The mood was light as we left the hotel.
We were divided into small groups of 6 - 8 riders for drills.
The 11-day training schedule. (click on image for a larger view)
Rustem sorts the Turkey kits to present to the team.
The "A" team bikes (and ours on the left).
The tireless chief mechanic who maintains and cleans each bike.
Our 2nd.. 3rd...4th...whatever... cup of cay. Just a call away by intercom (really).
Day 3 - You Have No Idea…
We managed to get out on time this morning and got behind the correct group (the "A" team). It was a nice tempo ride for 80+ km. We stayed in a double paceline for the entire ride. After 40 km we broke into groups of 6 - 8 riders to allow a shorter rotation of riders at the front. The ride lasted about 2 hours and 45 minutes with only a 2 minutes feed and bathroom. Once back at the hotel we showered and headed for some well deserved chow (hadi atistiralim).
Some Perspective...
When we sat back and thought about what we were involved in, it was pretty amazing. First, we are training with the National Team. Think of getting to train with the USA National team. Does that opportunity exist? We left town with 4 team cars escorted by a police car. There was a ambulance (that was comforting), the manager's car and 2 support vehicles. They even collected our extra clothing and carried it in their support vehicle for us.
Not only did we get to ride with the team and follow their training, they fully integrated us into their rotations. Gary and I took our pulls at the front and were allowed to ride in the smaller groups for drills. For all practical purposes, we were part of the team. The guys were joking with us as we took our 10 minutes pull at the front coming back into town. They are serious riders, but good humored.
Back at the hotel, the chief mechanic took our bikes for prep for tomorrow's ride. He cleaned both Gary and my bike and tightened my loose cassette (a number of the riders were teasing me about my noisy cassette...they offered to trade bikes....). Rustem had broke a spoke on the road. The support vechicle stopped and gave him a new wheel. All without a second thought.
The team is training for the Tour of Egypt in a couple of weeks. The coaches' dream is to choose six riders from the team to compete in the 2008 olympics. We have been provided a room at the team hotel and eat with the team 3 times a day.
To top it off, the team and coaches feel it to be an honor to have us with them. I thanked the mechanic for fixing and cleaning our bikes and he insisted that it was his honor. How amazing for us to experience this. Who are we? We were very humbled by the whole experience.
After lunch we took a walk in Alanya to have come cay (tea) and browse the shops. We found different items for those we loved and watched Rustem as he worked his negotiating magic. We bought things at 2 different stores and we served cay at each.
Afterwards, it was back to the hotel for dinner and some sleep. Tomorrow the team is doing a 180 km ride with a lot of climbing. I hope the ambulance is there. Good night.
