Spring - Summer

Feels like summer today!

A really sunny day out. Riding along Les Serres and Estanyol, the fields are green and the spring shows its flowers blooming everywhere.
On the way back we met up with another group of riders (ex-team mates) and good friends.
There are so many people riding when the weather starts to warm up.
Spring is here!

Gail and Brad enjoying lunch. well, it is already gone...

WOMEN'S TRAINING CAMP

This is our last day; relaxing in Girona

We are very happy to meet you and we hope to see you all next year!

Take care and enjoy racing

Women's Training Camp - DAY 6

Sant Hilari - 135Km The longest stage of the week, the queen stage!
It is a long day and everything is ready. Debbie, in the van, carries extra warm clothing for the top and many different snacks, powerbars, fruits and drinks for the ride.
The day is clear and no rain is expected.
The first part of the ride is relatively flat until Arbucies, where we start the climb up to Sant Hilari. about 20km of gradual climb, with magnificient views to the Turó de l'Home mountain still covered with snow.
It is cold at the top, and after 3 km of descent we stop in a bar to warm up with a cafe con leche (cafe amb llet). Debbie and Diane arrive a minute later and we start the long 20km descent. It is pretty cold, but we are now dressed properly.
At the base, we stop for lunch and hot chocolate. Replenish energy for the last km to Girona.



This has been the last day of riding with the camp. And we don't want to say goodbye. We go shopping to get some food for tonight. We will have our last dinner at the apartments. Catalan home food: pa amb tomaquet, Spanish cheeses, jamon (ham) chorizo and Llangonissa, and Potato omelette.

Tomorrow early morning Phil and Diane are leaving. It is sad for us, but we are happy everything went perfect and the weather respected us.

Women's Training Camp - DAY 5

The recovery day before the long stage on Saturday.
The day starts sunny, but the forecast shows scattered showers almost everywhere in Catalonia. It looks like we will get wet today.
Dede comes with us too, and we go to the Pont de Pedra for a group picture before starting the ride.

We leave Girona to follow the route where the new high voltage power lines may be in the near future.
The first part of the ride is great, but the sky is getting dark. When the first drops begin to fall, we take a short cut to Girona. Although it is not raining much, we decide to go back faster. We have covered most of the ride and enough for the recovery day.

Women's Training Camp - DAY 4

Another day to the coast! 125Km
And the weather is super nice again! Two climbs today: Romanya and then Els Angels on the way back to Girona.
Enjoy the pictures as we did the ride

Women's Training Camp - DAY 3

Today's ride is called Les Serres. A series of loops around Girona and 3 easy climbs. 93Km along narrow roads in the countryside.
This morning only Jessy, Kele and Theresa are riding and Dede is also joining us.
We are going to have a nice ride and share experiences with Dede.



A stop for coffee in Santa Coloma is the perfect chance to try the unique "coca de ratafia" (yes, it was planned) Everybody enjoyed it! On the way back David (Bicis Esteve and my teammate) joined us back to Girona and took pictures of all of us.

Tonight we have a typical catalan dinner in a masia (traditional catalan farm/country house). Some decide to try the pork and beef cheeks, as it is one of the most popular dishes and specialties of the area.

Women's Training Camp - DAY 2

After Kele arrived last night, the group is now complete.
Today's ride is Sant Grau. 105Km with the 5 km climb up to Sant Grau and a last steep km.
The forecast showed warmer temperatures and when we start it's nice and sunny. although it is windy!

Women's Training Camp - DAY 1

First ride: Santa Pellaia. 74Km
We have a presentation before the ride about the weeks program, the rides and after ride activities, and...the weather. The forecast is not optimistic and shows 3 depressions coming through. That is possible rain starting monday night and extended during the week.
I cant believe how cold it got in one day. After a warm weekend, 26ºC (79F) this morning is only 11ºC. Feels like winter brrrrr!
We take a second round of hot cafes con leche while Dede Barry and Xavi join us for the ride.
We are ready to start!
Robert, a friend of ours, joins us too. Our group is growing and we will share our cycling in Girona experiences with everybody.

Rolling down the cobblestones streets of the old quarter, heading out of Girona.
We take a 3rd round of coffees in Monells. Ricard and Ryder (Slipstream) stop by and we start the second part of the ride together.

Women's Training Camp - DAY 0

Pick ups at the airport in the morning.
For some it's the first time, but I cant wait to see Phil and Diane. They have been coming to Girona many years and this camp was thought for their team.
Gary and Theresa were here with the Fast Freddie Training camp 2 years ago.
They all arrive on time and with ALL bags. That's great!

In the afternoon we arrive in Girona, lunch and rest to recover from the jet lag.

WOMEN'S TRAINING CAMP

Everything is ready! We are going to Barcelona to meet the cyclists upon their arrival. Tomorrow is the start day. We have ahead a week of riding and fun.

Riding with the Pros

We had planned a 5 hour ride to the mountains in the Montseny park. I had a call in the morning from Ricard. he was riding with some pros, and we could join them. Cale preferred to change the ride and we went to meet Ricard at the clinic.
Rode up to Santa Pellaia, and on the descent we met up with Ryder (Slipstream). Apparently, the rest of the group had taken another road to the coast. At that point we decided we would go back and try to meet them on their way back while Ricard would go to els Angels.

We split and started to hammer on the way up. Seconds later I heard someone shouting I first thought that some hunter were calling his buddies Wild boar! We didnt stop.

We heard it again, someone whsitling and shouting, I turned back and I saw someone coming,

oh! Ricard was calling and Zabriskie was louder, Lewis (High Road) and Pat were there too.


