Like presents under a Christmas tree!(Image credit: Phil Lee)
A familiar name emerges - former junior national TT and criterium champion, Zach Taylor.(Image credit: Phil Lee)
To each their own.(Image credit: Phil Lee)
The UF & Shands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Institute welcomes the VMG team (looks like they’ve made themselves at home already).(Image credit: Phil Lee)
It dawns on them... ”These are ours!”(Image credit: Phil Lee)
Time to look...(Image credit: Phil Lee)
Time to touch...(Image credit: Phil Lee)
New DS Dan Larson admires the new goods as well.(Image credit: Phil Lee)
Bahamian rider Jonathan Massie dials in his saddle.(Image credit: Phil Lee)
Chase Fullerton double-checks his settings.(Image credit: Phil Lee)
Jared Faciszewski is the first subject for “the rack”(Image credit: Phil Lee)
Jared Faciszewski keeps a keen eye on his outputs.(Image credit: Phil Lee)
Team physiologist and trainer Steve Heal makes data recordings while Pat O’Connor takes blood lactate readings(Image credit: Phil Lee)
Flashdance!(Image credit: Phil Lee)
US U23 National team member Zach Bolian is next up on the apparatus(Image credit: Phil Lee)
The large screen display keeps the painful progression “in your face”(Image credit: Phil Lee)
The burn approaches inevitably. The sting IS in the tail in these tests.(Image credit: Phil Lee)
Zach Bolian’s blood is pumping now. Can see it in his eyes (face)?(Image credit: Phil Lee)
While most of the Northern hemisphere and especially the northern US were recovering from this weekend's winter weather, new US developmental professional team, VMG Racing, was enjoying mild temperatures in Gainesville, FL for it's first complete team gathering. Over the weekend, the new programme hosted its first team training camp in preparation for the 2006 season.
While the three days in Florida were focused on orientation and planning, there were a few other surprises in store for the team. In addition to the run-of-the-mill meetings and team policy outlining, riders were subjected to physiological and psychological testing and their first photo shoot for the VMG programme.
Making use of its newly established partnership with the University of Florida & Shands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Institute, VMG Racing riders were treated to state of the art exercise and physiological testing. Dan Larson, manager/director of the team said, "The institute has the specific testing equipment we need and a staff that has a specific interest in cycling. The riders will be able to take the results of this testing and create a training programme to get the most out of their upcoming preparations."
The most exciting episode of the weekend took place at the outset of the activities. After the staff and riders were cordially introduced and welcomes were offered all around, the riders we quickly led into what was purported to be a brief laboratory tour and a run of the mill bike fitting session. When entering the UF laboratory however, riders were greeted by carbon Fuji bikes, their equipment for 2006.VMG racing secured a sponsorship deal with Fuji to support the development squad, with all riders now equipped for plenty of winter training.
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