Here's a link to a painful moment last year - good and bad pain - Monte Paschi Eroica .

Its on the mind as it is my next race on my calendar and I am thinking back to what could of been! Riding in the main early break of the day, soloing for 30 kms out of it, railing multiple sectors alone all the way to the last part of the strada bianca (white gravel roads) and envisioning a solo victory in Sienna. Then with less than 10kms Fabian Cancellara and Alessandro Ballan (probably the two strongest guys in the world at that point) bridge up to me. I was still looking at a pretty sweet podium finish, win or lose, then Cancellara put in a acceleration and that was it, they were gone! All I could do was wait for what was left of the peloton and break survivors to come up and go from there. Maaskant was in the chase and I managed to cover moves to help keep the rest of the race together for a shot at 3rd and he had a run for the podium to place 4th, me 10th after a full out day!

Just trying to do the work here in Girona ( did six hours today - about 40kms of gravel ) to better that day - maybe I'll make another solo attempt from 40 kms out?

And I'll hope Cancellara and Ballan aren't chasing!

Ryder