Spy pics: Basso’s secret training

Learning from Lance? but are two Tours too far? Pic: Gerard Brown

Maybe some of Lance Armstrong’s meticulous approach to preparation has rubbed off on CSC and Ivan Basso in particular. We happened to run into the Italian and his entourage (almost) as they were training on the Col d’Izoard on the same day that the Dauphine stage went up there last week. He was riding very effortlessly up the lower slopes of the Col with Carlos Sastre and a few others including a very puffed-out looking Bjarne Riis, who had to hold on to the team car for much of the way up!

Basso’s bike still had his ‘winning’ pink bar tape from the Giro d’Italia and he was clearly enjoying a day’s ‘active rest’ before we stuffed our cameras in his nose. He was all smiles and laughter though as we ran around like headless chickens, so here’s our paparazzi shots!

CSC team for the Tour de France:
Ivan Basso
Carlos Sastre
Frank Schleck
Jens Voigt
Giovanni Lombardi
Stuart O’Grady
Bobby Julich
David Zabriskie
Christian VandeVelde

Links and details:

• More CSC news: www.team-csc.com
• Top Dauphine pics: Gerard Brown

Riis struggled on the HC Izoard. Pic: Gerard Brown	Although Ivan made it look easy. Pic: Gerard Brown	He certainly looks ready to take on the Tour. Pic: Gerard Brown
And he’s happy to be the centre of attention. pic: Russell Short	The DS chats to the DS… Bjarne finds it all too much. pic: Russell Short	Here they come again…
That Pink bar tape looks cool	And off they go!