jpmurph » News

New year, New deal, NEW ENERGY

admin — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 14:44:30 +0000

So yesterday I went out for a ride in the midst of a pretty hard training block. Yeah, I know, nobody wants to hear about training and that is not what this is about. If you do want to know about training, it’s going fine. Almost good even. But yesterday, I started my ride with a little climb up town mountain(asheville). I immediately turned around to the top and rode home. Not even an hour into the day. I had been doing some harder rides earlier in the week and to say I was “feeling tired” was an understatement. I was totally blown out. I was pretty sure I was heading home to call it a day. Anyways, I get home to see my girl Ally all ready to ride. I decide I can definitely go out with her and get a few more hours in. I ate some food, still felt tired. I topped off my bottles real quick, only to see my new sponsor, 5 hour energy, sitting next to my bottles. I hadn’t really hit these before, but I decided if there was a day to try it, it was today. So I took one down…

10 minutes later we leave the house. I immediately sprint down the sidewalk, while looking back to see where ally was. OK, now I really like coffee, but damn. This stuff (5 hour energy) just saved my day. I went on to ride a while, feeling like I had wings. Yep that’s right wings. So, to make a long story short. This stuff works. Next time you are about to give up on your day of training or whatever workout or if your just not feeling it. Give it a whirl. Maybe don’t do it everyday, but really it’s the bomb. OK, that’s it.

OUT

Murph

And it continues.

admin — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 10:01:57 +0000

And the season pushes on now almost done with August. This will be my longer season so far in my career, although I’ve had more race days in the past, this year it’s looking like I’ll get about 70. Nonetheless I am feeling the effects of the long season that began in Australia in January. Actually, since December it’s been full tilt with a 3 week training camp in Spain that had me in Europe over the holidays. Anyhow, I’m happy to report that I’m actually quite motivated for the last month block of races I have coming up. I head to Pluay this weekend and then a fair few one day races in September in and around Belgium and France. Trying to keep it together here now in Belgium. With a lot of racing coming up it’s kinda nice that most of my training is just recovery and maintenance. Keep the leg speed up and bam your good to go. Ok, the rain has broke for a bit, gotta hop on the bike!

The Belgian Inevitable

admin — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 10:59:53 +0000

So as I’m drinking my coffee this morning in lovely gent, Belgium, I glance out to the window to catch my old friend, Mr. Sunny blue sky. So I take my espresso to the dome and begin the process of getting dressed to ride. Every ride has some sorta tactic to getting ready, I generally throw everything I think I need into a pile, then throw it on. Whatever that’s not important. On to the belgian inevitable . The moment I zip my jersey and get my shoes on, the rain starts. Out of nowhere! it’s 45 minutes later now and it’s still raining. Where the hell did the blue skies go? I don’t know, they are gone. But I’m patiently waiting on the return. I’ve done too many rides in the rain this year to start wet again, so I wait. I suppose another cup of coffee is in store? I think Yes.

Well, it’s been a minute

admin — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 01:23:53 +0000

I admit it. I sometimes lag on updating my site. Maybe it’s motivation, maybe I don’t think I have something worthy to write or possibly I’m just busy traveling/racing/others. Regardless, I’m back now to for a quick blurp. I’ve taken a small break to mentally prepare myself for the second half of the season. I’ve had a good chunk of hard racing since starting in Jan, and I’ll be going into October, so it’s super important to shut it down for a bit this time of year. Lately when I’m not riding, I’ve been going bowling. I went down to Augusta to help/watch Ally race. During the days while she was out training and with her team, I hit the lanes. It was awesome cause while the roads were nearing 100 degrees, the bowling alley had to be 60! So I would go ride a couple hours(easy) and then cool off with some bowling! I’m not that good, but for some reason I’m addicted. Yep, I even have my own ball and shoes(financially the shoes make since). Best game I had was a 167… but my worst was probably a 75.

Now I’m up at my parents house putting down the hours getting the form back for the last half of the year. Let’s see if I can get enough together to get a late season ‘W’. It’s been too long since I’ve thrown my hands up and it’s time to change that. I start back with Tour of Wallonie at the end of July, so I have a few weeks to get the legs moving and up to speed.

Hell of the North

admin — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 09:50:07 +0000

Road to Roubaix

admin — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 16:16:12 +0000

This week for me started with Scheldiprijs on Wednesday. Working with Kristoff for the much expected sprint finish, I did my best to put him at the front for the last few k’s. He winded up avoiding the massive pile-up to finish 7th. It was a good finish for him mostly for avoiding the crash, but also for the result.

Now we are in Compiegne, France, prepping for the Hell of the North(paris-Roubaix) tomorrow. I am starting in replacement of Danilo Wyss, who is unfortunately a bit under the weather. The hell of the north is not a race to come into sick, therefore I get my 2nd shot at this WorldTour Race. I have done this race 3 times as an U23. I was twice top twenty in the youngsters edition to this race, so I’m counting on that experience to get me to the velodrome in roubaix(last year was DNF). My condition is much higher than the same time last year, so I’m really looking forward to Sunday, even though it is know as “hell”.

Making a few adjustments to the bikes(ie 46 inner ring, different rims, bigger tires) we have all the best prep to get this thing going right for BMC tomorrow. I will be aiming to help Hincapie and Ballan retain this title that they both deserve, to be the champion in roubaix.

Wish me luck.

