Training is going well here in Calpe. Today we had an ever longer ride, although with less efforts than yesterday. Normally we would have an easier day tomorrow, after three days of hard riding, but because of what seems to be bad weather coming in, we will probably have another day of hard training tomorrow as well. Actually, already tomorrow afternoon there might be some rain, so the plan for tomorrow will probably be to leave earlier in the morning so we're back right after lunch. This is in my opinion definitely the way to do it, rather than just sticking to the program and then having a 6 hour ride on a day with pouring rain. I am guessing the team will decide tonight about tomorrow. More on this in tomorrows blog post.

Today's ride wasn't an easy one. It's always hard going from wintertraining in Sweden to "race-preparation" training at the team January camp. I feel better prepared this year, especially thanks to being on Tenerife, but it's still hard coping with the speed and efforts done here. But, it's no surprise and that's why I am here.

Our main sportsdirector telling us which way we go next.

Its only been a couple of days back home, but time has already come to move on to the next training camp. As on several occasions in the past, I've gone back to Calpe, Spain, where I'll be until the 3rd of February. I traveled in the late afternoon and evening, meaning I got to spend another day at home training and preparing for being away again. For example, I had to renew my recidency in Monaco, which I got done. And, as I'm going on to another training camp straight from Calpe, I'll be gone for a total of three weeks. So focus these last few days hasn't been on getting a lot of hours on the bike, but rather on fixing everything at home so I can focus on my job when I'm away.

Just enough time to wash clothes and get a couple of rides in, then time to head out again...

Coming home to Monaco I had some "package opening" to do. Remember how I wrote some time ago how I needed a new computer? Well I made sure I had a new one waiting for me here as I got home. I also got myself a new camera, so I at times can use it for higher quality photos in my blog, as opposed to always using my telephone camera. I also knew that the WRC Rally was in town, meaning there would be something to look at during a stroll in town or even on a training ride.

Here's what I've been up to the last two days:

So, it finally arrived, the day I get to go home. There's always a love/hate feeling towards training camps. On the up side you get to ride new (or at least other) roads, usually with quality company and everything around being taken cared of. On the down side there is little rest, spending hours after hours in the saddle and being away from home and family. So due to this, ten days is more or less the perfect length for a camp. On Monday I leave again for next camp, this time in Calpe, Spain. As a matter of fact, it's another ten day camp.

Cold morning again as we left early for training before leaving to the airport. That white stuff on the ground is indeed: ice!

Today we had our last long training here on Tenerife for this camp. All that remains now is a short ride tomorrow morning for most of us (some leave too early to ride) before leaving at 11:00 to the airport. The loop on today's ride went out north, then west along the coast until we were back on the south side where we normally ride due to the warmer temperatures than on the north side. But today we were lucky, having cool air but sun on the north and west side, and then riding into dark clouds as we came south. The last 2 hours back up to the hotel were always with rain hanging in the air, until we finally rode into the clouds as we got closer to the top. About 5kms from the hotel we exited the clouds and rode into the dry and sunny air we have been used to here.

Here we are at about 10kms from the hotel, standing inside the clouds. 5kms later the sun came out and we were able to ride the last part back to the hotel in the sun.

After today's ride there only remains two more training sessions, or actually, only a day and a half before we get to go home. It's not that I can't stand it here anymore, but more just looking forward to heading home to Monaco to enjoy a couple of easy days in the company of my girlfriend. Tenerife has been good, so good that I have decided to come back here straight after the main team camp in Calpe, Spain which is held from the 23rd of January to the 3rd of February. But more on that later.

Looking down 2200 meters on the ocean is an impressive sight (the ocean is somewhere down there under the clouds!).

Today I will only confirm the subject I wrote about yesterday, the cold air. The photo below was taken this morning at around 9 o'clock. Don't mind the other values of the srm display, they're not accurate.

4 degrees warm...

Another couple of days have passed up here. One thing I learned from last year when I was on Etna, Sicily, is the importance of keeping warm on the descents. Last year, not taking this serious enough, I caught too much cold air, causing a swollen throat and a lost voice. So, this year I'm making sure I always get dressed before a long descent.

Putting on a vest or jacket on the last top before descending towards the hotel.

As I spend as much time as possible (almost two months) during the winter in Sweden, I don't use my road bike for quite some time. So not only the lack of climbs, but also the exact position on my bike gives me a hard time the first couple of weeks coming back on my road bike. Today I felt a little better than the last few days. I also did an effort and I have to say the sensations weren't terrible.

Today we left all together, with most of us doing the same loop.

One of the best parts of my job is stopping for a coffee and in this case; a banana filled bread.