08/12/09 - 20:05 GMT+2

Hello, everyone. I want to give you my very special thanks for your birthday wishes. I’m already 27! I hope that the best is yet to come. I know that it will be difficult, but one thing you can bet on is that I’m going to train the best I can to win. Tomorrow in Pisa we’re starting the first team training camp. I’m really eager to see all my teammates, to greet the new ones—there are a lot of them—and for us to get to work right away. Best wishes and see you soon.

26/11/09 - 21:36 GMT+2

Hello, everyone. Now that my future for next season has been settled, I want to thank you all for your support. I assure you that it’s very important to me, and now I only hope to be able to get your enthusiasm and your confidence back by working and by making the maximum effort to reach my goals. After many months of waiting, finally Astana has retained its license, and after analyzing it very thoroughly, I’ve decided to stay with them. Now I’m full of desire to focus on work, on training, on setting goals for 2010 and fighting for them. I know that it’ll be very difficult to equal my 2009 results, almost impossible given the number of victories I got this year. But at any rate, I hope to have a good year again. Again, thank you all very much, and until the next blog.

15/11/09 - 22:27 GMT+2

Less than a week ago, I got back from vacation and now I’m eager to clarify my future once and for all, because I’m returning with a strong desire to start planning next season, thinking about preparation, training, the calendar and the goals for 2010 aside from the Tour, of course. I want to start working immediately because this year’s going to be different, since I’m going to have new equipment, new kit and new bikes, which won’t be easy after being used to Trek for several years, because I’m very happy with all the technical sponsors that I’ve had and I’m very grateful to them. They’ve been with me during the greatest victories of my career, and that’s been very important. Soon I’ll have to change many things and adapt to new ones, starting with the bike, but I’ll never forget the work that they’ve done for me. I hope that their memories of me are as good as mine are of them.

08/11/09

14/10/09

Everyone was eager to see what the route of the Tour was like, and many details had already leaked about it, but of course, until it’s confirmed in the presentation, there’s no knowing if it'll be good or bad, according to each one. This year’s been luckier than others, I must admit, because there are more mountains, with more summit finishes that promise to be very demanding, and there’s not as much against the clock. There’s no team time trial either, which is good for me, mainly because I still don’t know for sure what team I’ll be on, or who my teammates will be, so it’s better not to have to worry about that stage. What I would’ve liked is if the long time trial had been 10 kilometers shorter and they’d put in another one of about 20 or 30 kilometers in exchange, but hey, I’ll have to adapt. In summary, I come back from Paris with good feelings, happy with the welcome by the people, and happy to see lots of friends—and also some rivals—again. Little by little, it seems that vacation and rest time are coming to an end, although luckily I’ve still got enough left to enjoy before going back to working intensely. Greetings to everybody!

25/07/09 - 01:16 GMT+2

24/07/09 - 22:49 GMT+2

Stage 19 Today was a 178-kilometer stage. In theory, it seemed very simple but I soon saw that it wasn’t. It was very fast from the beginning because everybody wanted to catch the escape. It turned out to be 19 riders, but the thing was that this escape wasn’t useful to all the teams, and we went full out for the entire time until catching them at km 140, just before the start of the last climb, where the tempo was strong enough to drop some sprinters. To cap it off, when we got to the top, it started to rain and the highway was very dangerous. That’s the thing I was most afraid of, but I managed to finish the stage without any accidents. When we passed the 3 km banner, I didn’t take any risks (if there’s a crash, they give everybody the same time). Now I’m stuffing myself with pasta because tomorrow I’ll need all that energy. Ciao.

23/07/09 - 20:36 GMT+2

Hi, everybody, Today was Stage 18, a time trial of 40km with a tiny 3km hill. The route went very well for me, but before starting I was only thinking about consolidating the general. Then when I left they gave me the time splits to my teammates and they were good. At 15 km, my earpiece stopped working, but at the first checkpoint I saw that I had the best time. I knew then that if I held steady until the beginning of the climb, I might have a chance to win. When I saw that I had best time (at the second intermediate point), I knew clearly that I had to go at top speed, because although I had made pretty good time, Cancellara would take a lot of it back in the descent, like in other time trials. Being mentally prepared for this is what allowed me to win by a scant 3 seconds. Now I’m getting a massage, trying to recover a little because my legs are extremely tired and aching from this huge effort. I’m happy with the time margins that there are now in the general. An important step has been taken, and there’s not much left, 3 days. I’ve got to stay very focused. Many thanks for all the messages of support I’ve received, there are so many that I don’t have time to read them!! This victory is for all of you!!!

22/07/09 - 20:08 GMT+2

Stage 17 Hi, everybody – Today would’ve been a day to be happy about the situation in the general, but I feel like shit since my teammate Klöden slipped off the back of the leading group after pulling. I talked to him earlier about attacking, and he gave me the OK. I did, the Schleck brothers responded, but Andreas couldn’t. When I saw it, I stopped, but he wasn’t able to get back. Apart from that, we improved the situation in the general with this stage, and physically, I’m feeling good. One less day!!

