Two of CSC's Tour de France stars(Image credit: Steve Dascomb)
The big cheese(Image credit: Steve Dascomb)
Some stealthy-looking Cervelos wait for the CSC boys to go a ridin'(Image credit: Steve Dascomb)
Australian rider Luke Roberts gets ready to ride in Solvang(Image credit: Steve Dascomb)
CSC's Cervelos, sans wheels are still pretty cool(Image credit: Steve Dascomb)
Bobby Julich gets booted up ahead of another ride - his first time training in Solvang since the '90s with the LA Sheriffs team(Image credit: Steve Dascomb)
Lars Bak mingles with the locals in a town settled by Danish immigrants(Image credit: Steve Dascomb)
Lars Bak in the Danish champ's jersey looks set to get in some more miles(Image credit: Steve Dascomb)
Christian Müller mingles with the crowd(Image credit: Steve Dascomb)
Kurt Asle Arvesen doesn't mind a bit of Solvang sun in February(Image credit: Steve Dascomb)
Dave Z has entered the building...well, kind of(Image credit: Steve Dascomb)
Nicki Sørensen ready to ride(Image credit: Steve Dascomb)
Marcus Ljungqvist is a picture of calm(Image credit: Steve Dascomb)
Michael Blaudzun all suited up and ready to go(Image credit: Steve Dascomb)
Dave Zabriskie and Bjarne Riis have a chat before riding in Solvang(Image credit: Steve Dascomb)
The big cheese from Bjarne Riis as he and Dave Zabriskie pose for fans(Image credit: Steve Dascomb)
Dave Zabriskie is set to head out for a ride(Image credit: Steve Dascomb)
Making sure everything is dialled before heading out on the roads around Solvang(Image credit: Steve Dascomb)
Ivan Basso looks pretty serious(Image credit: Steve Dascomb)
Stuart O'Grady makes sure his bike is dialled in before riding(Image credit: Steve Dascomb)
Jacob Piil waits for his bike to get some attention(Image credit: Steve Dascomb)
Dave Z and Ivan B lead the group(Image credit: Steve Dascomb)
Tow of CSC's Tour de France stars head the training ride(Image credit: Steve Dascomb)
Bjarne puts in the hard yards at the back of the bunch(Image credit: Steve Dascomb)
The CSC convoy drives along on quiet Solvang roads(Image credit: Steve Dascomb)
This is why teams choose Solvang to train(Image credit: Steve Dascomb)
Tales from the peloton, February 13, 2006
With mild temperatures (75 degrees F) and quiet Californian roads, Bjarne Riis' men of Team CSC headed out for another training camp in the picturesque surrounds of Solvang, CA recently. Dave Zabriskie instigated the trip to Solvang after riding with US Postal on their annual sojourn to the town, which is conducive to long, uninterrupted rides with some testing terrain.
Bobby Julich is another American rider who had trained in the Solvang area when he rode for the LA Sheriff's team in 1994 before transferring to Motorola, and by all accounts the 34-year-old was glad to be back in familiar territory ahead of what he hopes will be another fantastic season in 2006. Cyclingnews headed out as the team went on a brief two hour ride ride to shake any jet lag from their legs, joined by Directeur Sportif Bjarne Riis, who oversaw proceedings at the back of the bunch.
With riders such as Lars Bak, Jacob Piil and new addition to the squad Stuart O'Grady all present, CSC certainly has a gun squad coming into another season where they'll be expected to do big things. The addition of O'Grady will bolster the team's chances in the classics, and the Australian is keen to perform well in this year's one-day races throughout spring. With a number one team ranking in last year's Pro Tour, Riis will be out to make sure his team is set to repeat that achievement in 2006; the multiple training camps are testament to that fact and his focus on teamwork means riders spend as much time together as possible before the big races begin.
