Stage 11 – Santiago-San Juan, Wednesday, January 13th
It was an early start for Philip this morning, he was up at 5am to get through 211kms of a liaison to get as far as the start of the special test which was 220kms long. It was so cold over the Andes that he got a black sack, cut a hole at the top for his head and pulled it over his suit to keep the wind chill at bay. They simply had to have got a shot of him in Eurosport in that get up! Classy or what?!! He said he had never experienced cold in his hands like it before but once he got onto the special stage the sack was off and he got on with the job at hand. He said it was a relatively short stage today and he was happy with his performance and making up for some lost time from Stage 9. Luckily he didn’t suffer any altitude sickness this time around and he loved the descent over windy routes back into Argentina. He was back in the bivouac early and getting some rest in before a heavy 476kms of a special test tomorrow plus 297kms of a liaison to get home after that. Another real test of endurance even at this late stage in the game. There is no time or place for complacency and he had an unbelievable laser sharp focus on tomorrow’s race. Keep the support coming, he loves it…….3 more days and counting………the pressure and excitement mounts.
January 13th, 2010 at 11:20 pm
Hi Philip,
Only three days left! That’s brilliant. It’s up there with climbing Mount Everest and winning the World Cup. Is it time to start singing yet: Olay, olay, olay, – olay, olay! Stay safe!
Love Katherine
January 13th, 2010 at 11:27 pm
hi phil another one down long day tomorrow finish in sight now keep the head and stay safe…mark
January 13th, 2010 at 11:49 pm
Well done philip,your really goin great,keep it up and dont get carried away.
Just a few small hills left
Ciaran
January 13th, 2010 at 11:53 pm
Good on you Philip rest well and light her up tomorrow. We wish you all the best sher you are nearly there. All the best from every one in mallow
George
January 14th, 2010 at 12:10 am
Keep going Philip,
Everybody in Ireland is proud of you.
Mike,
January 14th, 2010 at 12:28 am
Hello Santiago-San Juan…….Can you hear us??………Here is the Irish Vote………DOUZE POINT!!!!
Your some boyo…we are all sooo proud of you!! xsaoirse,nora,sonny,nell and finn (esp. sonny..he thinks his godfather is the coolest godfather on the planet!)
January 14th, 2010 at 12:59 am
WAS THAT YOU ON EUROSPORT LAST NIGHT ASLEEP IN THE TENT WITH THE HEAD STICKING OUT & BLACK EYE MASK ON…HAD TO BE YOU !!!
January 14th, 2010 at 2:27 am
Bit by bit getting there.
Keep her going and maintain that focus. Serious riding.
Screamin for ya here.
January 14th, 2010 at 2:52 am
COME ON PHILIP!!!!!!! YOU ARE SO CLOSE!!!!!!!!
January 14th, 2010 at 4:48 am
Keep it steady, rooting for you here in the USA. You can do it stay focused only a few days left. Slain agus go eirigh an bothar leath.
January 14th, 2010 at 6:06 am
Philip, I hope you kept that black sack. Please don’t tell me you threw it away. You could have sold it on e-bay. Good luck.
January 14th, 2010 at 12:27 pm
Yo Philip,
Keep at it, son. It’s fever pitch back here in Ireland, Everyone is talking about you. This could be the making of you. If you can finish, people in Dun Laoighaire will say, “LOOK, there’s Phillip Noone, the Dakar hero”, rather than,”See yer man over there? He’s the Pound King’s little brother”. COME BACK A MAN……. WITH YOUR MEDAL!!!!!!!! If you do, Gay Byrne will come out of retirement to interview you. Hell, even Thelma Mansfield might!!! But you’ll defo be doing panto with Twink next Xmas. Now there’s an incentive.
Remember, keep necking the Viagra like you’re Hugh Hefner and….
GO, WILLY, GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 14th, 2010 at 4:01 pm
Hope today goes well for you Philip, looks like a tough 1
January 14th, 2010 at 5:19 pm
3 more days….VROOMMMM VROOOMMMMMM…viva la moto..
Le champion de Sefton
January 14th, 2010 at 5:19 pm
Le Champion de Dublin
January 14th, 2010 at 5:19 pm
Le Champion de Irlanda
January 14th, 2010 at 5:41 pm
Hi Philip,
Wow!!!Well done so far,keep going,your nearly there!The Noone’s from Curraghateenmore had great oul stamina!!They made their way from there to all over the world !Viv is so proud of you,so are us all!Its a far cry from that bike you took me around knock on many,many moons ago!The very best of mayo luck to you!! GO!GO!GO!
Take care
Jo-Anne and crew
January 14th, 2010 at 5:44 pm
The whole forlab’s team, here in Belgium, follows your success days after days. We are so happy you passed the stage 10. we are now convinved once more your are the best and not only with the focus busines. For the 3 last days as we say in french to be lucky: “bonne merde”. Daniel
January 14th, 2010 at 6:12 pm
Phil, Murph and gang,
This is truly fantastic, you’re all doing an outstanding job. The excitement is just amazing, I’m almost in tears writing this. Stay focused and take it piece by piece. Bring that medal back to Ireland! Come on the Irish!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
All the best……….Feargal.
January 14th, 2010 at 6:32 pm
keep it up phil-Irelands new KING!!!!!
January 14th, 2010 at 6:58 pm
Hi Barry
Great to get your message last night and to hear that your thriving! Morriseys will be busy when you return
Vinny Siobhan and crew
January 14th, 2010 at 7:13 pm
Animo!!! Philip, estamos contigo!!!! keep going. Nearly there!!! Peter, Elena, Marc and Nicholas
January 14th, 2010 at 9:47 pm
Well done so far Philip, keep the tri-colour flying. Hey Brian, do you remember the Film, the worlds fastest Indian, Ask the doc. for a few nitro heart pills and drop one in the tank for the long run tomorrow,
Best of luck, Jerome.
January 14th, 2010 at 10:23 pm
Now youved proved ya can ride with the BIG BOYS,welcome to the
experts for 2010.Not far now keep yer head,nice and steady to the checkered.
January 15th, 2010 at 12:58 am
Another great day, keep it up..
January 15th, 2010 at 1:42 am
Very good job Philip.