from CycleOps Power
The guys in argyle wrapped up their final preparations for the Tour with a week in Girona, Spain. Magnus Backstedt, Julian Dean, Will Frischkorn, Ryder Hesjedal, Trent Lowe, Martijn Maaskant, David Millar, Danny Pate, and Christian Vande Velde were all present with a full support staff of 18 people in Girona to make sure everyone was ready.
The training schedule for the days leading up to the Tour was as follows, with additional instructions that participation was optional.
In a note to staff and riders, Allen says,
"The outlined schedule is a tentative plan for the upcoming week. I would like the staff to stay on this particular schedule. Riders, however, are not required to attend planned training, unless it is explicitly noted or they are told. The schedule and our presence should be viewed as a structure that riders can use as a guideline for the week leading up to our departure to the Tour. It’s important for them to know where we as staff will be and at what times they can work with each other and us. That said, each rider needs to prepare individually and needs to take personal responsibility for doing what they feel is best for them leading up to the Tour."
Girona Camp Schedule:
June 25th: double day
10:00 Easy 2 hour ride
16:00 30 km ITT
June 26th:
10:00 4 to 5 hour group ride starting
June 27th:
10:00 1.5 hour recovery ride followed by position check on all bicycles. This will be day we dial in all new equipment with guys so mechanics should be available at service course by 11 am
June 28th: double day
10:00 Lactate testing using hill repeat protocol. 2 hrs
16:00 2.5 hrs, lead out, attack, and sprint practice
June 29th:
10:00 recovery ride + equipment check
June 30th:
10:00 2 hrs, lead out drills.
4 pm, 2 hour TT workout
July 1st:
10:00 1.5 hour recovery ride
18:00 flight from Girona to Cholet
July 2nd:
check out cholet tt course
All precautions were taken to make sure none of the riders or staff got ill during the week. Based on his experience at previous Tours, Allen required the following protocol:
"All staff, media, visitors, riders, and any one who might be interacting with our riders are to begin carrying hand sanitizer with them at all times. The hand sanitizer should have a content of at least 62% ethyl alcohol. Hand sanitizer should be used:
- Before entering and exiting any vehicle (cars, bus, scooter, truck, sprinter).
- Before eating or handling food.
- Before touching or interacting with a rider or stranger.
- When entering a new room and when exiting a room.
- When using the bathroom if a sink is not available to wash your hands. Your
hands, however, should always be washed after using the bathroom.
Enough hand sanitizer should be used so that it takes at least 10 to 15 seconds of rubbing before hands are dry (I know what you’re all thinking). After the 5th time you use your hand sanitizer you should also wash your hands for at least 30 seconds, turning off water with a paper towel. The hand sanitizer and hand washing protocol will begin as soon as camp begins and through the Tour."
By today, the guys should be comfortably settled into their first Tour hotel in France. Allen's had a few words of encouragement to the team and staff:
"Enjoy, do it right with humility and respect for one another, and let’s finish what we’ve started here – an epic team, at an epic race, ready for an epic ride."