Adelaide 2000, Tour Down Under: I had just got used to my room overlooking the ocean, with dolphins swimming passed every morning, as I was mixing bottles up, and it was time to move into the city for the race, oh well the Jacuzzi will have to manage without me.

Louise hands out the days bottles - Click photo for enlargement - 52kb

The team had been based at the Australian Institute for Sport a week before the race, and we needed it to get used to the heat. The beach and surroundings were a great way to spend the time before the real work began. Sean was out with the boys every day hanging on the back, as they were a bit too strong for him some days. We left there the day before the race and left Spencer and Ciaran to enjoy the beach while the racing was on.

The Hilton Hotel in Adelaide will do, we moved there the day before the race, and with the purpose built village in place, life was sweet. It is rare for the organisation to lay on such elaborate facilities, but while it's there we take advantage.

For me and my colleague Eddie our day was to start at about 7am, we usually make up bidons and race food the night before, unless there's is a beer to be had and then it's the same day, but this tour it was the night before. Each rider will have two bidons each, mostly one water, an Extran energy drink, race food depending on where we are in the world, which consists of dried fruit, this time pineapple (they love it) small swiss rolls, fruit sticks, kiwi chunks, Extran energy bars, and the odd Kendal mint cake (a traditional English thing).

The race was extremely hot, the high 30's each day, so drinks were extremely important. At the feed station we gave out two bidons, one water, one Extran, a pre made Extran in a carton, dried pineapple and fruit sticks and then for the finish the umpteen cans of coke and loads of water.

I wash each rider down when they finish, usually with the Equilibrium sports wash, or just plain water, and then it's back to the hotel for a shower. Next is rubs, we took four each for this tour and about 30 minutes after they're back, these will begin. About 40-45mins for each rider, depending on what they want done. Max at the beginning wanted his neck and upper back concentrated on, but once that felt better he was just wanting the legs done. Matt was the same although the lower back was giving him a few problems earlier on.

Our time isn't really our own when we are away as there is so much to be done, but being organised is the key, and due to the organisation being fantastic it meant our jobs were made easier, I had a chat with the hotel chef and manager and got the team a special menu as the vegetarian food was the same all of time. By a couple of days into the race the other teams were wondering why we had our own table of food and kept coming over to find out what we were eating, of course we steered them straight back to their own food, ours being much better and nicer than theirs. It makes such a difference to them when they feel a little bit special, it makes moral better and the other teams step back and take notice of us. So next is Malaysia for the Tour de Langkawi, I will keep you up to date with that.....