That same evening we complet's quickly renounce that the organization is different than that of a European race and that we will often have to take our troubles patiently.
The day before the race is devoted to mounting the bikes and a little training in compagnie from the german team, Embrace The World Cycling. I feel there is something weird in my direction. "No doubt a little game easy to settle" I tell myself. The evening will be devoted to a final briefing and the distribution of bibs.
October 25 is the big start! Shortly before the start, I feel that my bike is getting really out of control. The weird feeling from the day before turns out to be more serious than a " small game " : the steering bearing is broken. There, I tell myself that things are off to a really good start for me… Fortunately, we had a spare bike that our mechanic prepared in record time: 15 minutes before the start! I didn't have a good feeling on this bike but at least I was able to start. The team finishes 6rd. At that point, I only hope for one thing: that my bike can be repaired for the rest of the stages (which fortunately was quickly the case). After the stage, Jean-Jacques finally announces some good news: the organization has found a physiotherapist for us.compwill win the whole race. The race is on, all you have to do is...
The days follow one another, everyone tries to take breakaways and in the event of a massive sprint, we ride for Jonas. Heat damages our bodies. Average speeds are insane. We are starting to get used to the heat, the organization, the food, etc. We are becoming more and more united as the stages progress and we are starting to have more and more smiles on our faces, especially during arrivals when the local population asks us for selfies. It changed us from arrivals in Switzerland between two farms, a haystack and a herd of cows.
Outside of racing, I observe the world around us and I compquickly make it another reality. Poverty is great, the country is dirty and in crisis. The current climate of insecurity in this area of the world adds another layer. I surrender even more comphow lucky we are to live in Switzerland.
The end of the round was compscrewed up for me. I fell ill the day before the 7rd 182,5 km long stage. I start and finish without really knowing how. I can no longer stand up at the end. I collapse. I force myself to believe that my turn is not over, but the next day, being still sick, the batteries are empty and I quickly find myself alone in the pampas. A big moment of solitude… at least I was able to admire the landscape.
It is as a spectator that I saw the end of this tour. It was morally difficult to see my teammates riding and being on the side of the road cheering them on. Despite this, this tour was a magnificent experience, both sporting and human. I learned a lot and it will help me for the future. Jonas' victory, his 3rd place in the final classification and its 2rd place in the intermediate sprint classification delighted the whole team.
At the end, a little nostalgia overcame me: despite all the glitches, this experience will remain unforgettable. It's time to go home. We arrive on November 5 in the morning in Geneva. On the road back to Valais, I'm happy to see these mountains again and to see the snow pointing the tip of its nose. Also happy because the end of this round means the end of the season: a break is necessary. And simply happy to be able to bite into a good piece of cheese! I admit it, I was lacking...
Arrived at home, I collapse in my bed while wondering "when are we leaving” ?
Source: https://www.cycliste.ch/Guérin Debons
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