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Hi there, everyone. It’s been a while I know, and I apologize. Since my last entry, I’ve gotten settled in my new house in Spain thanks to help from my wife Kristin and bought a car (Now that was an experience; after going through the process of buying a car in Spain, I’ll never complain about an American car salesman again.). I was getting in shape for theVolta y Catalunya on the local roads that wind through the foothills of the Pyrenees near my home. Everything was going well, but then I got sick right before the start of the Volta.

 

I had a stomach bug that laid me out for three days. That was it, no Volta for me. If anyone of you has ever had a stomach virus, you know how hard it knocks you out. For those of you who’ve been spared, count yourself lucky; the bad ones can reduce you to a baby’s crawl. It’s not exactly the best scenario for a pro cyclist in the middle of the season.

 

Luckily, my wife was here to help me through and get me back on my bike and on the way to a full recovery. But with the Dauphiné Libéré coming up soon, I had to find my European racing legs and find them fast. At the last minute I headed up to Belgium (where I am today) for the Tour of Belgium and a crash course in bike racing, Belgian-style. Compared to the racing I’m used to—big climbs, long stages, etc.—the racing in Belgium is incredibly different and much more aggressive than anything I’ve experienced. The wind is blowing like a hurricane every day. And my lithe climber’s body looks ridiculous next to these big Belgianswho are all about raw power. Everyone’s wondering what the hell I’m doing here. I’d say it’s funny if not for the fact these guys are flat-out from the first kilometer. It’s amazing the kind of power these guys pour out all day long.

 

While I pretty much lost any chance of placing well here after the first kilometer of the first day of this five-day stage race, I had to be here. Racing in Europe is a whole other level. Intellectually, you think you’re prepared for it, but truth is, your body forgets. If I was still in the States and recovering from a virus, I'd seriously consider taking more time off to rest up for a big race like the Dauphiné and not race this week. But I’m glad I’m racing. Day one was brutal, but day two was much, much better. I could feel my legs start to find their Euro-gear, and today I placed third in the time trial on a rain-soaked course riddled with sharp turns.

 

It’s a tired cliché, but the best way to train for racing is to race. My finish in the time trial was incredibly satisfying. It shows that all the work I’ve been doing this year on that discipline is starting to pay off. I know my climbing’s dialed, but making progress as a time-trialist was my goal for this spring as I worked on making myself a more complete rider.

 

As for the last two days of my first-ever trip to Belgium, I’ve got to go to work now. While I placed third in the time trial, my Discovery Channel teammate Vladimir Gusev won the stage and took the leader’s jersey by 14 seconds. That means the rest of the team, including me, will look to control the rest of the race and protect Gusev’s lead all the way through Sunday’s finish in the town of Putte.

 

After that, I’ll go home to Spain, spend some time with Kristin and head back into the Pyrenees for some more climbing work before joining my Discovery Channel teammates for the start of the Dauphiné Libéré in France. Talk to you soon.

 

Best,
Tom

Tom Danielson (www.tomdanielson.com) is in his third year riding for the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team. He taps Carmichael Training Systems for training analysis and nutritional guidance.

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