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BILL SLATER SENT IN THIS PHOTO OF LANCE AND THE TEAM, TAKEN
FROM HIS VANTAGE POINT, FIRST UP FIGUEROA THEN IN THE VALLEY
The United States Postal Service (USPS) Cycling team was holding their training
camp in Solvang, Ca. from January 20th thru 29th. They have been coming to
Solvang for the last couple of years. This is their last group camp before they
depart for Europe for the start of the racing season. Anyway, on Wednesday the
28th I was sitting around the house with nothing to do, so I decided to drive to
Solvang to see if I could locate the team. As I drove around Solvang, I noticed
a postal team truck parked in the lot at the Royal Scandinavian Inn. Driving
around the back of the hotel I discovered a roped off area where the team
mechanics were set up to service the bikes. I stopped and asked one of mechanics
where the team was training at today. He replied that they were doing Figueroa
Mountain today (twice). That's right they were going all the way up and down
twice!!! I headed down Happy Canyon Road and started up the mountain. About a
mile and a half up they passed me, headed down at an unbelievable speed. By the
time I got turned around and caught up with them, they were off the mountain and
into the flat part of the valley!! I followed them about half way across the
valley, stopping now and then to try and take some pictures. Boy do they move
fast! You probably noticed from the picture they were in a pretty small group,
as this year they split into two separate groups. I should of went back to the
hotel and waited for them to return, so I could possibly have met the whole
team, well maybe next year.
The USPS team website usually posts their schedule ahead of time and velonews
usually has an article about the training camp schedule also. Will Lance
win number 6? Will they be back In Solvang next year? I sure hope so!!
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