by Jesse Bartholomew

The 2009 Tour de France is right around the corner, and we're preparing just as much as the Garmin-Slipstream and Silence-Lotto teams. Starting with a stop in Girona, Spain to check in on the Garmin-Slipstream service course and the PowerTaps that will be sent to the Tour. The service course, or team warehouse, is where the teams prepare all the equipment and manage the logistics of a grand tour. In some cases, the teams put together concurrent race programs in different parts of the world, so it can be a very busy place.

Obviously this time of year the focus is on the Tour. Fresh tires are glued, parts replaced, new clothing issued to the riders and buses and trucks packed. Meanwhile, the riders are putting the final touches on their preparations. Garmin-Slipstream riders finished things off with a tough day climbing the local test bed climb called Rocacorba. Slipstream riders weren't the only ones with this plan, Girona residents Michael Barry and George Hincapie were also spotted testing themselves on the climb.

The team departed Girona on Monday for Montpellier and a short reconnaissance camp in Montpelier, the site of this year's Team Time Trial. A couple of laps on the course proved beneficial as the course is technical. Another ride on the course Wednesday with some efforts was the last training ride before heading to Monaco. CycleOps will make the trip with them and, once there, check in with Cadel Evans and the Silence-Lotto boys.