Well it is hardly surprising, but my knee just couldn’t last the distance. The course started fast, and I was ok with the small part of the course we had pre-ridden the day prior. I had opted to ride into the race with the condition of my knee – thinking that a small tweak to the saddle position and right cleat would be enough for my body to adapt and get going after an early race warm up. Sadly this was not the case, and after about 20km I was only going backwards in the rankings. At this point all I could really do was wait until the 25km feed zone, sneaking up on others on the descents. Oddly pulling wheelies on the ascents remedied the pain in my knee temporarily. At the 25km feed zone I did what some usually despise – I jumped into the sag wagon and retired. I have no bad feelings about this anymore – what’s the point in destroying a dead knee anyhow? Wurst, Espresso, and beers beckoned back at race central….
I’m now sitting in Hannover with friends – who are fortunately well connected enough to know a physio on the down-low. My knee has been diagnosed as suffering simple over use – the cure – massage, Voltaren, and icing several times a day. It’s already feeling better. As a plus a little bit of ‘tourist time’ has been freed up. Hopefully things will settle down by the weekend!