A training camp update from Armed Forces Cyclist and Air Force World Class Athlete Ian Holt
2 February 2008

This week has been interesting! We started out with lactate testing Monday at the hotel that was administered by the Astana doctors who happen to also be our doctors. I haven't received my official results but from what they told us our numbers were all excellent and many were on par with the Astana guys. Pretty cool but lab numbers don't win races.

We saw downright frigid temps this week along with some snow but kept up our training as planned. Again we drilled proper rotations, wheel changes, feeding from the car and even did some mock races which were later discussed and many lessons were learned. Thursday it was extremely windy so we worked on proper echelons and of course only perfection was accepted. You might think you know how it's done but even experienced riders were very inefficient at first. After an hour of drilling our lines were much closer together fighting the cross winds. I'm sure many of you can think of times in a race when a cross wind section came up and everyone was just lined in the gutter when what they should be doing is forming proper echelons and working together. Now at least I know how to, another step from ameatur to pro level.

We attended the Astana USA team presentation and then had dinner with them. Being in a buffet line with Contador and Horner wondering if Johan was going to frown on our food selection was a thrill and a little nerve-racking. I also talked with our friend Janez Brajkovic and he confirmed that he will be competing against us at the Military World Championships (CISM) again this year. He rides for the Slovenian military team.

Today we started out riding with the Astana team for an hour. We got a police escort through the city, allowing us to blow through every red light and we were out of town in 25min instead of 45. I was riding right behind Ekimov as we cruised around 30mph while Contador busted out his TT bike and motorpaced behind the lead police car! The Astana guys had no problems with us being there because of the professional way we conducted ourselves and rode. After splitting off from them we did about 20+ miles of climbing in the mountains before returning home, riding about 5hrs total and 86miles even with the climbing! Even though we weren't racing I did make every selection on the climbs and felt very strong. Tomorrow is the last day of camp so I'll give a recap when I get home.

Here are two related VeloNews stories:
14 Jan 08 - Bruyneel brings Astana, Cycling Academy to Albuquerque
31 Jan 08 - School in session for Bruyneel Academy

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

NOTE:
Armed Forces Cyclist and Air Force World Class Athlete Ian Holt is participating in 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.