There are very few climbs in the cycling world that are a cherished as the Passo Gavia.  There is also no other church/museum as beloved as the Madonna de Ghisallo.  Brendan and I were lucky to experience both of these in the same day this past Saturday!  After our seven-hour journey the day before we decided the body could use a little rest so we headed out for a short and easy ride around Ponte de Legno.  Once out on the road we couldn’t pass up riding the Passo Gavia as it basically starts at our hotel’s front door.  The easy day soon turned into not so easy.  We ignored all signs stating the road was closed and continued to ride up its steep slopes and into the snow.  Experiencing the climb with no traffic was really special.  It was just the trees and the wind out there, making for a very peaceful ride.  Around five kilometers from the top my knees had had enough, and not wanting to cause any injuries before the Giro we decided to flip it and head back to the hotel.

In the afternoon we drove down the valley and alongside the famous Lago di Como (Lake Como) and then up to the top of the Madonna de Ghisallo.  There the church waited for us with open doors and a surprising amount of tourists.  We gazed at its walls, covered in cycling memorabilia, just trying to soak in as much of the history around us as possible.  But for that you would need much longer than a few minutes.  Every inch of the church is covered with bikes, jerseys and any and all things cycling related.  It was truly amazing to see this firsthand and a must for any cycling fan.  I was also very surprised and happy to see so many tour buses park outside with their guests interested in learning the history of cycling.  Cycling is defiantly growing at the moment, I feel.

Today saw Brendan and I pedaling up and over mountains for nearly seven hours.  Accumulating over 4,000 meters of climbing!  I would have to say that today’s ride goes down as my biggest training ride ever.  It was another beautiful day for us here in Italy.  We finally made it around to the correct side of the Mortirolo only to be able to make it nine of the twelve kilometers up before running into the snow line.  Snow and ice once again forced us to detour.  Luckily, nine kilometers was more than enough for me!  Its steep slopes are relentless.  Even descending was a workout.  The friction from my breaks had my wheel so hot that I burned myself when my knee touched its sidewall!

The rest of the ride we basically spent bar hopping.  A couple cappuccinos at this bar and a few pastries at another in a town down the valley.  Not a bad way to spend the day, but I believe when I am back here in a month’s time I will be missing those opportunities for coffee stops.  We also made another quick trip up the Passo Santa Christina and it didn’t get any easier overnight.  We are hoping to get in one more solid ride tomorrow, but with rain in the forecast it is not looking likely.

Long days in the high mountains of northern Italy are all that are on the program for this week.  Brendan Quirk has joined me from the United States to tour around the country and check some of the climbs of the 2010 Giro d’Italia.  I know he was nothing but excited to see this part of the world and be able to climb these hills with so much cycling history, but after our first hard day today he might be dreaded the next three.  And unfortunately for Brendan, today was the “easy” day!  He will be just fine though.  With the climbs of the Mortirolo, Gavia and the Tonale all tagged in paint with the names of Pantani, Gotti and many more recent champions the inspiration to keep climbing is always there.

Our ride today took us to the unexpected.  Snow covered roads diverted us from our original plan to climb the Mortirolo.  Instead we ended climbing up the Santa Cristina.  Brendan thought it would never end, and I had to agree.  I even said “I am glad we are not racing up this in the Giro.”  Once we returned home, after almost six hours on the bike, I checked to map to see where we had gone.  I realized that we would be in fact racing up the Santa Cristina this year!

Tomorrow we will once again try the Mortirolo, hoping that a new route will bring us to the bottom of the climb.  And if the snow stops us again there are plenty more mountains just waiting for us to tackle.  Being in such a beautiful area makes the training so easy.  Even though the computer read six hours, to me it felt like thirty minutes.  For now though it is time for dinner.  Brendan is in desperate need of more pasta!

Preparing for Liege-Bastogne-Liege, here are a few pictures.

My journey to the Classics this year did not turn out the way I had envisioned just days ago.  The airspace never opened up here in Europe for the flights to run and my team was unable to work out any other options, waiting hours on hold trying to book any method of travel.  So I decided to take matters into my own hands and rent a car to drive the 1,300 kilometers to Belgium.  I found that even though the cost to rent a car for a one-way trip was approaching the 2,000 Euro mark per day, I could rent the same car and return it back to Spain for just 20 Euros a day.

My mind was made up.  I would pick up the car in Girona, drive to Belgium and race through Liege-Bastogne-Liege, then drive down to Italy to pick up Brendan Quirk for a few days of training on the Giro d’Italia course and finally bring the car back to Girona in early May.  I am tired just from writing about all of the driving ahead, but at least I know I will get to where I need to be.  The outrageous bike charges and the countless security screens that come with air travel will not be missed either.

Driving in Europe is not all that bad either.  I am amazed at how much the scenery changes in such short distances.  Being from America I am use to driving hours on end before I was out of the deserts of the West, or the mountains of North Carolina.  Here in the space of a couple hours you go from the arid landscape of Provence, past the high mountains of the Alps and you are in the rolling pastures covered in yellow mustard seeds that make up central France.  The scenery defiantly keeps the drive entertaining, but I was more than excited to pull into our team hotel late last night.  It was a long trip that took some thirteen hours from door to door, but I am happy I did it.  It is great to be back with the team and where I belong.  I hated watching Amstel on TV, and I didn’t want to be in that same position the rest of the week.  These races are some of the best of the year and regardless of how I feel after the long drive I can’t wait to race tomorrow.

