June 11, 2006 РAfter over two months away from racing, and several weeks off the bike, I am now back in the peloton at the Dauphin̩ Lib̩r̩. My schedule was advanced a month as initially I was scheduled to race in July, then at the Tour of Switzerland in the middle of June and then it was move up again to the Dauphin̩.

The area of France where the Dauphiné Libéré courses are mapped out is one of my favourites, and has special meaning to me, as I spent my amateur career racing on the same roads. The stages are some of the hardest will we encounter this season, with Alpine passes, small undulating roads, and a motivated attacking field that is preparing for the Tour de France.

Each day I feel better and my back, which I broke at the Tour of Flanders, isn’t giving me any problems in the mountains and I am able to handle the load well. After hearing the news that I would be racing the Dauphiné I was somewhat afraid that I would suffer unbelievably in the relentless mountains. I had trained very well in the month prior to the race but I had yet to test my legs in a race, and I knew the Dauphiné would be the hardest of tests. I was also nervous that I wouldn’t feel comfortable back in the peloton as sometimes after a crash it can be intimidating riding in a group of 150 riders on small roads. Fortunately, after the first pedal strokes were in my legs I felt normal and at ease.

The team is doing well and is ready for the Tour. Jose Azevedo is climbing well, George is back on track after his crash in Roubaix, and the other guys are coming along well.

The Dauphiné finishes today in Grenoble and then I’ll focus on my next objective, the ProTour team time trial in Eindoven. It feels good to be back in the peloton, back with my teammates, and racing towards my objectives.