21/07/09 - 19:28 GMT+2

Stage 16 Hi, everybody – Today was a very hard day, a 159-km stage, not very long but really intense. We climbed two passes, each one over 20 km long. The way the stage developed worried me a little before the attacks from the other riders started, later it went better than expected. The team worked very well and very intelligently all during the first part of the race. Then, on the second mountain, the Schlecks attacked as expected. In the end, nothing came of it, since there were 30 km remaining from the peak until we arrived at the line in a group. I’m feeling good considering all the days of racing. I’m happy because we got through a very difficult stage. We’ll see.

19/07/09 - 20:36 GMT+2

Stage 15 Good evening, everybody – It’s now 20:35, I’ve arrived at the hotel after all the things that go on after the stage!! Today was a great day, I looked forward to it eagerly because I knew that it was very important for the general classification. As you’ll know, I’ve won a majority. The stage ended at Verbier with a summit of 8.5 km, the stage was very fast with a big escape. We always held the gap to 4 minutes, maximum. Later Liquigas also pulled with us, and just when the climb of the last summit was starting, as we had hoped, Saxo went to the front for the Schleck brothers. This last one went very well for me because it was a short climb and you had to start fast to get a gap. After 2 km, we only had a few riders left, and Frank Schleck attacked. I got on his wheel and decided to attack. It was a little farther than I thought (6 km from the finish line), but it went well, and then I just rode it like an uphill time trial. I’d been feeling very good since the beginning of the stage, and it was the same on the last climb. Now I’m going to rest as much as possible because the hardest week in the Tour is still left. Finally, I’d like to thank you for the many messages of support, they make everything a little easier. Ciao.

18/07/09 - 18:57 GMT+2

Uf!!! Today was a transitional day, but it also wore us out, particularly at the beginning, when it was very fast: 50 km in the first hour. It was a bit of a drag, too, because the rain stayed with us until the 100th kilometer. About the sensations, they’re good. Just as you’d think, we’re beginning to feel the effect of all the days of racing, but tomorrow—when I arrive on my own turf—will go perfectly, or so I hope!!! Ciao.

17/07/09 - 20:30 GMT+2

Stage 13 We spent the whole day today in the rain! It was a dangerous stage because it had several climbs, with one first category and another second category a little before the finish line. There was some uncertainty concerning this stage, people talked a lot about it. The day started out grey, at the start line it had already started to rain, and until we entered the bus at the end of the stage we never stopped getting rained on. It started very fast, since everybody wanted to get into an escape that formed at the 70th km. Later the race was more controlled. I had doubts about whether other riders would attack on the climbs, but the team did a great job and we got through it without problems. In the final kms we let it go—since the leader’s team was pulling in order to keep the maillot—and the group arrived together. Finally, the stage was extremely wearing—the days are beginning to show. The day was good since the legs responded and we escaped without problems. Ciao

16/07/09 - 18:48 GMT+2

Stage 12 Today was a very long day, 211 km, extremely hot and on highways with some melted asphalt sections, typical of the Tour. The stage left very fast, all the riders wanted to keep hold of the escape, and it wasn’t until just before the 90th kilometer that something definitive happened. The rest of the day was at a reduced pace because everybody had interests in the escape. Today was a very tough day of punishment and fatigue for the legs, just before a very hard stage with a lot of action, like the one tomorrow. I hope it goes well!! Now I’m going to get a massage on my worn-out legs.

15/07/09 - 20:21 GMT+2

Today was a typical transitional day in the Tour de France. It was 192 kilometers with only 2 small fourth category climbs. The stage was very fast from the start, with several crashes at the beginning due to the high speed, since we were on a very narrow road. I dodged it all, and that’s no small thing. Later the escape of the day was made by two riders, and several teams controlled things for the sprint. The approach to the finish was complicated, because the last 500 meters kicked up, so you had to pay close attention in the final kilometers. It was really tense, but in the end we arrived with no problem, but not without danger!!! So that’s one more day, and one less day until Paris. Oh, and muchas gracias for all the messages you’re sending me!!!

14/07/09 - 18:56 GMT+2

Hi, everybody –-We’re already in a mess again!!! Today was different, marked by the prohibition of using the famous earpiece. We riders disagreed about this decision because much of the time it puts our security in jeopardy, with cars that drive in the middle of the peloton, that cause congestion when passing to go forward….etc. Otherwise the stage was controlled all the time, with an escape always on a short leash, with a very nervous last 20 km, with—uffff—a sprint finish. Today I tried to conserve as much as possible, thinking about what’s coming up—which will be the really hard part. Ciao

12/07/09 - 20:25 GMT+2

Hiya - right now I’m getting off the airplane that has transferred us to Limoges Today was the ninth stage, with two important summits, Aspen and Tourmalet, but the long distance from the peak of the Tourmalet to the finish line (70 km) was too much for people to stir up the race. That allowed a very small escape group to finish together, since the peloton was pulling very strong to get to the sprint. I’m sure that for you it was a bit boring!!! It was nice to get to know the mythic Tourmalet, even more so with the thousands of fans, the ones who get it about these mountains being the monuments of cycling. About my sensations, they’re good and the body is recovering well. And tomorrow is a rest day: I’m going to take maximum advantage of it!!!

