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Christian Knees Tour diary
12/07/2024
An unhappy day
17. Juni 2008
Today was just an unhappy day, generally speaking. In the beginning, we tried to get into breakaways. That worked out well, as there were escape groups forming again and agin and we were represented every time. We were there, especially in the bigger groups. But it was the two-rider break that was finally given the go… Another rider from Euskaltel bridged up to them and the three marked the rest of the day. But it was clear by that time that it would be a bunch sprint finish. In the finale, I also made the pace for Erik at the front of the bunch. This went to plan, but unfortunately we weren’t compensated by a podium placing. But a fourth place is not too bad, either, is it!
A part from that, the day just wasn’t a happy one. At the start in Lannemezan, there was a huge media crowd. We were told in the team bus that Riccardo Ricco had tested positive. Of course, we’re glad that the controls work, but it’s still not rejoicing news. Then, we saw police officers walk over the whole team parking space – it was a bit like a thriller on TV. These sort of events are really unfortunate and taint the whole day.
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14 July 2024
On today’s menu was the second real mountains stages with the legendary Tourmalet. I will probably remember this climb for quite a while. After about half of the ascent, I had to let go the favourites’ group. All in all, it wasn’t my day today.
Even the beginning of the stage didn’t unfold as we wanted. There was a breakaway with 24 riders and none of us were in it! As a result, we had to do the work together with Team Garmin to close the gap. That was very tiring and cost us some strength. In the ascent of the Tourmalet, I just couldn’t find my rhythm. Of course, it’s not to see your rivals ride away. I then got to Erik Zabel’s side and we took on the descent together. After that, I was in the grupetto with some sprinters. The pace on the final climb was a bit too slow for me, so I tried on my own. At least, this way I could make up eight minutes again, even if today cost me lots of time.
After this day, I’m really happy that we’re taking a break tomorrow and that I’ll be able to recuperate a bit. From now on, I really have to think from day to day and set myself short-term goals. Then, we will see how it works out in the Alps and what the final outcome will be.
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13 July 2024
It was a fast stage right from the start. Björn Schröder tried to get away in a break, but CSC and Crédit Agricole didn’t approve and closed the gap. Immediately, at the first intermediate sprint, three riders jumped. After that, it calmed down, and the escape group quickly had a 12 minutes lead. Euskaltel then made the pace and controlled the happenings. That was good for us, because the tempo was comfortably high – not too slow, nor too fast. I felt good during this time.
Coming to the first mountain, our guys brought me to a good position at the front, which was important. It got pretty nervous, with many attacks going, so it was important to be up front where you can overlook everything. That worked out fast and relatively well. On the climb, I wasn’t feeling too well but Peter Velits kept by my side the whole time. He really rode a fine race today. We were with the favourites in the first climb. Erik and Marco were able to come back on us on the descent and helped us out with water bottles. That helped me enormously.
The second climb I started out well, but when Riccardo Ricco attacked, I couldn’t follow. It was more important to keep my own pace. The last kilometre from the Col d’Aspin was really hard, again. But I gave it my all in order to lose as little time as possible. On the descent, I had to risk a lot but it paid off, as I could bridge up to the group of favourites again.
In the finale, I felt the whole day in my legs, especially when I got few cramps. Fortunately, I saw an indicator board showing my placing as I rode by. Because of all my efforts, I didn’t know how many riders were in front of me anymore. I took the final curve before the finish in second position within my group and rode really well. To finish fifth was of course absolutely amazing.
Tomorrow, another hard day awaits us. Let’s see what will happen. In any case, I feel well and I’m absolutely satisfied with my 19th overall placing. That is by far the best placing I ever had at the Tour. It would be great if it could continue like this!
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12 July 2024
Today was a really busy day. After breakfast, we had a good half an hour bus transfer from the hotel to the start in Brioude. Like every day at the Tour, the atmosphere at the start was unbelievable. The stage start itself was very stressful again; right away the pace was high and breakaway attempts were going out of the bunch on an uphill course. Nearly everybody tried to jump away in the beginning of today’s stage but no escape was granted.
After about 70 kilometres there was a mass crash right in front of me. Fortunately, nothing serious happened but we came to a full stop for a while. That’s how the bunch was split and the 25 riders in front just kept going. This was inconceivable to me, because normally you sit up and wait for the bunch that crashed. That was a little annoying. For us, Peter Velits rode to bridge the gap, together with a rider from the Lampre team. Still, it cost us a lot of power.
On the two mountains of second category, I felt pretty good again and was back in the front. But on the descent of the first climb, a spoke on my back wheel broke. Fortunately, it happened at a relatively relaxed moment so that I could chase back to the peloton quite quickly.
On the decisive ascent, I lacked some explosiveness and I felt the earlier chase. The Cote de Saint-Jean de-Donne is a 1.7km-long peak averaging ten percent – a little too short for me. I would have liked it better a little longer and flatter in the finale. Still, I finished 33 seconds behind the stage winner, together with Erik. That is only a small time loss that I can make up again in the climbs of the Pyrenees and the Alps.
After the finish, we could directly ride to the hotel our bikes, as it was only three kilometres away. That’s always pleasant, as we are spared one more bus transfer and can get under the shower and on the massage table faster. Under the circumstances, I feel well and look forward to the coming mountain stages in the Pyrenees.
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8. July 2008
Today was the first time trial of the Tour de France. Unfortunately, I had some high temperature last night – however, after a good night of rest, it was a bit better this morning. I hope it won’t come back! This sort of cold will not get out of my body straight away, but if the weather’s good in the next few days, it’ll be okay.
On time trial days, the schedule is always a bit different. You can sleep a little bit longer and take breakfast at ease. After that, we went to the start in Cholet. When our first rider went, Björn Schröder, I sat in the car behind him to take a closer look at the course. Afterwards, I rode it once again on the bike – that was very helpful.
I’m quite satisfied with my time. It was about the same distance to Stefan Schumacher that I had on the Tour of Bavaria time trial, too. Still, I could have been around 20 seconds faster. Unfortunately, I had a few small problems during the descents, especially with the right seat position. But I didn’t lose a lot of time on my rivals for general classification, so I’m still in contention. We will see in the next few days how the race will unfold in the mountains.
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7. Juni 2008
The first three stages of the Tour de France 2008 are over. Like in the previous two years, it’s pretty impressive to take the start of the Tour. The atmosphere on the road is great, there are people everywhere, even outside of towns and villages, things are really happening. The first few days were quite nervous. Björn Schröder from our team MILRAM was really strong on the first stage and missed the Polkadot Jersey only by a hair. Yesterday, it was similarly hectic, but Erik could score some points for the Green Jersey in the sprint, finishing fifth.
Today, it rained time and again and it was very windy, which made the race really dangerous. The peloton could have been torn apart by echelons any time. I tried to race as up front as I could to not lose contact. It was quite draining, fortunately not only for me but for everybody else, too. In the end, the chasing bunch really broke apart. Fortunately, I was in the first group behind the break. It was a pity that we didn’t catch the escape in the finale, but there was a bit too much speculating in the field. At the finish, we were about two minutes back. Erik was able to get a few more points for the Green Jersey, finishing sixth. Today, you couldn’t win much, but you could lose a lot, so it was good that I was within the second group. Riccardo Ricco and Denis Menchov, for example, both lost nearly 40 seconds on us.
I was really happy about my family visiting me today. Unfortunately, they left after the stage to return home, so I’ll be on my own again the next few days. But overall, I’m feeling well and I look forward to the time trial tomorrow.
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