What a "de luxe" grupetto! We had the chance to ride together for a while.
In Llagostera we split and went to Sant Grau. A great climb where we pushed hard all the way up. Ricard managed to get rid of us and made it first to the top. oh well, next time!
At the top, we would meet with KOEN DE KORT (Astana) after he was doing some hard intervals at 500Watt. He was getting ready for the Spring classics season.
We rode back to Girona together. We also saw many other riders on the road. Easter Holidays or spring break, everybody on the road.
What a great day!

Fast Cale!

Yes, Cale was fast! And we rode a lot. 2 weeks of plenty of rides and fun stories.

A ride to the coast. Of course one of the favourites! Half ride done we met with Ricard Huelamo, as well as the pros, he is always on the bike! We are now a group of 3 so we speed it up
On the way back to Girona we met with Pat (Slipstream)
Cale came with his wife and daughter, and when he was riding they had time to relax, visit Girona and go on their own trips. Two weeks in Girona allow to taste many restaurants and that is what they did! Excellent choices were made, of course! Because in Girona you will find even a 3 star Michelin Restaurant.

Bernat's MTB ride

Last weekend Bernat and some friends went to the high mountains in central Catalonia.
They did the Cabreres route in MTB. 2 days of beautiful riding.

Check out more of the amazing pictures of this trip at:
http://www.closeup.es/cabreres08/

Don't forget to take a look at his photography website! http://www.closeup.es

2008 Blog Update

Almost March
It's been 2 months busy preparing this season.
We have been riding a lot, putting in good base miles and looking for different rides.
Every year, we prepare a new set of rides, different than the ones we have done in the past.
New challenges and epic rides waiting for you this 2008!

Riding with Ricard Huelamo. One of the most prestigious Physiotherapist in Spain. He has a clinic nearby Girona and amongst his clients there are many pro cyclists: Barry, VandeVelde, Levi, Hincapie...and many other sport stars.
We are working on a new set of treatments to offer as a complement in our tours.
More info coming soon!
New clothing for 2008! New jersey and bibs, leg and arm warmers. Here riding Freddie's bike!
More news for 2008. I have signed for Esteve team and so joining my best riding friends!

Group ride with all the Esteve Team

An escape to Barcelona. Riding to Sitges with some old friends. Dind remember how different is riding around Barcelona! Too many cars!

2008

Autumn Rides

The good weather still shows off in October.
In the cold mornings (I might say for us, 10ºC) we wear warm layers easy to put away when the afternoon sun starts to shine and temperatures raise to 20ºC. Yes it's nice now. Maybe we should start riding at noon and be back by 3pm...

Well, maybe we'll need more time to cover 100k!
Jim was in Girona for a few days, and wanted to ride a bit. Well, it turned to be 5 good hours going to the coast. A beautiful day!

On the way back we were talking about food...I told hima bout how delicious pork cheeks are when they are baked w. veggies. Well, at first is not something you'd order, I know. It is not very common dish. Once you see it, rich and tender meet on both sides of a flat bone, and after tasting it your opinion changes. It worth trying these specialty!

Well, we got so hungry on the way back, that we met for lunch after the ride, and guess what; The restaurant was serving cheeks in the menu.

We both went for it! Oh yeah, that was a feast! Felt so good after the long ride.

Thanks Jim!
Christmas is coming and the Cagations (see in the picture) are ready to be fed and grew.

I wonder what the catalans do with them. I can tell you that they poop good presents for everyone!

Another day of good riding.

Going to the Montseny Mountains in autumn is going to see the beautiful colors of the changing season.

Again, Ritse and Gordon were impressed by the ride we had prepared. Well, I hope I can do it every time they come!

Microsoft Digital Town Hall Post ISU Cycling Tour

After several weeks of planning with Gordon and Jordi, I was ready to pick up the group in Barcelona. We were 8 in total and would go to Girona for a dinner and an intense ride the day after a long conference week.

The group

We had a fabulous dinner and were ready to go to bed and get ready for next morning. The ride we had prepared was The Coast to Tossa, one of the nicest rides around.

Leaving Tossa behind

On the way back we stopped in Romanya. We were running short of time, and decided to push a little bit faster and work the paceline together against the wind. Back on time to have showers and drive to the countryside Masia restaurant to enjoy traditional Catalan food. Wine in a porró!

(maybe I can post some pictures here when I have them...:-)

After lunch and ride back to the airport, I think everyone was tired enough to sleep on the way home - me included.

Hope to see you again guys! Good luck!

La Vuelta

We are back from spending 4 days in the Pyrenees to see la Vuelta.
One of the big stages finished in Cerler, after a 12km climb. It was going to be a great chance to see the riders in action!

Erik had some friends visiting and we all went to see La Vuelta. Theresa, Robin and Erik in the picture.

The climb was 12km and had 6 hard ks, especially the first 4 and the 2 past Cerler, at 10%.
Grafitters!!! Watch out!
And we had a rest stop and met with these two dutch fans. Viva Freire, Viva Rabobank!

They invited us to have a couple of beers, and we were ready for the winding descent to Benasque....

And the pros came...Sorry, the picture below ;-))
The following day, I talked to the CSC Fisio and he told me that when VdV was caught by the peloton, Iñigo Cuesta was leading it at 26-30km/h for the first 4 hard km. Hard to believe, impossible to do! After Cerler, the pack was completely broken and the stage was for Piepoli, Menchov was 2nd.

Next day start at Benasque. Go Christian!

Quick update: secret training for the big ride

R. don't say it to anyone....