11/07/09 - 19:44 GMT+2

Impressive!! I begin that way because there’s no other word that can describe how the team did today. It was a very hectic stage. An escape left at the start and there were riders of stature in it, like Evans. This made it so that from then on, the team had to work very hard during the whole stage, with some attacks by Saxo Bank at the end. But we kept the race under control - everybody has worked extraordinarily. About the sensations, they were good, a very important thing since after eight stages our strength has started to flag. Now one more, then a rest day. At the moment, I’m going to recover as well as I can for tomorrow. We’re looking forward to the mythic TOURMALET. See you tomorrow!

10/07/09 - 20:54 GMT+2

Hi from Andorra, everybody – Today was a very, very long day. Nine neutralized kilometers at the start, a 224-km stage and another 25 km from Arcalis to the hotel in Andorra La Vella on the bike: almost 260 km!!! Gotta recover now. It was a pretty calm day. An escape of 9 riders was allowed by all teams, and when they got 14 minutes ahead, the team set a good pace so they couldn’t take any more time. My teammates did a great job controlling it, and later, on the last climb, the race was pretty much under control, since there was a nasty headwind. About 4 km from the finish line Evans broke away and I saw that the rest of the riders’ faces didn’t look good, so I decided to try at 2.5 km from the goal. I saw that I was the only one that went, and I tried to get as much time as I could. In the end, it wasn’t much, but it’s always good to get something. The important thing is that I feel good and the situation is good. We’ll see, and one more day. Many thanks for your messages of support.

09/07/09 - 20:36 GMT+2

Hi, everybody – First, I’d like to say thank you for the unbelievable reception we were given during the 181-km stage, and most of it happened in the wet. Today was a tricky day, mainly because of the rain, which fell during most of the stage, and even harder at the end. The day was pretty hectic from the beginning, on a narrow highway that went up and down constantly like a seesaw, dangerous and hard. Then, when the escape got away, we concentrated solely on being in front to avoid crashes, especially at the end, where there were lots. Tomorrow come the mountains, what many of you are looking forward to. Me, too. I hope that the legs respond. We’ll see.

08/07/09 - 20:28 GMT+2

Hi from Gerona – I’ve been especially excited about arriving here, since riding across Spanish territory tomorrow will mean a lot to me. About today’s stage, I think that it might have been a boring day for spectators, but it was really exhausting and unbelievably tense during the 196 km, and even in the 9-km neutralized zone! The final result was good—the team worked to perfection and I was on the alert at all times. I’m happy because we got through the day without any accidents and it’s one less day until the mountains. Take care, and I hope to see a lot of you on the road tomorrow.

07/07/09 - 19:26 GMT+2

Hiya, everybody – Today was the fifth stage, a 38-km team time trial. It was pretty technical and had hills right from the outset. Overall, we didn’t have too take any risks on the curves because you can loose a lot of time, just like what happened to the other teams. The team worked really well, thinking about the rest of the riders behind us at every moment, because it was very important to stay together until the end. So we got the victory over very powerful teams, and what’s more important is that we were able to get a big margin over riders who are also very important candidates for the general. Things went pretty well for me during the whole crono, and it gave me confidence for the stages that are coming. Greetings, everybody, and thanks for the many messages of support.

06/07/09 - 21:11 GMT+2

Hello from Montpellier, everybody – I’m already resting in the hotel. Today was a really unusual stage…to say the least!! Now I’m thinking solely about tomorrow’s stage, it’ll be important for the team and we’ve got to get everything we can get out of it. It’s good for distancing ourselves as far as possible from other possible rivals. To finish, I’d like to thank you for all the messages of support that you’ve sent to me through my website. We’re in touch!

05/07/09 - 19:03 GMT+2

Hi, everybody – Today was the second stage. We climbed four mountains but nothing important, it wasn’t too hard to tolerate because the leader’s team controlled the escape, and at the end, just as expected, the sprinters’ teams took over. It was pretty tense, but we got there with no accidents of any kind. You couldn’t help noticing today that it was really, really hot. It was humid heat, and you sweated constantly—days like that are typical in the TOUR. The sensations were good, now to rest as much as possible because tomorrow’s another marathon. See you tomorrow!!

04/07/09 - 22:01 GMT+2

Hello from Monaco, everybody - I started the Tour today, at last. It was a 15 km time trial, which went pretty well, but what I wanted was to see the final result. Everything was going fine, but before doing a race like this, you’ve always got doubts about your state of form compared to other people’s. I ended up with a good second place, but more important, I’m happy because I was able to get a little distance on some of the other guys in the general. It’s only a few seconds, but it’s boost to the morale and shows that my physical condition is very good. Right now I’m going to see if I can get my massage - it’s already ten o’clock at night because the stage was so late today. Take care, and more tomorrow.

25/06/09 - 16:43 GMT+2

14/06/09 - 18:33 GMT+2

Hi, everybody, from the airport in Lyon, Today was the end of the Dauphiné Libéré. It’s been 8 very demanding days with a lot of hors categorie mountains, together with 2 cronos a lot like the ones in the upcoming Tour. I went with the idea of doing significant work for the Tour, staying clear of any type of responsibility in the race, in order to work on form without having to exhaust the body, and I’m leaving with a great feeling about both the TTs and the mountain stages, where I was close to the winner’s position, and third place in the general classification. To wrap it up, a very good tune-up. Now I’m going to take a couple of days to rest and recuperate, then 2 or 3 powerful training sessions, then straight to the TOUR DE FRANCE!! We’ll meet again in Monaco.

