It is a strange feeling to be racing so close to home, but one I really like.  This year’s Volta Catalunya, like the past two editions I have competed in, started just down the coast from Girona in Lloret de Mar.  A very familiar prologue kicked things off, and the following day we started on the outskirts of Girona itself, in Salt.  I really feel spoiled to have a ProTour race that passes through Girona, as well as the US national championships taking place in my home in Greenville.  It is a taste of what it is like to be Belgian, for instants, and being able to race the Tour of Flanders, or many of the other big races near your home.  You know every corner, every hill and every pothole.  And you have that little bit of extra motivation to perform well.

I spent most of the first stage thinking about all of the training and suffering I had done on these exact roads to prepare my body for these races.  I also couldn’t help but notice how much easier we glide over the hills in the race compared to when I am training by myself.  I am always amazed at how fast the bunch can get moving when it wants to.

HTC-Columbia has already had a very successful Volta Catalunya.  The prologue went very well, and Mark Cavendish has made it very clear that he is back from some early season setbacks with a great win into Banyoles.  Within just a few short weeks of proper training and racing he is back to winning and showing why he is the fastest man on two wheels.

Now we head into the mountains, direction Andorra.  The next three days will be very difficult I feel.  There might not be a mountain top finish to any of the stages, but the roads will be constantly tilting up and down.  And if the previous races this year are any indication, we should see some epic race days ahead.