Training instead of the Tour

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Scott and Alain Gallopin getting ready(Image credit: Sabine Sunderland)

Each July, while the world's attention is drawn to France, there are hundreds of cyclists racing and training almost anonymously, unnoticed by most people. Some pros might take a short break and enjoy some idle time. This definitely wasn't the case for those Team CSC riders not competing in the Tour de France, as a group of 17 pros gathered in Loipersdorf, South-East Austria, for a week of hard labour. Sabine Sunderland gives us an insight into the spas, pools and massages - oh, and some training too!

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Hotel owner Gerald Stoiser invited Team CSC to come and enjoy all the privileges his four star hotel has to offer. The thermal village of Loipersdorf, nestled in a beautiful valley and surrounded by lush green gardens offers just about every health treatment you can imagine. The hotel complex is renowned for the relaxed and family-friendly atmosphere. It's a haven for stressed-out executives, rich pensioners wishing to improve their wellbeing, but also for young families longing for an all-in holiday.

Joined by freelance staff member Frank De Jonge and his girlfriend Wendy, I arrived on the morning of the 10th of July, on the last day of the Tour of Austria. The CSC riders who competed in that race, the soigneurs, mechanics and Scott walked into the hotel lobby late that same evening while the rest of us were treating ourselves to some of the exquisite wines available at the bar. The next day the other riders would arrive.

My boys Saën and Tristan were all excited after scouting the thermal village. There were pools, slides, tubes, sand, and playgrounds; kids' heaven - "wow, totally wicked mum!" Saën commented in his cheeky manner. And it wasn't just the children who approved; the whole team was impressed by the facilities and treatments on offer. For some riders it had been a long journey to get to Loipersdorf but they had no trouble discovering the bathrobes in their comfortable rooms and indulged in the ideal relaxation: the sauna and indoor pool.

Due to the different racing programmes there were a lot of riders who hadn't seen each other since the previous training camp in January. Although the nine guys racing in the Tour de France were absent, it was a great idea to get all the other team members together again. It was noticeable that the riders enjoyed the get-together; there was plenty of laughter and stories at the dinner table every evening. Riis' ideas on how to build a real team, with personalities that bond well are really put into action in this way. It works.

The home trainers, all other bikes and equipment were set up and stored in one of the conference rooms of the hotel. Mr Stoiser had given his staff the order to remove all tables and carpets and the soigneurs and mechanics had a perfect space to do their job. The team truck and cars were parked right in front of the hotel, very handy and in close proximity to the entrance of their working quarters.

Daniel Gillespie from the SRM Service Centre in the USA was one of the team's guests, so this training camp was also the ideal opportunity for the riders to augment their knowledge on training with the SRM system. Scott was kept very busy by the riders and staff as many other issues in need of major or minor attention were addressed; and as the kids wanted his company in the few hours he had left he didn't even get the time for that game of golf he had been hoping for. You'll never hear me say that a DS has an easy job!

Thursday was a big day for the guys. They rode up to the summit of the Sommeralm (a climb of 1400m). I followed in the car and the scenery was awesome, but the torturous ride was harder and longer than had been communicated beforehand and the riders were more than happy to see the rich buffet set out for them at the Almenlandgasthof Unterberger, on the top of the Brandlucke. Six hours in the saddle had given the riders a voracious appetite and even the dessert, the "Kaiserschmarrn" (an Austrian pancake-like treat) was polished off in record time.

Some readers might be hoping for me to reveal some intrinsic details on the type of training the CSC team did in Austria. Although there wasn't even a remote feeling of secrecy surrounding this week, I wasn't informed with much detail. No need to initiate a skeptical discussion here, teams never give out abundant information on that issue and any conjugal privileges I might enjoy didn't earn me any prerogative here. And ok, I admit, I did give into temptation; the many treatments and the great massages to be had in the thermal complex got me a bit side-tracked.

Sandra Sifkovits, the manager of Therme Loipersdorf had been more than helpful in accommodating the team. Miss Sifkovits was rapt with the reactions she got from the other guests and had registered 35 cycling enthusiasts for a Sunday morning ride with the team. The training was done on a reasonably flat circuit and the fans had the time for a comfortable chat with the professionals. In the afternoon the whole group was treated to a "showdown". Scott dug into his pocket to put up prizes and the boys rode their hearts out on the 3km circuit, sprinting for the 10 bonuses. Matti Breschel won the race. The supporters were satisfied with the great entertainment and the riders were knackered!

A few of the riders had to be taken to the airport, some drove their own car back home and Scott's colleague Alain Gallopin, who had arrived a couple of days before, took eight men to their next race. Scott, myself and the kids drove home to Belgium, only for Scott to rest a couple of days and then pick up another suitcase. His next task was to be in Paris for the CSC happening that weekend. I could tell you about the festive atmosphere we experienced there, because of the fantastic results the team enjoyed in the Tour de France, but that'll be for another day (or year!).

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