13/06/09 - 19:21 GMT+2

Hi, everybody! The seventh stage of the Dauphiné Libéré was the queen stage, and it might’ve been perfect in the next Tour de France, since we climbed the mythic peaks of the Galibier, Croix de Fer, and Madelaine. It was a really exhausting stage, given the ascents and the heat. It was a tough day where bit by bit, people in the peloton yielded and kept losing a little time. I felt good, considering the allergies that I can’t help noticing these days. On the last climb, Evans attacked several times trying to drop Valverde. I responded to his attacks and the three of us stayed together in the final kilometers of the ascent. I’m happy right now with my performance in the Dauphiné, having a high position but without beating myself up like on other occasions, thinking about the Tour. See you tomorrow.

12/06/09 - 17:35 GMT+2

Today was a very short stage, only 104 km. The exit was pretty fast, and in a little while the escape of the day was made, an escape that interested the leader’s team and that stayed away until the finish. On the mythic Izoard we climbed steadily and with no change of pace. I think that people were thinking a little about the tough day tomorrow. I decided to make a move and test Evans, I saw that he adjusted easily to my change of rhythm. My sensations were good but I really noticed my allergies and they didn’t allow me to do my absolute best. Now, rest time.

11/06/09 - 18:50 GMT+2

Hi everybody, today the stage ended on the mythic Mont Ventoux. The stage was bearable, with an escape that happened at the beginning, not too bad until the foot of the Ventoux, because when I saw the sign showing the start of the climb, the attacks started. There were different little groups, but I kept watching Evans, because what I wanted was to do a good stage but not to agonize, thinking ahead to next month. That’s how it was on the whole climb. Also my teammate rode ahead and took the responsibilities off me. On the whole it’s good, because I had a high level on the climb, not super, but I think it was good enough for now. Now to recover well, tomorrow will be another hard day with the Izoard at the end of the stage.

10/06/09 - 18:52 GMT+2

Hello from Valence everybody, where today it was the 42-km crono, a tough and demanding day that was completely flat for pure rolleurs and with a strong wind that increased as the day went on. Things went pretty well and the test was very good, even though I lost a little time on a rider like Evans in a TT with these characteristics. Now I’m going to keep doing good work, planning for the Tour without spending too much, even though it mortgages the general a little. Tomorrow Mont Ventoux, calm and watching how I feel. Now to rest my smoking legs.

09/06/09 - 18:03 GMT+2

Today was what the fans call a transitional day, but for all the riders, it was a day of torture for the legs. The race was relatively calm for the pack. There was an escape of five riders, and the peloton kept them at a distance. Then in the second part of the stage the escapees rode really hard, and although the pack rode hard too, the escape stuck. As for me, very good, I tried to do it as cautiously as possible because tomorrow there’ll be a very tough 42km!!! time trial. Well, tomorrow I’ll tell you how it went.

08/06/09 - 17:33 GMT+2

Hi, everybody, today was the second stage, the longest one in this edition of the Dauphiné Libéré, where, if you count the kilometers of the neutralized section, it was 233 km to the finish line. In the end we had luck in that the weather forecast said that it was going to rain all day, but it didn’t start until the final kilometers where it produced a crash at 500 meters from the line. I saw it coming. I felt good after that many hours on the bicycle, I think that today was good training for getting into competition rhythm. The team did very good work, they protected me during the entire day. I think that tomorrow will seem like a lot like today, although a bit harder because of the number of hills. See you tomorrow!

07/06/09 - 19:27 GMT+2

Hello to everybody, from Nancy, France. Today at the Dauphiné Libéré was my first time back to competition since the April 11 in the Vuelta al País Vasco, almost two months of rest and training. It started with a crono of 12 km with a little climb at the beginning and later it went pretty fast with a lot of closed curves. It went very well. I lacked a bit of sparkle at the end, but I’m happy because that’s just what we look for in competition. All things considered, it’s very good. Now to rest, because tomorrow is no less than 228 km. More tomorrow.

11/04/09 - 19:45 GMT+2

Hi everybody! Today was the last stage of the race, a 24-km crono. I had great hopes for this crono, because it’s the same one as in 2006. On that occasion I was tied with Samuel and fighting for the overall, but it wasn’t my best day and I ended up in fifth place in the general. But today was a very good day. The sensations were there from the beginning. When Johan told me the favorable time splits, I was able to keep on confidently to the end. When I finished, I saw that I’d gotten a double victory (the stage and the general). I’m very happy, because I was able to finish off the excellent work done by my entire team, and because this victory gives me a lot of confidence and peace of mind for preparing to meet my next goal,The Tour!! Now I’m going to rest. I’m going on vacation, and at the beginning of May I’ll plan the next phase. I’ll have more news for you in my blog later. Best wishes.

