March 30 2009. Palencia Spain.

I just read that Lance is back on the bike, albeit it being a stationary one. That's good news.
I knew he was keen, because the day after his operation he was sending messages to the mechanic
about saddles.
Maybe there were some people thinking that he might see his crash as a sign. A sign that said this come back is not a good idea. He obviously did not think that way.
I have been keeping my eyes on the results, have been impressed with the results of Ben Swift who is riding for the Katusha team. There are quite a few British guys out there now who are riding well which
is good.
Enjoyed watching the track worlds that were held in Poland. It seems the other nations have woken up to the fact that unless they get there act together the Brits are just going to continue crushing everybody.
All the other nations have the talent and more, its just that they have not had the systems in place like we have, the coaching expertise etc. I mean we all know that the road is were its at, and most decent riders head in that direction. Not that I am taking anything away from what we have done on the track, you got to be "in it to win it" as they say.
But seeing other nations with riders who's skin suits are flapping in the wind makes it look a bit obvious that not everybody is competing on equal terms.
Ok. More from Spain next week.

March 27 2009. Palencia Spain.

We did it! Another great win for the team. The boys were really under the hammer at the start. Obviously we were missing Lance and Tomas, that made life tough. But as virtually always happens things settled down. Valverde ran out the stage winner, the uphill finish suited him perfectly. His team kept a lid on things which meant we did not have to work the whole day.
Ok. Next stop Pais Basque for more of the same.
Its a crazy hard race. Alberto would like to repeat his win of last year.
We give it our best shot!

March 27 2009. Benavente Spain.

Still in 1st and 2nd on GC. Although yesterday was a hard day for the team.
Its the situation. I mean, when we are on the start line with Alberto and Levi everybody knows that all things being equal they will be racing for 2nd place, in this case 3rd.
For the leaders its relatively easy, its the rest of the guys on the team who really hard time.
Because it seems everybody wants to knock us of the top.
But yesterday we kept our cool and held it together. And with Alberto on his side Levi certainly had the best help out there.
Today should be ok, its relatively flat, and after yesterdays stage the time gaps are bigger. We lost Tomas Vaitkus as well yesterday. He crashed hard in Het Volk and is still on the comeback trail. He did great work before he pulled the pin, but with him and Lance both out it does make things a little harder than it could have been.
Fingers crossed. The weather has been superb all week, makes life comfortable.

March 24 2009. Palencia Spain.

Well. Not everything went to plan. Too bad that Lance crashed out yesterday on the 1st stage a gave himself a broken collarbone. Because today Levi and Alberto produced storming rides to take 1st and 2nd on stage two, a 28 km TT. When I first went round the yesterday after the stage I said to myself there is no way Levi is going to get beat here. Although Alberto pushed him. I mean they were both doing over 70kph on the way out. Levi had 56 on, Alberto 55.
It would have been a real good test for Lance, he looked to me like he had improved a lot since California, too bad.
Alberto really has worked on his TT position and its nigh on perfect. Although there is just no way he can get as aero as Levi.
So we are back in Yellow. 3rd place went to Dave Z. The rest of the field including Menchov and Valverde were some time back.
So for the boys its back on the front again.
Although yesterday they already more than there fair share.
Mancebo did or tried his attack at the start trick, like he did in California. Because of the strong head wind at the start of the stage they quickly built up a lead, like 2 minutes after 2kms.
It was up to us to get the ball rolling regarding a chase. And lucky we started when we did because the remnants of that move did not get swept up until 5kms to go. A rider from the Continental squad Burgos Monumental won the stage in the mass sprint.
It turned out to be a great day to win, because with the crash of Lance front page news everywhere the profile of this race rose considerably.
Ok. Better tell the boys to stop kicking that ball around and rest up!

March 23 2009. Palencia Spain.

In my last entry I suggested that maybe Cav could pull one out of the hat on the last stage there in Tirreno.
He did that, and much more. Because he was one of the many riders who's next stop was Milan San Remo. And there he surprised many by making it to San Remo, in contention. I think there is no disputing he is the fastest out there. But I for one, having seen him from the team car on various climbs never thought he would be able to make it. Make it he did, and then he proceeded to produce by all accounts an amazing sprint to take the win. Amazing. He beat my tip Hassler in a photo finish. The rest of the field were not even in that photo those two were so far ahead. Hassler said that he looked over his shoulder, that look more than likely cost him the win. A mistake he might well regret making for a long long time.
I am down here in Spain for the Vuelta Castille Leon. Here we have Alberto Lance and Levi, so a strong team. Its the only time that Lance and Alberto will race side by side before the Tour. So there is a lot of attention focused on us here. Alberto has won the race for the last two years, and wants to win it again.
Lance is improving all the time. Stage two is a 30 km TT so things will be quite sorted after that already. I don't think there will be any problems.
Anyhows, the weather looks perfect, so all is good.
Back to Cav's win in MSR. Amazing. He has really hit the big time now. And he is only going to get better. I hope he has good people around him and keeps his feet on the ground.
I cannot not mention George Hincapie, Cav's team mate there on Columbia. I have said it before in my diary, he is "the man" so professional, always there to do the job. His help and guidance cannot be underestimated. I told Allan Peiper before they took him on there "that is one signing you will never
ever regret"
Ok. I will let you know how things go down here.

17 March 2009. Italy

I said they would try and work us over, the Italians that is.
Andrea's was not on one of his best days. The team did all they could and did it well. But Basso and company were on a mission to dethrone us, and they succeeded. To bad, it was a case of so near yet so far.
Still. I think we did a good Tirreno and everybody should be happy.
Last stage today. Maybe Cav can pull one out of the hat.

Next stop for most of the guys here is Milan San Remo. My tip for that race. Heinrich Hassler Cervelo Test Team.

16 March 2009
Macerata Italy

Andrea's pulled out a great ride yesterday. Class. The time trial was really tough. Perfect for him. It was a close call for the jersey with Thomas Lovkist Team Columbia. Just 6 seconds separate them now.
Today is going to be a tough one. 235 kms up and down with a hilltop finish.The team will have their
work cut out.
We lost Jani Brajkovic earlier in the race, we could really have done with him today.
Of course the Italians will not go down without a fight. Should be fun.
We just have to stick together, and Team Columbia are not going to throw away 2nd place and
possibly a win.
In the other race that finished yesterday Paris Nice their was all kinds of drama. Alberto looked unbeatable, but again the result shows that you never know what can happen in bike racing.
I hear it made good TV, so that cannot be bad. But I think the general consensus is that Alberto by the way he rides compromises his chances sometimes.
Ok, fingers crossed for today!!

10 March 2009.
Paris CDG Airport

I know I know, done it again. Not kept my diary up to speed. Where were we! California! That's it. Levi did another stella ride there. Backed by a great team he completed a hat trick of wins.
The rest of the field had the guys hurting a few times, but bike racing is not supposed to be easy is it. Anyhow's, the team managed to deal with everything that was thrown there way.

Next stop for me is Tirreno, on my way there now. We have a team in Paris-Nice, where Alberto stormed to a win in the prologue TT, beating Bradley Wiggins by 7 seconds or so over the 9.5 kms.
I think that result will have sent shock waves to the rest of the cycling world.
I heard reports that he was flying in feb camp, this confirms that. I think he has stepped up another level, if that is possible. Scary.
Obviously the team will have a lot of work to do. Not much help out there.
But, barring a disaster I think a GC win is virtually a forgone conclusion.
I forgot to say that we also won team GC in Cali! That's icing on the cake. Shows how strong we were. Great.

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