Training Notes

Thought I would post a few words about training. I have been doing some moderate paced rides with my new training group between races the last week and the group consists of some pretty high profile individuals. On wednesday I rode for3 hours with Bert Roesems of Davitamon Lotto. He was leaving for the Giro d'Italia that evening so it was his last training ride at home before he was off to the races. I was amazing riding beside one of the strongest riders from this early season. He has had some very impressive performances in the Pro Tour spring classics, but to see how normal he is and down to earth was a good experience. That ride consisted of a 1.5 hour coffee stop at the square in Aalst as the weather was just too good not to according to Roesems. I have also been riding with my teammate Chris Willems, 3 different Chocolade Jacques guys, some BodySol riders including Steve who is a U23 on the Belgian national track program for the Bejing olympics and rider as a sprinter on the road. I had a good chat with him on the coffee stop today and he remebered Zach Bell and the rest of the Canadians from some of the stops on this years world cup. He thinks Martin Gilbert is a blithering idiot though...I have watched footage of the guy torturing sea lions so I would have to agree. Otherwise the group also consists of Penne from Colba and others that seem to come and go with the wind as the ride progresses.
I love group riding here. Its always a fast, but steady pace. No one attacks or half wheels, mutual respect all around. The strongest guys are known to all and they get the front spots in the two up formation. If you are slow or feeling weak you sit at the back and stay there. There is virutally no rotation, the strong guys who want to train and can keep the pace in the wind sit at the front the entire day. I also love the roads and car culture. You can ride two up taking a lane or even the entire road on the field roads and cars never honk. They simply wait there turn to pass. Cyclists here have rights and unlike in Canada their rights are respected. Group riding here also involves high speed riding through towns and that means crafty riding on and off sidewalks, lots of car dodging and more close calls than I have in a year at home. Its a great time!