Zaballa back to cyclo-cross preparation

Tino Zaballa returned to cyclo-cross workouts, after spending the last couple of days in a training camp with his new Portuguese team Paredes Rota dos Móveis. The get-together with Zaballa's new squad took place in Portugal, on the road exclusively.

Zaballa said that the workouts were very intense. Thursday we did the first analysis and some power workouts." The squad then headed to the mountains for more strenuous exercises. "We got a good beating," Zaballa said with a smile.

The day finished easier, with taking the measurements for the new bicycles and clothing. A nice dinner was also part of the programme. "One of the things I value about Portugal is that you can eat very well."

Friday was quieter. "We talked about the team's regulations and the race calendar. Then we just wished each other a Merry Christmas and returned to our homes," Zaballa said.

On Saturday, Zaballa travelled to Madrid with his friend David De La Fuente, to participate at the general assembly of the ACP [Asociación de Ciclistas Profesionales - the Spanish association of professional cyclists - ed.] "Every winter we try to fix the things that have been going wrong in the last few years in cycling...," Zaballa said.

Now it is back to the winter workouts for the Spanish cyclo-cross specialist. "I need to get into shape for the Ciclocross Internacional de Ispaster on January sixth [Spanish Day of the three Kings - ed.] Then there are two more rounds of the Spanish Cup, before the World Championships."

(Additional editorial assistance by Bjorn Haake and Susan Westemeyer.)