May 23, 2007 (Valencia, Venezuela) — Ryan McKenzie, who is with the Canadian team in Venezuela has sent us a second report. Apparently the velodrome, of all places, has wireless right in the middle of the track. McKenzie has promised to send photos as well when Martin Gilbert downloads them from his camera.

There haven’t been any more Venezuelan raves across the street to keep us up at night. Our daily excitement is found during the ride to the velodrome. I don’t know how we manage to find our way there every time – alive to boot. We really just follow our noses dodging in and out of the most random traffic patterns and drivers for 15kms — a NY City courier-style ride.

It is really hard to describe the sights, sounds and smells of Venezuela but you know the cheesiest of car chases in movies where there are grandmas, baby strollers, garbage trucks and men carrying a pane of glass all being narrowly missed. This is how it is riding to the track – literally. Our heart rates run on average at 160 the whole way there and once we arrive at the velodrome we have little need for more of a warm up.

Yesterday we stopped to have the blackest espresso I have ever had. So black and thick that it stained the stir straw. While Martin and I were ordering a drunken businessman thought Martin’s bike was real fancy and decided to take it for a spin. He didn’t look like the type to steel a bike but I had to jump on mine and chase him down when he got two blocks away – a little too far for comfort.

Two days have already gone by and we have not met our goal of being on the podium yet but we cannot be disappointed with ourselves. Gilbert has been the closest so far in the Scratch race that took place last night. You would have thought we were about to board Noah’s Ark with every country lining up two riders for the Scratch, making for a large field just under the track limit of 36.

As always, in this situation everyone was covering every move like 8-year-olds on a soccer ball but no one team was strong enough to get a hold on the race. Both Martin and I were entered in the event and we were very active and present in every move. It was really just a warm up for the Madison and we weren’t out to prove anything although a race is a race.

I found myself in the only group that really got away with a dangerous lead but we were brought back after ten laps by a hard chase group with only only laps to go. Gilbert took on the final sprint coming in fourth behind Argentina, Chile and Venezuela. He really hates this position and has made a vow that we will are going to put the smack down on Thursday in the Madison.

I’ll time warp now back to Day 1 when we showed up to the track to find a cat sleeping in my bike pro. Team Manager, Kris Westwood, was kind enough to let the cat out of the bag but he did let in a giant moth with an 8-inch wingspan that flew into my face when I unzipped it later.

Day 1 was keirin day – Cam McKinnon easily made it to the finals where he hooked bars with a Mexican rider and went down on the final straightaway and was given fifth place. He is OK with some annoying road rash to deal with. Monique Sullivan took on women twice her age to also finish fifth in the women’s keirin. Both riders along with Laurence Leroux qualified for the sprints in the flying 200. For some odd reason they have decided to run the Match Sprint tournament over three days so it will take a while before we know the outcome but McKinnon is looking focused and strong.

Today the racing continues with the Points competition for both men and women. Zach Bell and Gina Grain who both came here with this race as their goal will race hard tonight for some medals and UCI points.