I really haven’t been watching any of the stage racing going on in the Southern Hemisphere live. I’ve seen a couple video clips of the winning moves from Australia and Argentine, plus have following the results on the web. It is funny how different guys are supposedly using different races to “prepare” for their main objectives, either the Tour or the Giro. Honestly, I’m not sure it matters what you’re doing in the middle of January race-wise for a race 6 months later.

Back in the 80’s and early 90’s, everyone would just sit around and get fat over the winter. There was a race series on Sicily where everyone would go and get some early season race miles. But by early season race miles I mean fast training miles. Hardly anyone was anywhere close to fit enough to race, but racing is the quickest way to get fit for racing. The Tour of Americas started in the late 80’s and the American guys would train hard for it. It was a race that started in Venezuela for a few days and fly up to Florida for the last week. All the best riders from around the world would come. Americans, and foreign riders on America teams, tended to dominate the podium because the European guys just weren’t that fit yet. We’d do training camps in California, Texas, and Florida and be pretty much in race shape by early February.

Not the case now. Everyone is pretty much fit 24/7. The road season just keeps going and going. Maybe November and December are a little sparse of races, but guys seems to be doing long miles to get in shape for the January races.

I noticed that down in Argentina on Friday, the time trail results looked sort of wacky. I was mildly surprised that Taylor Phinney got beat by Adriano Malori. I was even more surprised that Nairo Quintana beat Phil Gaimon to take the overall lead. But the biggest surprise of the day was the results by all the “sprinters” in the race. Tom Boonen was 7th, followed in 8th by Danilo Hondo. Peter Sagan was 10th. Even Mark Cavendish was trying and finished 20th, which was ahead of a ton of guys vying for GC. What’s up with that? I guess these guys are using the race for training and wanted to get in a good effort. Whatever the reason, they don’t usually go out and race time trials during stage races when their times are nearly irrelevant. Strange.

The World Cup Cyclocross this morning was interesting. I only caught the last couple laps, and Tom Meeusen was the spoiler for Francis Mourey winning on home turf. Meeusen was the only Belgian in the top 5. But, 6th through 10th was all Belgians. I never saw Sven Nys the whole day. He must of quit or not started.

Okay, back to the whole digging on my knees Makes me all that much more appreciative of riding my bike.

Tom Boonen and Company down in Argentina.
Photo Tim De Waele TDWsport.com

I baled on the snow and headed out to Southern California a couple days ago. The driving to the airport was slow and treacherous after 14 inches.

I got to San Diego late Wednesday afternoon, just time time to talk to Lance for an hour and then go for a couple hour ride.

On Thursday, I did a little lap of North County. I was hoping to meet up with Gary Hanson, is the in charge of WIRED. Wired stands for – Warrior: Integrating Reconditioning Educating Developing. It’s a program to help wounded and ill service men recover through athletics. I was riding around North County, hoping Gary would show, but ended up getting caught in a storm and had to ride 30 miles back to La Jolla in the rain at 45 degrees. Turns out a new Regiment came back and it was a “circus, non stop”. He seemss like a busy guy.

Last night I got a call from my friend Ann, who lives in Austin. She is out in San Diego for a pathology deal. She didn’t have anything to do so we drove down to San Diego and picked her up and brought her back to La Jolla for dinner. It was cool hooking up with her outside of the city of Austin.

This morning I’m in kind of a rush. I have to be riding in 10 minutes to head to North County for the Swami’s ride. It starts up in Encinitas, which is an hour north at least. I called my old team mate, Thurlow Rogers, and he’s going to do it too, so I thought why not. I’m in pitiful form, but it is always way easier riding 100 miles with a group than on my own.

I heard someone talking in a Starbucks about how unusually cold it is and they can “stand” it for a little while. I was listening to this when I was riding in short sleeve and shorts at 62 degrees. Some people out here sure have a warped perspective on what cold is.

Okay, I need to get going.

My bike leaving Kansas City.

I really like the view from an airplane. I look out the window a ton when I fly.

I thought this was a pretty cool photo from landing in San Diego.

I realized that I was probably going to get wet when I looked at my phone and saw this.

We don’t have these around Kansas.

Sue and Ann at dinner last night. Notice the olive tree inside the restaurant behind them.