March 21, 2007 – Sometimes, you can plan, prepare and doing everything as ideally as you think it should be done and then, it doesn’t turn out the way you planned. In the last month things have not turned out how I’d planned but I trust that somehow it will all turn out for the better at the end of the day. An athlete’s nightmare is an injury or illness at the wrong time, when a big event is coming up.

I have twice been sick in the last month and it has greatly hindered my training and racing. Last week, I pulled out of Paris-Nice as a result of sickness to try and rest and recover and get healthy in time for Pays Basque and the Ardennes Classics. The team has been supportive and is doing everything they can do get us – it seems half of the team is sick right now – back on track as quickly as possible.

The stages I did ride at Paris Nice were an experience. The weather was glorious, the countryside beautiful and the racing was intense and hard. Discovery dominated the race – to the dislike of most of the peloton which is currently displeased with their decision to hire riders named in Operacion Puerto – winning several stages, and the overall classification, while scarring most of the riders with their ferocious tempo. It is strange sitting on the other side of the fence now, not riding with them – many of the guys are friends of mine and it is tough to see them caught up in the politics surrounding the team.

In the coming weeks I will train at home with the goal being to get healthy and back in form again for the heavy months of racing in April and May