10/04/09 - 19:45 GMT+2

Hiya, Today was the fifth stage of the race, a typical day in the Vuelta al País Vasco—constant rain during the entire day. That, added to the cold, made this stage the most dangerous and difficult of the race. My teammates controlled the race in a way that was amazing and very intelligent (THANK YOU ALL, EACH AND EVERY ONE) and we got through this complex day without problems. Now I’m the one who has to try to keep the jersey. I felt really well today. It will be difficult, but I’m going to ride the time trial on behalf of the team, and what will be, will be!! See you tomorrow ;-)

09/04/09 - 19:39 GMT+2

Hi everybody, This was the fourth stage. It was difficult at first, with a series of very tough mountains until the 65th km. Then it was easier to control. It was a bad day for the team because both Navarro and Horner crashed hard. Dani was able to finish the stage, even though he was totally beaten up and exhausted (clear proof of what a champion he is). With Horner, we didn’t have such luck. He has a fractured collarbone and won’t be able to continue. It’s a serious loss to the team, but the important thing is that he recover as soon as he can, because there’s a long season ahead. Things were calm for the rest of the stage. An escape stayed away until the end, and the peloton finished in a pack. On a personal note, I was quite well. I hope that the legs stay like this for the next two days.

08/04/09 - 19:37 GMT+2

Hiya everybody, Today was the third stage of the race, with a finish on the summit of Arrate. It was a good day for me and for my team. The team did an impressive job on the last four climbs in order to make the race more difficult before the last ascent at Arrate, so that people would arrive a bit worn out, because the climb was really short and the road surface very good, so it was hard to gain time. On the last climb it was up to me to finish off the great job done by my teammates, to whom I’m very grateful. On the whole, I’m very happy with the stage win on a mountain as historic as Arrate, where the greatest riders have won. Thinking about the time differences, they were very small and nobody’s been eliminated from contention, but it’s always best to grab a few seconds of advantage. Greetings, and thanks for your show of support.

07/04/09 - 19:04 GMT+2

Hi everybody!! Today, the second stage of the Vuelta al País Vasco seemed calm enough at first, but it was an exhausting stage for the peloton and a little tense, also thanks to the heavy rain that fell in the entire first part of the stage. Rain makes your muscles stiffen up, then you can’t keep the pedal cadence that you’re used to. Otherwise it was a pretty good day since we got through a difficult day without any bad luck or changes in the general classification. We’ll see how we feel tomorrow. See you then!!

06/04/09 - 18:51 GMT+2

Hi everybody, I’m already rolling again!! Today was the first stage of the Vuelta al País Vasco. It was a special race for me because I got really good results and because the support of the public is amazing. Talking about the stage, it was demanding, because just after the start there was an escape and in a few kms they got a big gap. Then the team, together with two others, kept a light control on the escape until the last steep hill, there it got very fast because we were on the descent. Then the peloton started to stretch out and there were small gaps between the guys in front. At the finish we came together in a group of about 20 in front, then came the sprint. I felt pretty good today, and we got through the day without rain and without any accidents. Now, to rest up for tomorrow.

27/03/09 - 19:08 GMT+2

Hi, everybody, Today was the final stage of the Vuelta a Castilla y León, the flattest stage of the whole race. It was very fast from the beginning, for a change, not like the previous stages. It left the start line extremely fast because everybody wanted to try one last chance to get into a breakaway. At 44 km, the escape of the day went away with two riders, then Caisse d’Epargne, who wanted to manage the sprint, did the work. At the end, they did a great job setting up the sprint, and Valverde won (congratulations Alejandro). We devoted ourselves to keeping in a good place in front to avoid possibly being cut off. On the whole, I think that this Vuelta a Castilla y León couldn’t have been better. My test in the time trial was very good, as well as how I felt in the other stages while helping my teammate Levi get the overall victory, along with the whole team—besides getting second place in the general classification. Finally, I’d like to take this opportunity to say thanks to all of you for your support and signs of affection, and for how encouraging you were in the Vuelta a Castilla y León. I’m sorry that I couldn’t give you as much attention as I would’ve liked. Saludos, and see you in Basque Country.

26/03/09 - 19:55 GMT+2

Hi from Puebla de Sanabria everybody, I’m recovering quietly in my room from the effort of Stage 4. Today was a very hard day with constant attacks from the beginning, with escapes getting a little time. On the first climb (very hard) things heated up and only Levi and I were left in the group of 10 riders that went over the summit first. On the descent we dedicated ourselves to bringing the tempo back as much as possible so that more riders could catch up (especially our team), and get control of the race at a reasonable speed until the base of the last climb. Then we set a very fast tempo so that there wouldn’t be many attacks. We kept it up until just under 7 km to go, where Zabriskie attacked very hard, so it was important to raise the pace as high as we could, to avoid any possible moves from the riders who were close to us in the general. I got along very well helping my teammate maintain the leadership on this decisive day. See you tomorrow.

