Last days in the Tour was hard - very hard! Last climb on the only 71 km stage was steep and felt very long… With Ljungskog, Cook, Arndt and Worrack going full I had to see them dissapear in front of me. With two legs that felt like “wood stocks” I ended up in the group of 10 riders that was chasing… But with Worrack going full in the first group (to take back her podium place in the GC) and with my “wood stocks” in the second we didn´t have a chance :-(
Irene had to see her 3rd place in the GC be taken by Worrack. Good work from my team this day but it just wasn´t enough, Worrack was stronger and we had to accept it.
For me this Tour has been a totally new experience, finally I know what everyone has been taking about. Alot of wind, hills, climbs, dangerous descends and heavy roads… that´s Tour De L´Aude.
Coming back home with an 3rd place as best result on one of the hardest stages, six top 15 places and a 13th place in the GC I´m satisfied. Still missing out of a stage win but I´m sure it will come… and that´s soon!

Next coming up is a well deserved mini rest, before I´m on it again. First two races in Holland before I go to La Bira. Can´t wait to come down to my “Bizkaian familly”…

Emma

Sorry for not updating, but been in the middle of no where for a long time!
And only have a short time now…
Hope you been following my Tour so that you know what has happened…
Yesterdays stage was big turning point for my team and with a earlie break that got more than 4 minutes, Irene from my team is now on 3rd place in the general classification!
So todays stage was a lot of work for keeping her there… After taking down many attacks and keeping everyone together I could sprint in to a 6th place. Happy and tired…

Tomorrow is the last day and then we go back to Belgium, so next time I write something will be then.
Keep the fingers crossed for us tomorrow :-)

Emma

Todays team timetrail was won by the Dutch National Team only 6 seconds ahead of the big favourites Team High Road. For us, AA Cycling Team, the race was ok… 
The hardest thing for me today was to not be abel to pee (ofcourse, thanks Emma) on the doping control!
5 liter water and 2 hours later it finally worked… But with so much water in my bladder Heidi had to stop on the motorway on our way back to the hotel and after that I have been to the toilet 7 times!

Have to go again now…

Emma 

After todays stage I feel a bit better, good legs and I did it well over the hard climb :)
But I wasn´t strong enough to be there when the real climbers attacked. 10 riders in the front and me in the 2nd group. We arrived to the finish ca 2,5 min behind the winner Nicole Cook. I won the sprint in my group and finished 11th on todays stage.
Now I look forward to a massage and then a good nights sleep before it´s time for the team timetrail tomorrow…

Found the website from the race: Tour de L´Aude.

Emma