A look back by Kieren Banlin and his week long training camp at a valued VeloUK sponsor, Cycling Holiday Spain
Kieren writes … It’s Valentines day and I’m in love. One week into the team training camp at Cycling Holiday Spain (http://www.cyclingholidayspain.co.uk), 25hrs of riding, however many miles and vertical meters clocked I don’t mind admitting that I’m beginning to feel a little sleepy.
Maybe it is this fatigue which has caused me to fall in love with a rival team members wife but more likely I’m just happy to be here. Our host Nozad has been welcoming, helpful, supportive and helped to make this a training camp to remember. The great thing about staying in a villa as opposed to a hotel is it is very much a home from home, every rider is relaxed, recovers better and consequently trains better.
As a team we are much closer and actually feel like a team rather than a few lads in matching kit. We’ve learned each others strengths, weakness and personalities. For example, everybody now knows that I am awesome in every way and therefore they are all happy to fetch bottles for me and donate wheels in times of crisis.
The Costa Blanca really is perfect for cycling and having been here a week I can now understand why so many Pros make it their home. Without wishing to gloat, upon hearing that it was snowing in the UK and below 0 across the land I could not stop a smug grin spreading across my face as I returned from yet another perfect 16C ride without a cloud in the sky.
So far this week we’ve been climbed Sierra Aitana, Col de Rates, Turon Duro, Tarbena all of Vuelta fame, up to Guadalest, over to Castell de Castells and a whole bunch of others which my Spanish is too poor to allow me to learn up until now.
Fortunatly Nozad speaks Spanish so I’ve managed to avoid most of the pointing, gesticulating and amplified English necessary to make myself understood, much to the relief of the residents of Callosa. An important point worth mentioning is the daily post ride massages we have all received, it’s a really nice touch which makes the camp that little bit special, it really helps with recovery too and of course its über pro.
If you are considering a training camp or even a holiday with a bike, I think the best decision you could make would be to contact Nozad. If our experience here is anything to go by, your trip will progress so smoothly allowing you to devote all your energys to your riding and worry about nothing else.
Tomorrow all the team return to the UK but I have one more week of this pro lifesyle to enjoy.â€
Kieren
Further Information: http://www.cyclingholidayspain.co.uk
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Features, Reports, Results
- Q&A with Paul Opie & Tom Mead
- TT Result: Farnborough & Camberley CC 10m TT
- TT Result: Kernow RT Santa’s Fun 10m TT
- TT Result: Manchester & District TTA 10m TT
- CX Result: NWCCA Round 9
- CX Result: Welsh Cyclocross League 8
- CX Result: Western CX League Rd 8
- CX Result: Lincolnshire CX League Rd 9
- CX Result: CXNE Series Round 9
- CX Result: Yorkshire Points CX League Rd 7
- CX Result: Eastern Cyclo-Cross League
- FEATURE: Q&A: Matt Thompson heading to France to race!
- CX Result: East Kent Cyclo Cross League Rd 4
- Team News: New Junior team for West Lothian Clarion
- 2025 Events: Plymouth Corinthian
- News: Junior/Youth National Series 2025
- CX Result: Leicestershire CX League 4
- CX Result: SWCX Round 9
- CX Result: National Trophy Rd 4: Day 1
- Startlist: Round 4 National Trophy Cyclocross (Dec 7/8)
- ELITE ROAD AND CIRCUIT RACES CALENDAR
- CX Result: Scottish CX Champs (Irvine)
- CX Result: Cyclocross Jersey Round 4
- CX Result: South West Cyclocross League Round 8
- Crit Result: Full Gas Winter Series #9
- Track Result: Manchester Regional Track League
- CX Result: Shimano Lazer WMCCL Round 11
- CX Result: Western Cyclo Cross League Rd 7
- CX Result: Central Cyclocross League
- CX Result: Yorkshire CX League Round 6
- CX Result: Wessex Cyclocross League Round 10
- CX Result: CXNE Series Round 8
- CX Result: Eastern Region Regional Championships
- Sad News: No Saint Piran team for 2025
- Crit Result: Full Gas Winter Circuit Series #8
- News: The Pedal Club Lunch (November)
- CX Result: South East Regional CX Champs
- CX Result: Welsh Cyclo-Cross Champs
- CX Result: Central Cyclocross League Round 10
- CX Result: Eastern Cyclo-Cross League 7
Other News on VeloUK
- Q&A with Paul Opie & Tom Mead
- Team News: New Junior team for West Lothian Clarion
- 2025 Events: Plymouth Corinthian
- News: Junior/Youth National Series 2025
- Startlist: Round 4 National Trophy Cyclocross (Dec 7/8)
- ELITE ROAD AND CIRCUIT RACES CALENDAR
- Sad News: No Saint Piran team for 2025
- News: The Pedal Club Lunch (November)
- Team Update: Brother UK / Onform 2025
- 2025 NATIONAL TRACK CALENDAR ANNOUNCED
- CHS CICLISMO – Complimentary daily massage and spa!
- Team News: Fensham Howes – MAS Design 2025
- National Trophy Cyclocross: Round 3 (Torbay)
- Tofauti Everyone Active announces new partners and new name for 2025
- Rider News: Matt Thompson signs for French Team BMC Bezier
- News: Youth Tour of Scotland 2025
- FEATURE: Billy Ladle’s Stellar Season Recognised at British Cycling Awards
- 2025 Prologue Junior Race Team
- STARTLIST: BUCS Hill Climb Championships
- News: West Midlands Road Race League Winner 2024
- Tofauti Everyone Active reveals its roster for 2025
- This weekend: National Trophy Cyclocross 2
- Team News: INEOS Announce Structure/Staff Changes
- STARTLIST: RTTC National Hill Climb Championships
- Feature: The Pedal Club Lunch (October)
- NEWS! Max Walker joins EF Education-EasyPost
- World Tour win for Ethan Vernon
- Louise Sutton signs for Euskaltel Euskadi Team
- STARTLIST: Scottish National Hill Climb Championships 2024
- Rider News: Ben Marsh off to France to race
- Report/Result: World Gravel Championships
- This Weekend (Oct 5/6): National Trophy Cyclocross Round 1
- IOM 2024 YOUTH LEAGUE FINAL OVERALL
- Holiday Rentals: Escape to Casa Guadalest (Spain)
- Sponsor News: Custom Clothing from Santini
- News: Ribble launches the Allroad Ti – Crafted for More
- NEWS: The Pedal Club Lunch — September with Jez Cox
- Ultimate Cycling Experience at CHS Ciclismo
- Worlds: Great Britain Riders for 2024 Road Worlds
- Rider Report: Alistair Gardner wins two Kermesses