So as I stated in the previous post, the purpose of this camp was to start our prep for Roubaix. While this is the case, we have quite a bit of time between now and then, including a barrage of races coming up. Here is a small compilation of the events to come:

Het Volk, Belgium: Mar 1st
Kurne Brussels Kurne, Belgium: Mar 2nd
Roubaix Course Check, France: Mar 4th/5th
Eroica, Italy: Mar 8th
Tirreno Adriatico, Italy: Mar 12-19
Track Worlds, Manchester, England: Mar 26-30

Every day Maggy and I have been heading out for our rides together. Most of the time we sit side by side on the front with the other boys on the back set up for a human motorpace session. We stick it to eachother properly and get on with the jobs at hand. Usually before we know it, it’s just he and I. The majority of the days have been dismal, in regards to weather. We have had two nice days to ride in, otherwise, it’s rain, cold, and overcast.

Because of the weather each day starts like this:
-Up at 8 to 8:30
-Fresh cup of brew (highly important)

-Solid breaky
-make a few sandwiches for the ride
-out the door by 10 to 10:30

In between the downtime I’ve really started to delve into other things. If I’m not working on getting the apartment in order I’m cooking elaborate meals, or at least trying to, learning about frois grois and wine from Will, and how to suffer like a pig from Maggy.

On the upside I’ve bought a eisle, a paint set, and a canvas to attempt a painting. The only other time i’ve done a painting was when i was a child using my fingers. On top of that I’ve really been practicing my French and Spanish/Catalan languages, since I’m here to stay with a full apartment, a race calendar, and the such, I better do something.

Anyways, I have to get some sleep. Attached are some photos, as always, people request photos.

9:04 AM here in Girona, Spain. Oatmeal is front of me, coffee close by freshly brewed from the Mochapot I just bought, which is badass.

Ride is at 10 AM with Magnus, who is riding again, and here in town for the next two weeks. We are 4 days into the camp, today being the 5th day. For those of you who actually read this, and who know me, know that I have never done Roubaix before, yet am physcially suited to it genetically by the larger section of my bod known as my ass.

Magnus is not allowed to stand, nor pull on the bars, so he’s been staying in the saddle pushing on the pedals at an avg. wattage of 300 + for two hours at a time, yes that’s right for 2 hours straight, which is supposed to increase here soon. I ride next to him, but I have quite a bit less frontal area, and i’m on avg. 60 watts lower. I usually ride longer anyways, so it works out.

Johnny Weltz, one of the Euro directors has been putting the plan forth everyday, which is usually good, except that last Monday when my bikes never showed up from Denmark, and my spare wasn’t ready, I was put on my TT bike that I hadn’t ridden since last year at the Four Days of Dunkirk. Yeah, 140 K later or 85 miles my knees were loving me. Especially when I was with Will and Johnny motorpacing at 450-500 watts for 20 minutes. Fantastic.

Well, I need to adjust some stuff on the bike before heading out. I will send pics soon, but here is one to eat your heart out on in the meantime.

Well, I am back on the road, but I made a very amateur move at the world cup here in Denmark this afternoon. Coming from the road I should have ridden a larger gear. I’ve been riding big gears all year long, and I don’t know why I used a 52×15 for the heat. Normally I use a 49×14, which is significantly larger, but for the heat I decided it wouldn’t be super fast because 12 would make it through. I was completely wrong, and it’s really the only excuse I have, because I’m really fit.  Anyways, the heat was fast, I had 4 points and needed 1 more to qualify because I was 4th on the final sprint and would have made it based on the final placing of the final sprint. Anyways tomorrow is the Scratch Race, and I will make sure I ride a bigger gear. I will be able to tell if it’s me physically or if it actually is the gear I used.  Ba Hum Bug hahaha. The Meat has Spoken 

Okay, it’s been awhile since I’ve actually posted a legitimate post, but this one is noteworthy, because of the long road I’ve come over.

Last year as many of you know, I was diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism, told that if I would have waited 30 minutes more before coming into the hospital that it may have been game over, that I probably wouldn’t ride the same again, and more. Well, I’m proud to announce that yesterday, finally YESTERDAY, I felt like my old self! I had the “Meatball” power, or as the guys like to say, “retard” strength. I know that the latter one isn’t so nice, but that’s what they say.

