fellow Planetarians,
you have to know that Croatia is not just any training camp, it is like a smoothie. Croatia is always a mix of sweat, fun, effort and joy. And that is what makes these days very special.
Arrival:
It's 20:30 p.m. and it's Tuesday, March 22.03.2016nd, 12. After the XNUMX-hour drive, everyone is exhausted and hungry as hell. After everyone has helped themselves to the rich buffet, no one feels like being active in any way. So everyone goes to bed tired that night.
1.Tag:
It's 8:00 am and we're all standing at the entrance to the dining room. Everyone must share their resting heart rate before eating. After the meal it's almost time to start. Everyone changes their clothes and then meets in the wheel room. But when we go outside, we have to realize that it is raining. Everyone thinks it's great, but finally we drive off. My gears break on the way and I am “allowed” to ride the remaining kilometers in the car. When we arrive at the hotel, the old vintage shows 80 and the younger vintage shows 60 on the speedometer. Unfortunately only a 6 for me. And so we fall into bed tired and exhausted that evening.
2 day:
Everyone wakes up at the same time, but whether it's from the alarm clocks or the seagulls remains a mystery. Before training, we notice that some faces are missing from the group. It seems almost a third of our training group got it. You must be sick in bed today. But since the sun is shining, the rest stays in a good mood and is looking forward to the training. After a bumpy ride, we end today's training day with 100 kilometers for the old age group and 80 kilometers for the younger ones. After dinner and a short meeting, all you can hear is the sound of the sea and the occasional soft whisper from some of the rooms.
3.Tag:
Drriiing! The alarm clock rings, we get up, the sun is shining and it's KB day. What could be nicer? After a hearty breakfast, wheel care is on the agenda and when the wheels shine, there are cleaning rags everywhere in front of the hotel and it smells like chain oil. Just a few minutes later, everyone is already sitting on their bikes and ready to go. After 21 kilometers and about 1 hour, it's getting quiet in the hotel. The sun lures us to the beach, to the beautiful old town of Vrsar or to the harbour.
4.Tag:
The alarm clock is ringing. The seagulls are also screeching, it's warm like early summer and everyone knows that today's tour will be a bit longer. Many of the sick are back on their feet and still tanned on their racing bikes. When we get back to the hotel, we are exhausted and some of the sick are in the car. This day also includes three quarters of an hour stretching and a short discussion for the next day. By 22 p.m. at the latest, everyone is lying tired in their bunks.
5.Tag:
The training group of 47 athletes sits chewing at the breakfast table and looks forward to the upcoming tour. Everyone knows that it gets more and more mountainous every day. After a few meters of altitude, however, you will be rewarded with a wonderful view of the old castle ruins of Dvigrad. All that was missing was that Greipel, Geschke and Co. drove past you.
6.Tag:
Easter Monday, unfortunately misty weather and it's a rest day. All athletes will be greeted with a small surprise from the hotel and the Erfurt Parents' Initiative. Since the racing bikes have been scrubbed more than 200 kilometers in the past two days, they deserve extensive care. With freshly cleaned bikes, we head to the harbor for a group photo. Our training group was able to follow the invitation of the accompanying parents of SSV Gera and RSV Greiz to fill their hungry bellies with delicious Italian pizza. Many used the rest of their free time to relax.
7.Tag:
Today is a beautiful morning and everyone here is aware that there will be a few meters of altitude to climb. What do you think it means if the start time is half an hour earlier? The solution is visible on the speedometer at the end of the day. Today's tour takes us to the Mirna Valley and to the "Kuchenberg". There we are actually rewarded with delicious traditional Easter bread. After this short rest we continue. Constantly uphill and downhill, past beautiful olive groves and vineyards. After 121 kilometers in mountainous Istria, everyone is exhausted back to the hotel. Now it's time to put your feet up and relax. The evening ends with the daily forecast and an early night's sleep.
8.Tag:
Even on day 8, cycling drives everyone who traveled with us out of bed early. True to the motto, the early bird catches the worm, we sit on our bikes and wait for the new challenge of the day. Anyone who is not in Croatia for the first time knows that there is still an increase compared to the day before. Today we went up and down mountains again. The mountain to Vrh felt like Croatia's Kilimanjaro. After 6 kilometers with an incline of up to 14% we conquered the mountain. And by now it was clear to us that this tour is even better than the one from the day before. After 135 kilometers we had survived our longest training session. The younger ones among us also cracked the 100 kilometer mark today.
9.Tag:
The training camp is slowly coming to an end. Today is rest day. This time was used to take the squad norm in skill driving. The rest of the afternoon was free for everyone to do as they wished. And so many used the warm rays of the sun to go eat ice cream and to admire the huge yachts in the harbor.
10.Tag:
After a very relaxing day yesterday, it's time to pedal hard again today to increase the mileage a bit. Every training camp always includes a few powerful K1 starts. And so also on this day. After our muscles have been pushed to peak performance, they deserve an extended stretch at the end of the day.
11.Tag:
For the last time this year, we ride our racing bikes along the paved roads in Istria past small, idyllic villages. Everyone enjoys the last kilometers to themselves and reviews the 2016 training camp during relay training. We were able to add another approx. 70 kilometers to our almost 770 total kilometers and thus write the magic number 800 on our flags. Now the only question left tonight is how do all the sweaty bike clothes fit back into the suitcase?
Check out:
Like small, excited ants, all 47 athletes from 7 clubs are crowding around the coach this morning. Our beloved bikes found their place in the bus trailer the evening before, now we just have to take the best seats. After the approximately 12-hour drive, our families all happily embrace us again.
Closing word:
Unfortunately, the time in Istria has passed far too quickly. The taste of this Croatian smoothie will stay with us for a long time this season. Thanks to the numerous trainers and companions this year, we were able to enjoy a varied training session. A good basis for the coming competitions was created.
Lennert Lifka
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