For 2010, Fleche Wallonne has had a pretty significant course change.  As always we pass the infamous Mur de Huy three times.  With its slopes kicking up above 20% it has always been a deciding factor, but probably never more than it will be this year.  In past editions we would pass the Mur two times before the finish on the third trip up, but those first two times were always far out from the finish so the pace was calm.  This year the 2nd passage comes just twenty-nine kilometers from the finish, so it will play a vital role in the race.  The run-in to the 2nd passage will be chaotic, as we all know the race will be decided there.  HTC-Columbia’s goal is to have some riders up the road by then as with a finish like tomorrow it is always good to be a little ahead of the game.

Well here I am in Girona, Spain while I should be up in Holland racing Amstel Gold tomorrow.  I am sure most of you know by now that the volcanic ash from Iceland has disrupted much of European travel, and caused headaches all over the world.  I have never been sideline from a race because of a volcano, but I guess there is a first time for everything.  So instead of traveling north today, I headed out for another long training ride, hoping that I will get to race Fleche Wallone next Wednesday.  It is difficult to get motivated when everything is up in the air at the moment. It looks like the only Amstel I will be doing is a couple Amstel beers while I watch the race tomorrow on TV.

Being stuck in Girona on a Saturday isn’t all that bad.  Saturday is “market day” here in town, mainly on la ramblas, the main shopping street.  Vendors come from all over the area to set up their tents and sell all types off goods from purses to cheese.  There is even a stand for nameplates for children (see picture), and for some reason I find it interesting to read all of the Catalan names. This Saturday is extra special as it marks the start of Sant Joan, a weeklong festival here in Catalunya.  I am not sure the exact meaning of Sant Joan, or any other of the many holidays here, but from what I gather the men are suppose to buy the women roses and in return they receive a book.  More importantly, it is just a week of celebrating, eating, drinking, enjoying the outdoors and, of course, making a lot of noise.  Here are some pictures from my walk down la ramblas today.

After being sidelined last week with a throat infection I feel like my body is finally getting things sorted out.  The forced break has come at an opportune time.  With a big block of racing already under my belt a little rest has done my body and mind some good.  It is also Courtney’s last week here in Europe, so we have been able to enjoy our time together.  At least I have, since she has basically been taking care of my every need while I have laid around the house this past week.  I wouldn’t be surprised if she is ready to get back to the US and take a break!  But we have had a great time regardless.

It has also been nice to sit back and watch some of the racing action this week, with Flanders and Roubaix taking place.  There is no better way to get motivated for my races ahead than by watching these guys battle each other over the cobbles.  I really have an awesome couple of months ahead of me.  The Ardennes week is fast approaching.   I will be racing in all three, Amstel Gold, Fleche Wallone and Liege-Bastogne-Liege.  These are three of the biggest and most exciting races of the year for me.  The crowds and the courses make this week special.  Then it is off to northern Italy where I will check out the courses of the last week of this year’s Giro d’Italia.  A close friend of mine, Brendan Quirk, will be joining me in the Dolomites for a great week of training.  Then it is the Giro itself.  My first Grand Tour, I am not sure what else you can say about that!  As always in life, there is much to look forward to.

I am very glad to have the Volta Catalunya behind me now.  What a rough week, from hard times in the race to uncomfortable times out of the race.  I am just happy to be at home with Courtney.  It is has been over a month since I last slept in my own bed or was even able to prepare my own meals and just function as a normal person.  I am sure I will reap some benefits down the road from all of the racing this month, but for now I am just looking to relax!

Spring has arrived here in Spain.  The winds, coming from the south, are blowing stronger each day and bringing with them warmer temperatures.  A very welcomed change from the harsh winter we have endured.  After a few days on the couch, with long mornings of enjoying coffee, I should be back in working order.  Just in time for what might be the hardest week of racing of the year in the Basque Country.  The Vuelta al Pais Vasco is a race that strikes fear into every cyclist and whenever it is spoken of one word always comes to mind, “Ouch!”  The endless climbing will surely be great prep for the Ardennes and the Giro, but it will come with its fair share of suffering.  But I will have plenty of time next week to worry about all of this, for now it is all about enjoying life at home.

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.

With a huge block of racing down the center of France, I have spent the last few days recovering with Courtney and her aunt and uncle, Bobbie and Bill, on the Cote de Azur. I am a world away from suffering through crashes, snow, crosswinds and mountains. Now I am just enjoying the time with family and catching up over some great dinners and wines. We have spent several nights in Monaco, Vence, Fayence and we will soon end our trip in Nice, but for now it is all about enjoying every minute of the day.

My training will get longer as the week progresses, but for now I have been filling my days with cooking classes and spa treatments, as well as just relaxing in the sun on our balcony. This morning the alarm sounded at an early hour of half past four, as we had to meet up with chef Jacques Chibois at his restaurant, La Bastide Saint Antoine, for a full day of following him around. We drove into Nice and joined him on his weekly food run through this massive market that is only reserved for professional chefs. It was amazing to see how much food Jacques needed to purchase to just get him through a few days. By the time the sun came up, we had filled an U-haul sized truck full of vegetables, fish, meat and even flowers.

Then, it was back up to Grasse where his restaurant is located to tour the grounds. Down in his wine cellar we browsed through over 20,000 bottles, some of which dated back to the 1800’s! Once we had a good feel of the restaurant we were seated at a small table in the middle of the kitchen and served a very large eight-course lunch. The food was amazing, but what made it the best meal I have ever had was being able to walk over and watch them put together each ingredient and knowing that we had picked it all out this morning.  With all of this accomplished before it was even two, we were all pretty cracked. So I have been staring at the mountains from our balcony ever since, and the sun has long disappeared. A very nice rest week I must say…