The Tour of Poland has treated us well so far this week.  Dry conditions and some exciting finishes have made for an enjoyable week.  HTC-Columbia already has one win in the bag, but we are still looking to add to that tally as well as have a rider or two in a good spot on the general classification.  Even though a few of the stages have been raced at a snails pace at times, we have been faced with plenty of challenges and each day has been increasingly harder.

Each day we have finished on a very technical and quite dangerous circuit.  The roads alone are hard enough to navigate.  Potholes are so sporadic that you have to remain 100% focused at all times.  And even when the roads are smooth they ride as if you were surfing the asphalt.  The Polish seem to be missing an important link in their road construction equipment, the steamroller!

On the finishing laps, railways, cobbles and off-camber turns are added into the mix.  These conditions open the door for anyone with nothing to lose to take the win.  I am sure it is exciting to watch on the television, but at times I could think of better places to be!

Today and tomorrow will see the overall race sorted out.  Plenty of hills are still ahead of us and the racing is just getting faster.  It is pretty obvious that many of the riders here put in some serious time on their bikes this summer.  I am feeling good heading into the final stages, just need some luck and to deal with a great deal of suffering and a good result will be waiting for me on the weekend.