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February 2008
They
took a while to come , but here are a few pic's to show
you what it was
like in Norway last "Summer"!
It was bit of a shock coming from 30+ degrees to -5 to
-10.
But it was a wicked experience , as I'm sure I told you!
Hope you're well.
Heading out for 6hrs riding this am.
Enjoy that Oz summer!
S
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2008 Jayco Bay Classic
Series, Melbourne
Stage
1 - January 2: Williamstown
1 Baden Cooke (deTourMovie.com)
12 pts
2 Mark Renshaw (Geelong Mazda) 10
3 Hilton Clarke (Portfolio Partners) 8
4 Allan Davis (FRF Couriers) 7
5 Rory Sutherland (Geelong Mazda) 6
6 Darren Lapthorne (A&I Helicopters) 5
7 Stuart O’Grady (Skilled)
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Stuart O’Grady Update: 29/08/2007
Stuart O’Grady is
back on his bike after a week or so on the indoor home
trainer. He’s hit the streets and roads of Monaco
for the first time since his Tour de France crash.
“I managed to build it up to seventy kilometres
yesterday and I’m feeling extra good” he said.
“I don’t think I’ll ride in Europe again
this season and expect to head home to Australia in September
or early October”. “May be my next race will
be the Tour Down Under in Adelaide next year”. “My
team CSC hasn’t yet confirmed that we’ll be
part of the race but I am hopeful we’ll be there”.
“Very exciting news to hear that the event could
become a stage of the Pro Tour”. “If that
the case I’ll see you on the roads around SA racing
in January”.
“Yep I am still a little sore but my recovery has
even surprised me”. “I might even tackle a
few local races under the Cycling SA banner once I get
better prepared”. “Luke Roberts (CSC Team
mate) and I came first and second in the Cycling SA state
titles earlier this year so another crack at an SA championship
would be good, plus the Aussie titles could be on the
agenda as well”. “I just need to get right
and in a ready to race type condition before I commit
to anything”.
“I can’t believe that I have received more
than 1,900 emails from all over the world. Again thanks
to everyone for making contact. Your thoughts mean a heap
to me”. “And my new little daughter is a gem,
loving being a new Daddy again”.
Regards Stuey.
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Stuey Back on the Road Again
24.08 10:38
Stuart O'Grady has moved his training back on the roads
in Southern France since he is getting in a better and
better shape upon his crash in the Tour de France. He
has been using his home trainer for a while, but decided
to go back on the real bike this week.
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Keira Rose O’Grady born at
2.35am French time in Mote Carlo, Monaco. That’s
two hours and 35 minutes into Stuart’s birthday,
weighing in at 3.5 kgs and 50 cms.
Mum, Anne Marie O’Grady, and baby in excellent condition
and smooth as they come says Stuart. “It’s
only the second birth I have seen, the pair have a son
Seth, but it was all natural and went extremely well,
no dramas or complications at all” according to
Stuart. “It’s the best present I could have
got or been given by my wife”. “I’m
wrapped and it takes some of the pain away that I have
been suffering in recent weeks”. “I back home
at our residence in Monte Carlo so I could be happier”.
“I am enjoying having two girls in my sick bed at
the moment”. “Thank God the new one doesn’t
look like me at all for the record”.
“Managed to catch up with a few mates last night
to celebrate the new arrival to the O’Grady clan
and getting back on the bike will take second place for
a couple more weeks”.
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Hi all,
I have just got off the phone to Stuey and have this update
for all
concerned. Stuart has left his France hospital and has
been transported to
Monaco where's he's based. It was a four hour road trip
in a special
ambulance with a floating bed. In his words "a bloody
good taxi like the
Hilton hotel on wheels". He expects to be resting
in his Monte Carlo
hospital bed for another two weeks or so.
The next stage is a series of tests and an operation on
his left shoulder.
So these are the injuries, two bung shoulders, a punctured
lung (now going
at 85%) and a heap of broken ribs and a few busted vertebras'.
"In all, not my best day at the office I'm afraid".
