Reports from the 3rd round of the UCI World Cup are filtering in .. and by all accounts it was scorching fast!  The course is situated in a park just near to downtown Madrid, somewhat similar to Central Park in New York.  It's smooth, fast, and non-technical.  A few short sharp climbs punctuate the lap, but most describe the pace as like that of a short track here in the USA -- just constant high-speed pedaling and blazing intensity.

A course like this demands the proper set up for speed.  We on the Trek-VW team are lucky to start off on the right foot with the Elite 9.9 hardtail bike.  The OCLV carbon frame was made for just this kind of race!  Next comes the Bontrager Jones XR Team tires.  This is a new tire for 2008, one that we have been asking for since 2005.  It's basically a Jones XR, in 2.0 size, with the knobs at 1/2 height.  It is blisteringly fast on a smooth, firm surface.  (In fact, Lea took down 1st place at the Sea Otter short track on just this same tire!!).  Of course, you have to have a RockShox SID World Cup to complete the package, light and supple to handle brake bumps, yet with firm lockout for the stand-up-and-sprint out of every corner.

Sue was 4th American across the line, in 41st.  Jeremiah was 4th American, in 80th.  Both are still in recovery mode after the punishment of Cape Epic.  We're still hoping to spring them into the Olympic selection with 2 World Cups plus World Championships still to go.  No matter what the placings, the enthusiastic crowd is always exciting!

We've got some race photos coming, but in the mean time check out Sue and Emily lookin' good at the tent, and these below from Germany:

Jeremiah and Team Dolphin-TREK rider Alban Lakata

Me and ace mechanic Steve Borkoski at the Dolphin-TREK tent