Gent-Wevelgem and De Panne

admin — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 16:14:58 +0000

As things are heading in a good direction for me I was hit with a flu like virus after the first stage of De Panne. I am recovering now and will be on call for the weekend and be aiming at Wednesday Scheldiprijs as my next objective. At Gent Wevelgem I noticed I had more snap in my legs than in Waregem, but still I was too far back the final lap up the Kemmelburg, so I was stuck chasing, never to make it back to the front. De Panne started well, just losing contact in the final few kilometers of a hard, hilly circuit that kicked the 3 day stage race off. But unfortunately directly after the stage I felt just horrible. I even had to stop the massage with massive headache and general feeling of nausea and acheness. It felt like the flu. So I spend the next 48 hours trying to sleep it off. Obviously no state to race, I didn’t start stage 2. Now i’m feeling somewhat back to normal, ready to resume racing again asap. Ah I hate how these stupid things like sickness injury can screw up so much preparation. Oh well that’s how it goes I guess. Murphy’s law!

Looking for a little luck

admin — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 08:12:43 +0000

Back in Gent after a small trip to the states, I’m ready to tackle another block of racing heading into the classics. I’m looking to improve and gain some real momentum here for the next few weeks of racing. My next race is Waregem which is Wednesday. It will be my first race in almost a month since Kurne, which didn’t go great. I have gotten some really good training over the last few weeks and my form is as good as ever. I actually felt quite good at kuurne but can’t help it if you get ill in a race, you’re screwed…

So now it’s time, these are the races that matter that are coming up. Not to say all races don’t matter but this is the classics coming up and any rider in Europe at this time knows it’s the real deal. Last year I didn’t have the best run at these races and I’ve made some changes in my training for the better. To put it simply, longer rides. I’m hoping for some good luck coming up cause it seems it takes more than good condition, you also gotta have a luck on your side.

Bam, I’m going for a ride. Peace out

Oh Kuurne, how you must hate me

admin — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 15:43:58 +0000

So I didn’t start het Neiuwsblad on Saturday in an effort to ‘save it’ for sunday, Kuurne Brussels Kuurne. The 193 km Race featured some good cobblestone sections, included the infamous Old Kwaremont along with others. We were looking to our main leaders Karsten Kroom and Gren Van Avermaet. The race was heating up before the old Kwaremont as usual. I almost went down with a bunch of riders in front of me slammed on their brakes. I did too and my back wheel launched into the air. I was almost over the bars when somehow I saved it. Magic I think… But then moments later another jam up happened and this time guys were not so lucky. Devolder went down along with a bunch of others. I was behind it, I saw it happening, I grabbed my brakes for dear life. Since I almost went over the bars before, I had my weight over the back wheel and kept it up. I actually slammed into the clump of crashed riders, and riders hit me from left right and behind, but I didn’t go down. I pulled a guys foot out of my front wheel, got around the down riders, and began to chase. If you have to chase before a cobble climb like the old Kwaremont, chances are your done for. I got together with Kroon and Jeff Louder who were also caught behind the crash. Jeff did a massive pull to put us right on the back of the main bunch right at the base of the cobbles. I tried to take Kroon as much to the front as possible on the climb, but with all the craziness I couldn’t really get anywhere with that. Once we got over the top we were a small group just off the back of the front riders. Maybe 40 guys went over the top together. We chased for about 20km prob and then finally made contact. As this was happening, something started to go terribly wrong with my stomach. I burped up some stuff that turned to full on puking moments later. I went to the back of the group to save the guys from my nasty spray. As this was happening to me, we made a left turn and I found myself in the bad side of a crosswind. Riders in front of me dropped anchor. I tried to chase with Russ Downing from sky. We both we full gas but made a terrible mistake at being at the back at the wrong time. I can’t help my stomach so I guess there was nothing i could do. Just bad luck. I don’t know what happened to me or why i came nauseous. I guess it’s just one of those things. So I rode in minutes down the group and got pulled when we came to the circuits. I had good legs and power but when you get sick there’s nothing you can do really. Until next time.

Tan lines………:) (not really i don’t tan)

admin — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 17:39:04 +0000

On the last night before the last day of Tour of Oman, I am about to start my 19th race day so far for this year. It’s pretty awesome that I’ve gotten to do such good racing in really good(hot) weather. I got some tan… I mean burn lines to show for it. too

Getting ready for the TT with TP

Qatar was nuts, everyday we had mad fights for the crosswinds. I would compare them to throwing 130 guys into a cage match and there is only room for 15 or so. Everyone wants to be one of the 15 but everyone can’t be. So they get caught in the gutter and then forced to form the 2nd,3rd,4th, and so on echelons. So that was a freaking hard race. I would often find myself just there in the front echelon, only for the guy in front of me to drop the wheel and then I’m done. ugh, it was ridiculous. Let’s just leave it at that.

Oman has been great also having great food, great hotels, and best of all no hotel transfers. Anyone familiar with stage racing can appreciate the same hotel for the whole race. TDU, Qatar and Oman have all been in one hotel. All top notch too.

Made the break one day in Qatar for the first half of the race…

So tomorrow is the last day here in Oman, one more chance for Kristoff, Phinney and me to get it right in the sprint. We definitely are ready to make it on the podium here in one of these bunch kicks, we just need to put it together. It’s hard to get the sprint leadout dialed and these finishes are, to say the least, fing crazy. I mean, all sprint finishes are nuts because every result is important, we just need to pull of what we know we are capable of. So tmrw we try again. We will break through. It’s gonna happen and happen soon.

After Oman I’m back in belgium for the longest stretch since July last year. I’m excited to see my apartment in Gent. I’ve only spend 4 days there since august of last year. Yeah…. So that will be good. Ok, I’m signing off. Peace out.