- By Daryl Impey
All packed and ready to rumble. I left sunny Girona in Spain yesterday around lunch time and have arrived in Paris. I’m currently on the bus travelling to our hotel. The vibe within the team is full of excitement and although it’s going to be a hard 3 weeks, everyone here is more than capable of doing the job.
Tomorrow we will be doing a recon of one of the sprint days before heading to Liege where we will spend a few days getting ready for the prologue on Saturday. Our team is focusing on stage wins this year and we have horses for all types of courses. I’m looking forward to seeing what I can do in the sprints for Gossy and hopefully we can crack a few wins.
We’ve done lots of sprint sessions since the Giro d Italia so we have ironed out a few of the creases and hopefully it will be enough in this year’s TDF. It’s really an honour for me to be a part of Orica GreenEDGE and I’m looking forward to starting my first Tour de France. I hardly thought at the beginning of the season that I would be doing 2 grand tours in one season but my season has gone well and I feel more ready than ever before. I don’t feel I could have done more training-wise.
I will approach the race day by day and empty myself for the team. This is a big opportunity and one of my dreams when I was a kid, so I am thankful that I get the chance to finally live it.
For now, I’m going to enjoy these days before the tour begins, because once it starts, it’s going to be on and I’ll only enjoy some down time after the Olympics at the end of July.
Looking forward to see how it all goes and representing SA the best way I can. Thanks for reading and all your support.
Daryl Impey
Riding his first Tour de France, Daryl is only the third South African ever to have raced at the Tour. He will be blogging exclusively for Bicycling for the Tour’s duration. Log on daily for his blogs from inside the peloton and behind the scenes in France.
So awesome to have you in the Tour! TWO South Africans – bloody fantastic! Not to meantion Chris Froome. All the best. Super proud! YOu know you are going to get lots of coverage for Phil in the commentary – he loves South Africa!
All the best Daryl. Rooting for you and the team!
Everything of the best Daryl and I’m sure all Saffas are proud of you.
good to see got the Pro- Tour spot you deserve. Will be watching everyday, kick sum Le Tour butt!
Good luck. you have us fellow Africans behind you
S.P du Pont
SWAZILAND
Awesome stuff Daryl, been following you since the Barlow world days. Not that you will remember I was the one that engaged with you to purchase your Barlow world bike before you left back for a training camp in Europe. Anyway, had the kit then and ow will get the Green one. My kids and I are rooting for you all the way….My one kid said, when i grow up I want to be like Daryl! Full speed ahead and win some stages for SA!!
Fantastic to have SA representation. Daryl – we will be carrying you in our hearts and supporting you ALL THE WAY!
Hey Darryl, go for it everyone is holding thumbs. Super excited just watched you live at the team presentation. Bon Chance!!!!!
Hi Daryl,
We’ll be rooting for you here in Cape Town ! Still hoping hat we can host you here one day along with Robbie who stayed with us in his pre-pro days.
Cheers
Barry
Kind Regards
Barry and Mina Thomas
Jambo Guest House
Darryl it is so great to have you as a Jeppe Old boy and South African in the Tour de France. I wish you all the best for a memorable and successful tour.