25/03/09 - 18:47 GMT+2

Hi, everybody, Today was a hard day for the team. From the beginning of the stage there were lots of attacks to try to break away, and so we rode very fast all day. The escape finally got away at km 92, where I noticed we’d reached an average speed of 50 km/h--impressive! Later, the team controlled the escape from a short distance because the riders in it were only a little way down the general classification. In the last 5 km, Caisse took over and set up the sprint for Valverde, who got the victory in the end. For me it was a pretty calm day. My team did tremendous work, and I felt very well. It was also a good day for the team, since we stayed in the lead, and now it’s one day less to go. Saludos from León

24/03/09 - 19:04 GMT+2

Hi, everybody, Today was a tough day, a 28-km time trial, flat and really windy. This morning I got up and decided not to sweat it, but to go for a little spin instead and rest up for the race. I left at 15:21, a much later time than the big favorites, Zabriskie and Levi. I felt pretty well warming up, as well as at the beginning where they were giving me the time checks to Levi, and they were favorable. But leaving in the middle of the start list, there were two decisive factors that together made the last part of the race the hardest—passing the Euskaltel rider made me lose concentration, since sometimes that put me parallel to him, and the strong headwind. In the end, I came second to my teammate Levi and I’m very happy, because it wasn’t a great time trial for me. I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate my teammate Levi and to recover as well as we can because it’s going to be difficult to defend the leadership. Saludos, and see you tomorrow.

23/03/09 - 19:02 GMT+2

Hello to everybody from Castilla y León, Today was the first stage, this race is one that I like a lot, I hope that it’s a little calmer than Paris-Nice, uggghhh….!! Today was a relatively calm day, I say relatively because we were smacked by the wind all day, but the team did great work controlling the escape and shielding me in the peloton. In the end, it really was a little tense and we had to go forward. Then came the sprint finish, and time for recovering as much as possible for tomorrow. And now the other story: soon after I got to the line, I heard that Lance had crashed and possibly had a broken collarbone. I hope that he doesn’t have a break, and if that’s not the case, that he gets well as soon as possible. It’s a blow to the team’s morale. Greetings to all of you and see you tomorrow.

15/03/09 - 17:32 GMT+2

Hola, everybody, Before I forget, I want to say thanks for all the messages of support you’ve sent to me, and the congratulations whenever I’ve gotten a victory, but a day like yesterday is when it really hits home, when things don’t go well and your spririts are low. Now that’s said, you already knew that today was the last stage of Paris-Nice, a traditional stage just like every year’s finale in Nice. I liked it a lot. Today I decided to attack around 80 km from the finish line. I knew that it would be difficult to win but I didn’t have anything to lose, and I missed winning by a hair, but it was a beautiful stage and I’m going home with a great feeling. My final verdict on Paris-Nice is very good. I did a very good race and my preparation is right on track. Today I’m staying here to look at the Tour prologue in Monaco. Greetings, and see you at Castilla y Leon!

14/03/09 - 17:50 GMT+2

Hello, everybody, Today was a different day. As you could see, this wasn’t one of my best days. I was a little tired at the start line after so much effort these last few days. Today was a really tough day because we’d already been pushing since the start, then the escape took off. Then the race really cooked, and I was doing okay, but at 40 km before the finish I was left without teammates, and I had to keep up with all the attacks. There were lots of guys near me in the general and I couldn’t afford to let them go. The most difficult moment was when we joined the grupetto of 7 out front at 17 km to go. Then Luis León came up and told me that he had to attack (I appreciated this gesture) and try to ditch me. I countered in the normal way but after a few km he attacked again and I wasn’t able to react. Then as you saw, there was nobody to help me, and at 10 km I was totally gutted. After that happened, I could hardly turn the pedals—also a consequence of not drinking enough. It’s good to have days like this because it gives you a chance to learn more. You can’t always have a perfect day. Congratulations to Luis León because he won like a champion and deserves it. And now I just want to recover the best I can. Tomorrow I’ll see how it goes!

13/03/09 - 18:19 GMT+2

Truth is, today was a good day. I’m very happy. The team controlled the race once the escape went away, so that they had no victory options, since there were bonuses at the finish line. I felt great, although during the ascent of the mountain I had doubts about whether I had accelerated with too many kilometers left to go. But I saw that I’d made a little space, and then extended it. Now I’m thinking about rest and recuperation from this effort, and so is my team, since there are two more tough days and the race is not over until the winner crosses the line in Nice. I hope you liked the stage!!

12/03/09 - 17:16 GMT+2

Today was a long day with lots of climbs, but the good weather and the early breakaway made it an easier day. On the climbs we just kept tabs on the break so it didn’t get too much time. Later we cracked down a bit when things got tense, but today the team protected me very well and we got through the stage with no problem. Tomorrow comes the hour of truth. I hope that both my team and I have a good day. Tomorrow we’ll see!

11/03/09 - 17:21 GMT+2

Today was a very tough day. We were pushing the limit from the start, and from around the 70 km mark it was almost impossible to eat or drink because there were so many attacks. That plus the wind and water on the road meant we never had a moment to rest. On the last climb I saw signs of fatigue and wanted to give it a go, to see how everybody was, and the result was good, because while I couldn’t distance other riders, we trimmed a little time off Chavanel, which will come in handy this weekend. We’ll see!

10/03/09 - 18:32 GMT+2

I was going to say good day, but that’s not a great way to begin. It rained hard and was really windy from the start today, and the early breakaway cost us. After a while, the exhausting hammering of the peloton led by Rabobank caught my team when it didn’t have much power and was a little disorganized. That made this a bad stage for us. I lost more than a minute to Chavanel, a really great tough rider, but we were able to minimize the damage, or it would have been much worse. At one point we were in a group behind, and ahead of us was the main group with the favorites, and I knew that if I still wanted to have any options in this race what would have to happen would be for me to charge up a small climb that I saw to the right, and try to bridge to that group. I made it, and only lost 1:03 to Chavanel in the general. The race was a total upset, but now’s the time to be motivated and try to take back as much as possible in the general.

