Hola de España,

Well it’s been a couple of weeks since I last wrote to you all, I have been hard at work on my bike in the hills that surround my new home down on the coast of the Mediterranean.

It’s been a while since I have really looked forward to and enjoyed heading out the door for a 5h ride.  But these past weeks I have thrived on the new scenery, training mates, and most of all just riding my bike pain free for that long.  I haven’t done anything too intense or structured sticking to the good old standard 3days training 1 day recovery or easy.  It was really all my body needed and I believe it will do me well now as I start my first race period.

Last week I started and finished my first race in Europe since the World Champs last September.  There was no real objective but to just get a 5h race in the legs and stay out of trouble.  That proved a quite difficult with 4 big crashes in the last 10km but I made it home unscathed.

Now the next task, Volta a Catalunya.  After discussing my program with the directors we agreed I was fit enough to start a week long tour, and all going well the usually calm, controlled race will help me get back into the rhythm of racing.  There are no major mountains in this year’s race but there are some difficult stages, I will be taking it day by day and will hopefully be at the finish on the Catalunya race course on Sunday.

As most of you well know the season is already in full swing, with Paris Nice and Tirreno Adriatico the first major showing of the tour riders, and Milan San Remo last Saturday giving the sprinters their first chance at major glory for the season.  What does this mean for me?  Well it’s all about keeping my own goals in mind, as others are hitting top form with the classics on the horizon, I must focus on the things within my control and continue my daily routines to achieve my best form come May, June.  Sometimes easier said than done, as the hype of the big races can takeover but I believe I now have the experience and confidence to do what is right for me.

I will do my best to keep you posted this week and update you on any new news from the pelo.

Thanks for reading

Tim

Here are a couple of pics from my last weeks.

Returning along the coast after a few hours in the mountains with Tom Boonen, Thor Hushovd and Mark Renshaw for company

A wee treat a the local brew shop in Ventimiglia, can't beat great coffee on a recovery ride