Shut Up Legs 4 - 17th January 2018

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	News and Views
	Hello Cycling fans, hope your having a great start to 2018. I would like to inform you on an entertaining event coming up on the 17th January 2018. Starting at 7pm we present the 4th edition of the “Shut Up Legs”  with Jens Voigt, hosted by myself, Stuart O’Grady at the Arkaba Hotel. Jens is world renowned for being a super tough cyclist & his motto, “Shut Up Legs” has been a global hit. Jens and I were team mates for 14 years, and share the World Record for Tour De France starts, racing 17 each. That's 34 laps of France (136,000kms) between us and approximately 1.5 million km's in their careers all up around the world. Between us we have won stages & worn the yellow jersey in the Tour De France, been a part of TDF winning teams and been involved in some major accidents... basically seen and experienced everything there is to see on a bike. We chat about our times together living in Europe and the ups & downs of those journeys, and will also be talking to special guests Mark Reid, the Invictus Games cycling coach along with a couple of the athletes that are going to Sydney in 2018 to compete in the games. The Invictus Games is an international adaptive multi-sport event, created by Prince Harry, in which wounded, injured or sick armed services personnel and their associated veterans take part in sports This is a fun and informal night that will give you a real insight into the Cycling World with plenty of laughs. Jens is hilarious and we bounce of each other like brothers. Q & A will follow plus we will auction off a couple of items signed by Jens and Stuart.. ★ TICKET PRICE INCLUDES - Cocktail food and 3 hour beverage package including Penny’s Hill wines, Pure Blonde, Carlton Draught, Bulmers, Pure Blonde Cider and soft drinks. 17th January 2018, 7pm to 10pm Click Here for Tickets Ticket price $99+ $3.50 booking fee. Meet & Greet VIP - $150 + $4.50 booking fee (only 30 available) Part proceeds to The Mary Potter Foundation Inc
www.stuartogradycycling.com.au | contact | Facebook | Twitter

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Le Tour, then Home Sweet Home....

There's no place like home.

What an epic month that was back in Europe. I had intended on trying to write a few blogs to keep people up to date with what we getting up to with Mummu Cycling. I don't think I even opened my computer again after Luxembourg. I had an absolute ball. As a few of you may have seen in the social media photos.

I did feel at home around the TDF. After all it has been a part of my life for pretty much the last 20 years. I've had some massive "Up's" and a couple of massive "Downs", which makes the TDF what it is. Its what gives you so much satisfaction when you finally ride onto the Champs Elysees some 3 weeks later. It's pure mind over matter to make it all the way.

I couldn't believe how tired & gaunt the guys looked when we caught up with them in the final week.
Is that what I looked like every year? When riding this race, you're so caught up in the TDF bubble, surrounded by your team and fellow competitors you don't realise how skinny you are all getting & how knackered you all are.

The conversation deteriorates fairly quickly during the 3 weeks at the dinner table and even out on the roads. The fun goes out of the Tour very quickly. You've spent months & months training, racing & thinking of the TDF, after 2 stages you're wondering 'what the hell am I doing here'. But its all worth it when you finally complete the mission... Get your ass to Paris at all costs. It doesn't matter if you crash and have half your skin missing, or have had stomach issues or maybe an injury that you cant tell the media about, because you, as part of a team are trying to remain focused and look strong.

Every team is chasing "that" stage win. Not every year things go according to plan.
Just ask Richie. He will be back, but unfortunately for him that will make it even harder for next year.

Each Grand Tour you ride is like adding another brick on top of a fence, you get stronger & stronger.
And the Frenchies this year were amazing! It was great to see the French finally winning on their home soil, and winning a lot! This Bardet guy has what it takes to Win Le Tour, no doubt. His downfall will always be the TT & even worse the Teams Time Trial. The French teams have never been historically great at the TTT, besides the one we won in 2001 with Credit Agricole of course ;)
So should a change of teams be on the cards for Romain to possibly a stronger team where he has more of an opportunity to win. That would mean leaving his comfort zone and obviously his French team. That will be something interesting to follow in the years to come.

I will do a bit of a summary of our Mummu Cycling tour trip another day, I have to pack the bags and fly to Sydney today, so I will leave it there. It really is something special the Tour De France and to see how cycling touches so many people all around the globe just continues to blow me away.

Stay safe on the roads...

Viva Le Tour

Here's just a few snapshots out of the hundreds....

Aurevoir

Stuey