Astana Training Camp Pics & Audio Report
Posted in Blog on 30. Jan, 2008
Audio here, pictures below.
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Contador’s new ride
A closer look. Notice the SRM Sram crankset and blue headset cap. Nice touches.
The new team heads out to bond and battle the cold in New Mexico.
And it is very cold in Albuquerque.
Who is that masked man?
It’s Contador.
Heading into the snow.
Levi and Sergio lead the group.
Staying on the right side of the law.
Time for more clothing.
A normally cut and stacked seat mast on the the new Madone sled.
And then there’s this…
Thanks for the photos and report!
I live in Solvang, California (where Disco had their training camps in years past). As I look out the window, it’s 60 degrees and sunny. The food must be better in New Mexico or something.
I think the draw is the altitude. Albuquerque is the highest city in the US at just under 6,000 feet. There are plenty of mountains and flats depending on what they are looking for. Cold in the high desert is not rare at all. I have been to Albuquerque in a foot of snow. I’m obviously just guessing on the reasons. Maybe they like Mexican food too?
Maybe it’s better to be a rider who can navigate adverse weather conditions than be a weenie who can only ride in the sunshine.
If they trained where it was sunny they wouldn’t be able to wear those bitchin’ leg warmers.
One day Bruyneel is crapping on Team High Road and Slipsteam’s anti-doping programs and next he’s tell everyone how great their program is.
This from January’s Road Bike Action Interview:
“Do you think that the approach Vaughters is advocating…is the correct way to go?”
Bruyneel: “When you have an aggressive marketing strategy, you can sell anything.”
Like the Lance Lie? Screw the Borats and all who sail in her.
It is hard not to question Johan’s integrity with some of the riders he has brought on board. The comment above sums up the attitude that clean cycling is a marketing ploy. Let’s hope he is wrong and his attitude is not shared.
off topic – are compact cranks the new triple?
No there not. I got them for climbing the Alps which they are great for as you can put them on your race bike and good for a winter bike. But in normal terrain the compact has to large a gap between the small ring and big ring so I find myself changing gears all the time.
Compact cranks are to triples what SUV with stubby hoods are to minivans.