2:00 Hrs., 60 km's, 1,700 KJ's

By Steve Chapin, CycleOps Marketing Director

The morning was consumed with rider arrivals and typical press events. On the surface, there are only photos and a short, 2-hour ride in the afternoon sun. At a moderate pace, the ride winds along the coastal roads in and around Benidorm and Calpe. It is everything you might envision camp to be, and the riders are fresh, happy to be training, and in good spirits. The riders cover about 60k and put out about 1,700 KJ's. For most of us, that's a solid ride with some sustained efforts, but for the team it merely stretches out the legs and prepares them for the 'real' training in the coming days. All in all, a relaxing way to kick off camp, for the riders at least.

By Steve Chapin, CycleOps Marketing Director

Now and again we allow visions of grandeur. Ethereal ascents up the most prized cols. The Tourmalet, le Madeleine, le Aple. We ascend unencumbered on a playground on which only we inflict pain. Flying down the Champs with a burst of acceleration only witnessed from behind. In our dreams, we always prevail.