09/03/09 - 17:01 GMT+2

Hiya, Today was a hard day. There were 195 km and it was fast from the beginning. An escape of four riders got away and the team drove hard to keep them at a reasonable distance. At about 70 km to go, the sprinters’ teams put down the hammer and it started getting tense because there was a pretty good crosswind, but I was next to three of my teammates and we didn’t have any problems. Then at 2 km we crashed. I got caught in it, but not as bad as some of the other guys. I stayed upright, and only broke a spoke. So there you have it, a typical day at Paris-Nice.

08/03/09 - 16:58 GMT+2

Hi everybody, Paris-Nice began today with a totally flat 9 km time trial stage. It rained buckets all day and it was a pretty complicated race. In these conditions, I didn’t think much about winning, I knew that there were guys that were better specialists than I am in stages like this, like Wiggins or Millar…When I got to the goal and they told me I had the best time, I was surprised. The race has barely begun, it’s good to get a victory but now we’ve got to be calm. The real race starts tomorrow. Many thanks to you all for your support.

22/02/09 - 16:50 GMT+2

Today was the final stage, it was relatively calm. There was an escape after a few km, then the team devoted itself to controlling the escape so that they didn't get much time. Later, the sprinters' teams got into place, and I made sure to get to the front of the peloton to avoid crashes. In the last 5 km, I dropped back, thinking no risks. Overall, I'm really happy with my result and even happier with the good prep work that we did for the next races. Best to all of you. We'll meet again at Paris-Nice!

21/02/09 - 18:02 GMT+2

Today was a tough day. I took a look at the crono in the morning and saw that it was quite hard and long for this time of year. That's why I had some doubts about my performance, even though I felt pretty good. Then I went to the hotel, ate, and started warming up before the time trial. I had good sensations at the start, and after a 33 km effort, I saw when I got to the finish line that I had won. I'm very happy with my performance - it went better than I imagined. This victory is going to give me confidence in the upcoming races. Greetings to everybody, and I hope that tomorrow nothing changes too much.

20/02/09 - 18:06 GMT+2

Hello to everybody – Today was the third stage of the Volta ao Algarve. It finished with a small slope of 2.5 km - I did pretty well. It would've gone better if I'd ridden faster at the bottom, without breaking tempo, but considering this is the first race of the season, I'm happy with second place, although I feel like I owe my team for all the fantastic work they did. Now I'm going in the car in order to rest as soon as possible to face a difficult day tomorrow. There are 33 kilometers of time trial and at this point in the season that will seem really long. We'll see how it goes!

19/02/09 - 18:31 GMT+2

Today's stage was similar to yesterday's - an escape went early. After that we were able to stay calm and accumulate kilometers in nice weather until we got close to the sprint, where things started to get tense and dangerous. Tomorrow things will change, with a climb at the end. It's a pretty short one, 2.5 km, but it'll be a good chance to see more or less what my level is.

18/02/09 - 17:03 GMT+2

Hi, everybody!! I got back to competition today in the Volta ao Algarve. I liked this first stage – I felt good and things went pretty well except for the last 15 km and the normal jitters of the sprint. The team is focused and very motivated. See you tomorrow!!

07/01/09 - 18:41 GMT+2

WELCOME TO MY WEBSITE! In my blog, I’ll write about how I feel after racing or training, and tell you my thoughts about the news from the world of cycling. All in all, this will be my way to communicate directly with all of you. So, welcome to my website! I hope you like it and get involved.

01/01/09 - 19:30 GMT+2

HAPPY YEAR 2009!!

22/12/08 - 16:46 GMT+2

28/09/08 - 17:46 GMT+2

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS - VARESE Hello to everybody, Today was my last day of racing this year. This morning we were really eager to start, since we had a great chance to win. In the end there was a lot of confusion in the race, and the Italians capitalized on it by giving a real exhibition, including getting the top two spots. Personally, I was fine in the first part, but in the end I paid for not eating and hydrating properly, partly due to a difficulty getting supplied with food. Now I hope to take a nice vacation since I’m a little tired from so much racing. My best to everybody

22/09/08 - 16:21 GMT+2

Hello, everyone, As you can imagine, I'm very happy after my victory in the Vuelta a España. This triumph is for all of you who encouraged and supported me from the roadside or from your homes. For that reason, and because I love to ride a bicycle, I'm going to keep working and fighting. I hope that you've enjoyed this Vuelta as much as I have. My very best regards

19/09/08 - 20:23 GMT+2

LA VUELTA, STAGE 19 Hi, everybody, Today was a more jittery day that we thought, both the Navacerrada and the Navafría climbs were really fast with attacks by guys high up in the general. Finally, the team controlled the situation until the last part of the stage, when Caisse d'Epargne took over the pacemaking. Tomorrow we have an important stage, where I've invested a great deal of hope. A lot of people will come, and I hope to do it well. Regards