My job yesterday was to make the early breakaway, take the pressure off the boys, and be apart of the race. Both Jason Donald and I had this same job. From the gun I was following attacks, and after that I was attacking. Jason and I followed and initiated for over 30 km, until finally the straw broke the cammels back on a wide open fast descent. A FdJeux guy had about 7 seconds when I made my jump across using my large ass to my gravitational advantage, and my descending/cornering skills to get there quickly. It’s amazing how well you can perform the task of crazy descending when 1.) you have to chase back on over a big climb and 2.) when you do it a lot!.

Anyways, Bouygues Telecom was satisfied with who was in the break based on time. A lot of breaks will form, but only the right ones will get away based on who is in the break. This way the team protecting the overall leader won’t have to freak out about who’s up the road. I was 15 minutes down, so no threat, but there were two guys in the break within two minutes, so the the time never got above 5 minutes.

It ended up being 120 km long breakaway, that got caught just 3 km to the finish line. The course had one big loop, and then three laps on a circuit about 7.5 km long. Right past the finish line was a short, relatively steep climb that snaked up just packed with people. PACKED! It was an awesome feeling to be there, without lung pain, without the piriformis muscle in my ass screaming, without cramping etc due to lack of volume. Don’t get me wrong, I have a lot still yet to do until i’m equalized with the guys here on the road coming from the track, but the point is, I felt good, strong, normal, and am very content with that wonderful feeling.

Photos are the most fun, so here are some random ones…

Kid crashes due to high cross winds into a gravel patched shoulder.

Gets up and finishes the stage, albeit being “time cut”.

Gets on the bus and is limping around. I just think it’s severe road rash until I see him litterally dragging his leg to the fridge and back.

I go up and ask, “Blake how you getting on?
He tells me that his hip is really really bad and it’s worse than usual.
“Yeah, I can see that dude, and tell him to pin me using his blackberry since I’m sitting at the back of the bus hahaha”. Oh technology.

This cat goes to the hospital, finds out his hip is fractured. Shit, man, he pulled the last 20 KM with dudes on his wheel suffering to not make the time cut, and with a fractured hip to boot.

Tough man award: Blake Caldwell

more to come

Nobody knows this Cat yet people.

Rest assured they will.

He grew up with me in good Ol’ Pittsburgh PA. As Juniors and senior riders we ride and chill about everyday of the week when I’m in town. In fact I’d consider us brothers, that’s how close he and his family are to me.

Nonetheless, this Kid is going to make his mark. He’s riding for Nature’s Path this year, he’s only 23 and he’s a Bad Ass.

When I was 8th in Philly two years ago, I went home for a few days, and this kid dropped me. The reason he hasn’t been on the circuit much until the past two years is because of USAC upgrade program, work, and school.

Seriously, watch out for this Cat, because his potential is one we all would refer to as a Phenom. If I had to equate this kid with a rider, I would say he’s a lot like Hincapie, except he hasn’t realized it yet.

YO Boys at Nature’s Path: Good pick of the bunch with Mele. He will be great for you, and you will be great for him in his next step up the latter.

Look, if you can’t have fun as a “Pro” Cyclist, go get your nutts checked. Life is way too short to have a stick up our asses and not to enjoy ourselves.

Plus the crowds love it.

This is a pic of Brad Huff at the Burnaby, Six Day, day # 5. Brad’s knee is about to give out due to extreme use and high cadences. However, in light of this, he is able to put a smile on and one last show for the fans.

So we’ve arrived in France. The first race that I will do is tomorrow. GP Marsaille, a 120 km race that starts off with about 14 km of climbing before becoming mostly flat. Two days after, starting Wednesday is Etoille de Bessege, which has a stage that goes up the same climb that starts off GP Marsaille. I can’t sleep. I’ve been up since 5:09 which is a bit better than the usual 2AM awakenings I’ve been having. I usually get up around 6:30 or 7 after lying there for five hours to come down to the restaurant and work on my training diary, have a coffee, and send some emails. It’s all Jazz.

The guys here with me are Will Frishkorn, Ryder Hesjedal, Pat McCarty, Blake Caldwell, Dan Martin, and Jason Donald.

Team Mechanic: is Kevin Grove (Bad ass Mechanic w/Attitude) does a good job at directing too when things are chaotic.

Soigneur: Josep Colomer (worked for CSC previously)
Soigneur: Joachim Schoonaker (Worked for Toyota previously)

Team Director: Lionel Marie (Director at Credit Agricole previously)

Weather has been rather warm for this time of year. 50’s but it could snow anytime.

Marsaille has the highest crime rate in the EU, but is quite beautiful. It’s located just off the coast in the early rollers leading to the Alps. Beautiful region.