"When I do something I
do it big time". "I smacked into the post at
about 80 kilometres an hour and
when I hit the ground I honestly thought, shit, this is
it". "I was feeling
really good and had just picked up a bunch of drink bottles
from the Team
CSC support car". "As I was descending, to take
the bottles to my
team-mates, going through the peloton a rider in front
of me swerved to miss
something and hit my front wheel". "I started
to correct myself and stay
with it and then bang and that's about it apart from thinking,
when I could
breath, shit, this is it". "But the medical
crew were on site very quickly
and I was away to hospital". "So, in a nutshell
I'm still in the hunt for
another crack at next year's Tour de France but first
plenty of rest". "I
have already started to walk but an operation to repair
to left shoulder is
next". "Yep it hurt big time and still hurts,
but not unfamiliar territory
in this caper".
"I have seen some of the many email messages sent,
however I can't download
them as quickly as I would like in hospital". "I
am told that an amazing
amount have come in from all parts of the world".
"I will get through
everyone and just want to say thanks to everyone, it's
bloody great, I
didn't think I knew that many people". "I know
I don't know that many
people". "Hey I am absolutely wrapped that so
many people have made contact
via our website". "It has made me stronger and
happy knowing so many people
care". "On a happier note my wife Anne Marie
is about to give birth to our
second child, next week I hope". So something special
happening in my life
apart from hitting posts". "And my Mum has flown
from Adelaide, in
Australia, with Anne Marie's mum to give us a hand because
I have no arms
working at the moment".
Thanks and Regards,
Stuey.
We'll keep you posted. And again thanks for all the many
emails sent.
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Stuart O’Grady Latest:
18-07-2007
Stuart O’Grady remains
in hospital in France and should be hospital bound for
some time. He’s smiling and even managed to give
his brother Darren a ‘middle finger’ salute
when asked how he was feeling. So he’s lost none
of that cheekiness we have all grown to love about Stuey.Rest
and more rest is what he needs at the moment and with
these types on injuries each day there’s a little
improvement. But it’s going to take time. I’m
more than confident is saying “he’ll be back
for another TDF. But it’s far too early to say when
he’ll return.
CSC Team O’Grady via its website for Stuart has
received more than 800 emails from all parts of the world.
The amount of messages from Australians is enough to makes
us all proud of Stuart and how well respected he is in
this country, particularly South Aussies. But what’s
has been staggering is the massive amount of emails we
have received from Europe, the UK, New Zealand, America,
South Africa and places we have never heard of. It has
been amazing, totally unbelievable. And on behalf of Stuart
and his family thanks to all.
We are trying desperately to respond to every message
and have created a very good data base to start up a Stuart
O’Grady fan club and information website.
What’s amazing is the fact that the actual crash
involving Stuart wasn’t aired or seen by the Tour
de France broadcaster yet the response has been huge,
over whelming. I suppose in many ways we’re lucky
not to have seen the actual fall. It just goes to show
how big this event is and how people across the world
follow cycling at this level. Stuart O’Grady is
a household name in Adelaide and Australia. However he’s
even better known in Europe, America and the UK.
Sometimes we take the likes of Stuart O’Grady for
granted we just don’t appreciate how BIG they actually
are in their chosen sport on a world scale.
Again thanks for the support and messages, Stuey will
be getting every single email down the track.
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Tour de France | July 17
Stuart O'Grady is in a comfortable
but sore position and will remain in hospital for some
time. His injuries are well documented and he's a sad
and sorry boy at the moment. In true Stuart style he wants
to thank the pole (barrier) he hit because it could have
well saved his life. It prevented him or stopped him from
tumbling over the edge of the decent down a huge drop
to no man's land.
His pregnant wife Anne Marie and brother Darren O'Grady
along with his son Seth are keeping him amused. If you
can keep amused when a single cough puts shudders through
your body when you have massive rib injuries. Stuart can
raise a smile and is giving his thumbs up to indicate
he's fine. But just talking hurts like hell. Time is a
great healer with these type of injuries. He's communicating
with his family and hopes to be back riding in two to
three months. Rest and plenty of it is the best recovery
at this time. We do not know when he's going to be released
from Hospital at this early stage.