15/09/08 - 20:57 GMT+2

THE VUELTA, STAGE 15 HI!, Today I got a good scare. The front wheel of my bike got caught in a crack in the road so that I was thrown over the top of the bike. I fell on my left side and in spite of the impact and the bruises, I must say that I escaped unscathed. I hope to have a good night and to be able to get some rest. We have four stages similar to today before the time trial at Navacerrada, I hope that there are no more frights and we get there in the same situation that we have now in the general. Best regards

13/09/08 - 22:36 GMT+2

Vuelta, Stage 13: Hello to everybody! As you know, today I got the victory on the Alto del Angliru. I'm very happy. I want to thank you for all the support I received during the climb,this victory is for each of you. I also want to thank and congratulate my entire team for the all the work they did. Without them there would have been no victory today. Best regards

11/09/08 - 21:30 GMT+2

LA VUELTA, STAGE 12 Hi! Today was a more hectic stage than we thought, we knew the finish was difficult as well as the descent of some of the climbs, but we didn’t think that it would be such an important day for the general classification. I was surprised by Valverde’s blow-up, and we took advantage of the circumstance to get more distance in the GC. My teammates’ performance was magnificent, I feel really proud of them. Regards

10/09/08 - 21:12 GMT+2

LA VUELTA, STAGE 11 Today was a transitional stage, where except for some tense moments it was possible to ride comfortably in the peloton, trying not to overtax the muscles. Thinking about Saturday, I’ll just say that I’m feeling well and I hope to satisfy expectations. Regards (AUDIO FILE INCLUDED)

08/09/08 - 21:30 GMT+2

LA VUELTA, STAGE 8 Hey! Today the weather was different, the kind that makes the race nicer for the fans. All in all, things are positive after the Pyrenees, although I would’ve liked to distance myself from the the other favorites a little more. I think Asturias is the place to make more difference. At the moment, we’ve got the gold jersey with Levi,not bad! Regards

05/09/08 - 23:20 GMT+2

LA VUELTA, FIRST REST DAY Hi, everybody! Today is the designated waiting room for the first day in the mountains, the team rode for a couple of hours, to keep from losing tone for tomorrow. The forecast calls for rain; if that happens, the stage will be made even harder by sudden weather changes, and riders will suffer the consequences. I hope that tomorrow all of us in the peloton bring you a great spectacle that you’ll enjoy. See you tomorrow!

03/09/08 - 21:50 GMT+2

VUELTA, STAGE 5 Hola, today we had the first important test of the race. I'm very happy with my performance and my new position in the general classification. After the TT, we've tightened up the GC and none of the favorites has sustained much damage. I hope this fact is the one little thing that transforms the upcoming stages into a beautiful spectacle. I'm really looking forward to getting through tomorrow and the rest day and tackling the first day in the mountains, whatever happens. Before I sign off, I want to congratulate my teammate Levi, he did a wonderful TT and deserves the triumph. See you tomorrow!

02/09/08 - 20:57 GMT+2

LA VUELTA, STAGE 4 Hi, everybody! Today it was really hot on the road, just like in yesterday’s stage, but the difference was that I felt more comfortable, with a more refined pedal stroke on the bicycle. At the end of the stage there were several tense moments, especially in the massive crash at three kilometers from the finish line, where luckily I didn’t fall, I only got tangled up with Levi. About the time trial tomorrow, I believe that I’m getting there in solid shape but the terrain is for pure time trial specialists, so my plan is to gain some time on the other climbers. I think that my teammate Levi is the clear favorite for the victory in the TT. See you tomorrow!

01/09/08 - 20:24 GMT+2

LA VUELTA, STAGE 3 Today the heat was suffocating, it rose off the highway and punched you with a full body blow. We really had to hydrate ourselves all during the stage to keep from hitting the wall or getting cramps. The highlight of this stage was the last few kilometers where we had to go to work to stay out of jeopardy. Generally the stage was pretty relaxed. I feel good and my legs are responding very well. Every day I’m getting more into the swing of competition and even though I still won’t be at 100% for the time trial, I’ll be at a good level. These stages are going very well, even in the heat, but I wish it were a little cooler.

31/08/08 - 22:35 GMT+2

LA VUELTA: STAGE 2 Hola, today it got tense in the last few kilometers--we all wanted to avoid getting cut off and losing seconds that we’d miss later. My sensations continue to be good, I hope to keep it up and be near 100% for the time trial at Ciudad Real. I’d also like to congratulate Alejandro for getting the victory today. He’s a sure thing for his team in finishes like this.

30/08/08 - 00:24 GMT+2

VUELTA A ESPAÑA, STAGE 1 Hi, everybody, Today's stage was a beautiful show and the team gave everything it had without taking risks—that's the idea we wanted to face this stage with. I felt good and I don't think the time differences with the main favorites are important. I want to thank the people of Granada for their display of affection. The atmosphere was like it used to be at the races years ago.

24/08/08 - 18:01 GMT+2

Clasica a los Puertos, TODAY HAS BEEN A GOOD DAY

21/08/08 - 08:27 GMT+2

20/08/08 - 08:41 GMT+2

19/08/08 - 08:22 GMT+2

16/08/08 - 15:22 GMT+2

15/08/08 - 16:46 GMT+2

14/08/08 - 11:17 GMT+2

12/08/08 - 11:52 GMT+2

11/08/08 - 10:48 GMT+2

10/08/08 - 10:43 GMT+2