Home Sweet Home

Sorry for not posting for a while, but I've been spending a lot of time with my family now that I'm at home. Everyone is well, and it's good to see that the family has made some extra money, and the cash I've been sending has gone to good use. The house looks much better now, and we have our own family car. I've spent a lot of my time on training rides with my dad and brother, while also spending a lot of time with mum. I'll try to find Carlo at some point so I can ride a bit with him and his brother.

So I found Carlo, and his brother Gonzalo was home too, so we decided to go on a training ride. Gonzalo wearing his Colombia 4-72 jersey and Carlo in a Colombia jersey I brought him.


The first thing we tried was a sprint. Gonzalo was actually really good, and was beating me for a few hundred metres. Obviously Carlo was way back.


Then we tried some climbing. I was obviously better here, but Carlo really impressed me with his climbing ability.

I'm staying in Argentina for a while, before I go to Italy for the Tre Valle Varesine.

For the last 3 days, I've been with Sofia a lot. We went to the movies, went riding, and then she took me shopping. I guess I deserved that after I took her over a few nasty hills

Alas I must go back to Italy. Who knows if I will meet Sofia again, but I hope I do.

The profile is very hilly. Up and down the whole way. There will be an extremely tough climb leading up to an easier but still difficult uphill finish. Team will need to use their numbers wisely, while a large breakaway could surprise.

We don't have the strongest team here, and we're up against a tough field. Hopefully we can get Carlos in the break and get some TV time, and when it comes to the finish we'll see what happens. Maybe Virgilijus can take Fabio's wheel.

Quintero gets in the opening 10 man break. The gap is kept low by the peloton, and the group doesn't really ever look safe.


They are brought back after 29km, but Carlos regroups and after a while without attacks gets in the 5 man break of the day.


Fast forward to much later and as soon as the break is caught we take over the peloton. Dalivier protects me while Carlos also takes my wheel for some reason. Virgilijus is alone on the left hand side of the road.


Quintero makes himself useful and protects the Lithuanian, as we march on with our two pairs.


Now Grazhys follows me. We have a great position right up the front here, although my legs are burning. This is hell.

Froome prefers to make friends with his future teammates than get to the front and follow his teammate, while Nibali is even further back. Things are looking good for us as long as I can hold on!


The Jens Voigt mentality works! Shut up legs! My leadout brings us ahead of the rest, but Froome is just a beast. He goes early and looks on track for a stunner!

This makes Grazhys paranoid. He doesn't want to stay in my wheel any longer, and goes into his sprint.

His acceleration isn't great, but I keep pushing through the pain to keep him at the front. Froome is looking tired!


And the Lithuanian does it! An amazing result for us. When he finally got out of my wheel boy did he go! Now the competition is on for 2nd, and my legs certainly aren't shutting up.


And I do it! I have the energy to go the whole way and take a great one-two for the team.


Maybe not the best winning picture, but a great winner.


This time the photographers snap a great pic! Unfortunately the rest of the team had trouble getting in, so Astana take the Team Classification.