Stuart's CSC Team O'Grady website www.teamogrady.com.au
has received a massive amount of emails. We are doing
our best to reply to messages from all over the world
and on behalf of Stuart we sincerely thank the cycling
community for their wishes to him. Be assured he will
be have plenty of time to read each and everyone during
his recovery.
............................................................................................................................................
Stuart O'Grady today received visits
from his wife, brother and team doctor in hospital, where
he is recovering from serious injuries he received after
crashing in the Alps yesterday. Stuart's injuries include
breaks to five ribs in his chest, three in his back, his
collarbone and a fracture in his shoulder blade. He also
suffered a punctured lung.
Yet Stuey's trademark humour remains intact. When his
brother Darryn suggested the hospital equipment was keeping
him alive, Stuey spoke up. "Actually a big wooden
post kept me alive," he said, before waving to the
camera and smiling. Had he not hit the post, he would
have had an
unthinkable fall off the edge of the road down the sheer
mountain face.
His brother, Darryn O'Grady was obviously moved after
his visit, said, referring to his injuries and the disappointment
of leaving the tour, "we managed to cheer him up."
It is understood that he will be transferred to Monaco
by helicopter in 24-48 hours.
Stuey was in terrific form before his crash, and had been
a leading member of Team CSC's tilt at the Tour de France,
particularly focusing his efforts on Carlos Sastre. Fellow
Australian Michael Rogers also crashed on the same descent,
and was also forced to retire hurt. There were fifteen
crashes in a disastrous stage in the Alps yesterday.
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Tour de France | July 15 | Stage 8
There is just no sport like cycling,
and no other race equals the Tour de France for drama.
It is the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Today,
Danish rider Michael Rasmussen led over three incredible
mountains to finish with the stage win at the summit in
Tignes, as well as the climbers' polka dot jersey and
the yellow jersey. But Australians Michael Rogers, Stuart
O'Grady and Robbie McEwen will not continue after they
each had disastrous days.
Michael Rogers fell heavily while descending with the
breakaway group. He returned to a new bike, but soon fell
behind the peleton and was forced to retire with and injured
shoulder and foot. He was T Mobile's Number 1 rider for
this year's tour, and had he finished with the breakaway
group, he would surely have taken a place in the top ten.
A fellow leader, David Arroyo also fell, but climbed 5metres
back up the embankment and continued to finish in 17th
position. Paris-Rubaix winner Stuart O'Grady crashed on
a descent and was rushed to hospital complaining of back
soreness. Later, his brother Darren told me that he will
be ok, but Stuey's tour is over. It is an incredibly unfortunate
end to this year's tour for the Adelaide cyclist, who
told me only two days ago that he was back to full health
after his fall in the prologue, and willing to "have
a crack" at the hills.
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Tour de France | July 10 | Stage 3
"Today's stage was one of
the most bizarre I have ever ridden. We were happy to
let a break go and keep it under control. But the head
wind and length of the stage saw a huge game of cat and
mouse being played. The breakaway was playing the game
well but we were confident we could reel them in at any
stage. But when the fresh attack occurred with only 40
kilometres to go and
re-grouped at the front it was suddenly panic stations.
We (CSC) didn't want to lose the yellow jersey making
a stupid decision so began the case. But the sprinter
teams were bluffing each other out. It's like no one has
faith in their sprinters. So it was going to come down
to the wire. And with only 300 metres of cobbles to the
finish Fabian Cancellara showed why he is the most powerful
rider in the peloton by launching across the pave and
winning the stage. Justice prevailed for Team CSC, What
an animal, nice one. Winning the stage in yellow".
Regards,
Stuey
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Tour de France | July 9
| Stage 2
“Well that was just what we expected. Stress, stress
and more stress. Everyone was nervous because of the conditions.
Every team had the same idea, stay up the front out of
trouble. I managed to dodge all the carnage. My team mates
Fabian, Frank and Kurt all crashed but will be OK. It
was mad stuff. The roads here are very bad. Throw in a
few hundred thousand very enthusiastic Belgian fans and
it’s a recipe for disaster I’m afraid”.
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