Team Quick Step’s training camp in Calpe, Spain ended yesterday. After a week of intense workouts, the cyclists will be heading back home for training on their own.
“We did a lot of good work.” explained the team’s Trainer Luca Guercilena. “The guys accumulated about 700 kilometres of training in 7 days, laying the foundations for the specific work that will start in the beginning 2009. The weather was also helpful, allowing us to train without suffering from cold. We managed to do everything we set out to do.”
The training camp was also an important opportunity for new members to gel with the team. “The team spirit is excellent,” explained veteran Jurgen Van de Walle. “The new riders are already perfectly integrated with the group. This is the only time during the season when the entire team is together and they can work on their interpersonal relationships.”
“The professionalism of this group made a very good impression on me,” explained newcomer Marco Velo. “All of us had the opportunity to speak to the technical staff individually to define our own programs and express our thoughts and ideas. By the same token, though, as a group we also worked well on a technical level.”
Kevin Van Impe’s unfortunate fall prevented him from training with the rest of the team on the final day. “In agreement with the team staff I preferred to take a rest. Tomorrow I’ll workout on the hometrainer at home, we will see. Everything seems to be doing OK, though, and my mood is also good.”