Our attempt to make it to the parking lot of of the Giro presentation.

Lots of spectators turned out, but were they for the cyclist? Nope, Alpina (a group that celebrates the military veterans) just happened to be in town on the same weekend. Coincidence, or a clever ploy by the race organizers to guarantee hundreds of thousands of spectators?

The crowds were thick and full of highly intoxicated Italians.

Our parade lead by the military.

The Frecce Tricolore painting the sky in Italy's colors.

On stage and surrounded by thousands of fans, not a bad feeling!

Trying to get to the team presentation of the Amstel Gold Race is not an easy task.

After the race is finished, the stress continues with the drive home.

Our director Valerio Piva planning the day's training route.

The Hove Malpertuus, owned by the family of Valerio's wife, is our hotel for the week.

Some of the best racing food of the year is to be had at the Malpertuus. This is just a sampling of the starters.

Courtney and I stopping for a photo below our apartment in Girona.

Casa Moner, our bakery in town.

Quite farm roads outside of Bordils.

A farmhouse sundial near Bordils.

The cobbles of Ruiras.

Overlooking the rooftop of the hotel Auberge Du Pécheur.

The Auberge Du Pécheur in the region of Flanders, Belgium. The team's residence during the spring classics.

The Valira del Nord river flowing through the center of Andorra la Vella.

Even though it's the end of March and we are heading out for a bike race, there is sill plenty of snow to be enjoyed in Andorra.

Le Seu d'Urgell, the starting village for the 4th stage of the Volta Catalunya.

The GI-682, endless miles of coastline and mountains. Doesn't get much better than this.

The Catalans are proud people. Paint left over from the Tour de France back in 2009.

A typical group ride this past Thursday with some UHC boys, Dan Martin from Garmin and Pat McCarty from SpiderTech-C10.

Lake Hennessey.

Checking out the sheep putting in some work on a hillside near Howell Mt. I heard the shepherds charge around $18 per sheep per day for clearing the ground.

Out riding Mt. Veeder and talking wine with Matt Cain.

The views of the Mediterranean Sea never get old.

Proper signage!