February 15, 2007 — In the two weeks leading up to the Tour of California that starts this Sunday, our team has been together training just outside of Santa Barbara, in Buellton, CA.

After spending a cold and snowy couple of weeks at home in Boulder, CO, riding in the warmth and sun has been a welcome change. At home I predominantly train alone so it’s also nice to be back riding in a small group – there are eight riders at the training camp – where we can race each other a little and also socialize.

We have been training each day, riding between 4-7 hours with a couple of easy, or rest days, scattered in between.

Since the first training camp in Mallorca in January the team is remarkably stronger: we are climbing faster and everybody’s pedal stroke looks more potent, even and fluid. It is remarkable what a good couple of weeks of training can do for your fitness.

The training sessions have not been limited to the bike, but with help of Athletes’ Performance, we have been working hard to develop our core strength and flexiblity. It’s beneficial training that transfers directly to the bike. Athletes’ Performance is a group of physios and trainers that help athletes get into shape, or healed from injuries. At the moment they are also working with dozens of football players who are getting ready for next week’s combine; testing which determines which spot players will fall in the draft.

The Tour of California will be a stage race for the sprinters and the time trialists. There are a few brutal climbs so the race will likely be won by an all-round rider. We have a solid squad with a couple of speedy sprinters — Ciolek and Henderson – and several good riders that can contest for the other stages and overall classification – Rogers, Piil (who just finished the Berlin and Copenhagen six day races), Kirchen, Olson and Hansen. Few people know a lot about Adam Hansen but he is as strong as an ox and capable on any terrain.

I am excited to get the season started and to race on American soil again. I feel good on the bike and my training has been consistent over the last few months.

The first big event of the year is always a guessing game as it is really hard to know who will be fit and ready so early in the year. I have heard that Levi Leipheimer and Tom Danielson were flying at the Discovery training camp so those two will surely be motivated and ready to attack the field in California. We will be ready.