Armed Forces Cyclist and Air Force World Class Athlete Ian Holt has been selected for the Cycling Center international development program. Ian is currently at the Cycling Center spring training camp in New Mexico and will spend three months in Belgium beginning mid-March. We'll feature stories about Ian's adventures at camp, in the Belgian Kermesse races, and in the European peloton. Here is the first of his tales from training camp:

I arrived Tuesday night at Bill Jacobus' (Armed Forces Cycling Teammate) house unsure what was in store for the joint Cycling Center / Astana training camp here in Albuquerque. Thankfully the Jacobus household is very comfortable and welcoming to me and my dog Gizmo making the down time relaxing for better recovery. The first day of camp only about half the CC members were there but the tone was set immediately; professional. Despite a very busy schedule Bernard Moerman (Cycling Center owner and manager) had matching tights and thermal jackets for all of us to make sure we looked like a serious team and expected that we conduct ourselves the same. Most of the Astana team is staying at the Embassy SuiteS and we run into them frequently and train with them at times but Bernard instructed us not to act like fans or tourists because we all belonged there and were just a few steps from being at their level.

The riding has been great here, cold in the morning but usually warms up through the ride and the public is very supportive. In the first 5 days I have ridden about 18hrs and have learned new skills and team work. The majority of our riding has been at an easier pace of 18 - 20 mph riding two abreast with new guys like me riding next to the more veteran European riders. Even this early in the season they stress staying only a few inches from the rider in front and to the side so no extra energy is wasted. Eating and drinking on the bike is crucial and with the follow vehicle there is no excuse not to. One big thing that is new to me is Bernard will not allow anyone to get food or water when we are stopped, no exceptions. If you need either, you have to drop back to his follow car and refuel as you would in a race. That means one person drops back with two empty bottles in his cages and usually two teammates' empty bottles to the car, tosses a bottle and gets one three times while getting slung by the car, then grabs some bars and gel, and takes the last bottle while getting rocketed back up to the group. For the first rides and maybe the entire camp the newer guys like me have to get all the food and water but it is a great learning experience and you really feel that this is the big times now.

Another new drill for me was practicing changing a flat tire when the designated team leader flatted. The leader would raise his hand, pull off and the last rider would stop, swap wheels, push him back and then the rest of the guys would pace him up to the group while the sacrificial rider motor paced back on. Little lessons like that are constantly taught and even old skills like a proper pace line rotation are practiced over and over and a few inches of separation is frowned upon and corrected. This level of professionalism and perfection demonstrates why were are here with the Astana Pro Tour team sometimes right in the draft of the likes of Levi Leipheimer and Chris Horner. Some of us may step into their shoes in the future. Now that you have an idea of what the camp is like I will give updates of specific rides or stories in the future...

Check back for more of Ian's reports and stories!