Volta a Galicia

An "in the car view" of the Galicia region of Spain.

It was a great week in Spain for the CC team. With strong, smart riding and selfless teamwork we took home 2 jersey's, the KOM and the U23 classification. Aaron Pool spent a day in the U23 jersey and Jim Camut took the final U23 classification while Steven Van Vooren wrapped up the Kom jersey before the race even ended. My race was spent in selfless support of my teammates, riding myself into the ground for them and working to defend our jersey's. Although I achieved no personal results it is a good feeling to know that my work was necessary to achieve the team result. We functioned as a pro team: each rider did his job and sometimes that job is not as glamorous as crossing the line first. Several stages I finished well behind the lead group, but where as in the past I would be frustrated... on these days I was proud! I covered threatening attacks in the early parts of stages, fetched bottles from the team car, and escaped in the early break to give my teammates in the peloton an easier time. A good domestique is a valuable asset to any team and now I fully understand the feeling that pro domestiques get with the success of their team leaders. I also know that my day will come and that my teammates would do the same for me.

The Volta a Galicia was a new experience for everyone at the CC. Spain was a new frontier as no one had raced there and no one knew exactly what to expect. There were teams with ex-pros that had raced the Vuelta a Espana and U23 teams from Portugal. Who knew what was going to happen. The rumor that the Spanish peloton races at one speed is nearly true. They ride very hard up mountains and then take the descents and flats fairly easy. I think they try to ride 38 kph no matter what the terrain is like! Where as Belgians race the crosswind, the Spaniards race the mountains. The other quirk about Spanish racing is the schedule and time frame. The Spanish are on Daylight Wasting Time: Race from 2-6, dinner (quite an ordeal) from 9:30-11, breakfast at 10:30. Everything is shifted 3 hours later than Belgium. Took a little getting used to but I liked it and rolled with it. Now it's back to the 8am wake up call. The course profiles in Spain were nearly impossible to memorize. It was like trying to study for the SAT's. Luckily they provide cheat sheets that fit into your pocket. Those little plastic cards were so valuable in knowing how the race would unfold, when to eat and drink, and what monster climb was comming up. I learned that the 20k climb is the staple of Spanish racing and that I can climb with those mountain goats. It was a great experience and I look forward to returning to Spain in the future.

Galicia served as a perfect prep for Tour of Pennsylvania, which is the next big race on the schedule. I think I'll do a one day race next week before hopping across the pond.

What would Spain be without a bull fight? Brutal.

A relaxed neutral start? We're sure not in Belgium. Jim in Blue. Steve in Green.

Aaron, Steven, and Dave after a long day of travel to Galicia.

http://www.voltagalicia.com/2008/index.php