Years of hard work and dedication in pursuit of his Olympic dream disappeared in the waters and roads of the Czech Republic for Gavin Noble.

Gavin will have to come to terms with missing out by one place, that place taken by a Slovak with freakishly good results in the last few races which saw him come from nowhere to land the final spot with some super human efforts.

Forty fourth in Spain, and 20th in Greece the Slovak produced an amazing sixth spot finish in the biggest race of the year to snatch the pace form Gavin's grasp. And try as the Enniskillen man did he was unable to reclaim it in the Czech republic. But as his online diary shows, he was going to give it his best shot.

"Little Big Man, Conquering Bear, Sitting Bull, Red Cloud, Spotted Tail, Brave Bird, Hump,Hollow Horn and Eagle Wings - all great native American warriors.

It was planned that I would go to Czech Republic as 'Conquering Bear' but instead I will be going as 'Brave Bird'. Its been a difficult couple of days since Lisbon and since my world got 'slovaked'. I haven't really wanted to be around people and have felt a bit like 'Hollow Horn' and to others around me have acted like 'Sitting Bull'.

I woke on Monday morning and the sun was shining so I headed out with Mr Pink (my bike) and got lost in the glens. Stopping for lunch in a random village, I found myself with a mixed bag of emotions, going from stamping on the pedals in a rage, to free wheeling hoping the descent would never end.

It would be different if it was the Hungarian or Croat who took me out, I would have been able to accept that I think. At the same time I have to admire the Slovakian - coming from no-where to being in a position to sprint for a medal at a European Champs.

I have been keeping myself to myself in training. Sleeping in, training how I feel and using the longer days to get some work in. Last nights chain gang was fast again - I averaged 342 watts for the 30kms at an average heart rate of 159; with the average speed up at 44k per hour. Although I am struggling for motivation in the pool I am feeling good and will go to Brno in good shape.

So for one last time in this campaign Ill be packing up on Thursday night and catching the red eye to London. Its mission impossible for me in Brno and my initial reaction was to pack it in like the others. But Mr Voice has had a word and we have taken inspiration from everyone who has been in contact. Mr Voice has bagged himself some fancy dress and will go to Brno as Crazy Horse.

As Crazy Horse led his people to the battle at Big Horn against that Custer bloke, he rallied his men with his famous cry

"This is a good day to fight ....this is a good day to die ...... strong hearts, brave hearts to the front ! Weak hearts and cowards to the rear !"

But disaster struck in the Czech Republic, a false start that never was left Gavin standing on the start line - alone.

"2 minutes to the start". 15 seconds later I found myself alone at the pontoon expecting the false start to be brought back. The officials attempted top bring everyone back but at the end they must of just wanted to get out of the rain. They told me just to go.

I swam the first 200 in a rage and as I hit the traffic I started getting grabbed and clung to like a scene from a zombie horror flick. Mr Voice was annoyed. He was fed up and tired.

I came out of the water after 1000m well down the field but told myself, if I can come out at the end of 1000m in Hamburg World Champs and get my way back I can climb get past these boys too. I did and at the swim exit gained renewed hope.

It was about 4k until I reached the leaders. The rain was coming down hard which pleased me. After there was a crash on the first lap I moved to the front and kept myself there in the hope there would be more crashes ! There were ambulances on the course and one dude managed to lodge his head IN the barriers ! Everytime I heard someone hit the deck I hoped he would take down everyone but me !

My only chance was to get away on the bike. On every lap there were attacks. I would follow everyone of them. Contribute and drive those without my rivals; slow down and hamper those with my rivals in them. On the last lap of 8 I did get a clear gap ...... my problem though, apart from it being too late was that Ospaly (the strongest runner and eventual winner) was on my wheel.

Banging your head against the wall hurts. So after 1200 kilo joules of work on the bike I hit the run heavy legged. Mr Voice started his vacation then and I became a zombie covering the metres to the finish.

Aye, so anyway, thats that."

I'm off."