Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team concluded a successful first training camp in Valencia for the upcoming year. The camp took place from December 9th until the 18th, and was certainly a busy time for both riders and staff. On the OPQS official website, team’s Sport and Development Manager, Rolf Aldag, reflects on the first preparations their riders underwent ahead of 2014 season.

"The 9th served as a bit of a travel day, since when you have people arriving from allover the world it takes a full 24 hours to get everyone together," Sport & Development Manager Rolf Aldag said.

"Plus they are tired from the travel, so we give them that first day. Then we arranged the camp so that all work that wasn't bike related would be completed in the first days. We wanted to get all of that finished so they could fully focus on riding their bikes. The riders cooperated really well between photo and video shoots, as well as the physical testing done by our staff in close collaboration with Bakala Academy."

Training, Aldag said, was split into three days before a day of rest, followed by another three days of training.

"We wanted to always give a workload to the body of each rider so it would get stronger and stronger," Aldag said.

"But in order to do that we wanted to also give them a chance to recover in between. The first day it was a motivation thing. Everyone was really just looking forward to doing work on the bike. The second day the tiredness set in a little — a little muscle soreness — but they knew there was only one more day before they could stay in bed and their brain could shut off and relax. We wanted them to go out there knowing there was a little light at the end of the tunnel, because even after the rest day it was just a few more days of training left."

Since the Belgian team made some significant moves on the transfer market ahead of 2014 season, signing Rigoberto Uran, Jan Bakelants, Mark Renshaw or Wouter Poels, first training camp served as an important occasion to consolidate the team in their changed composition.

"I think the good thing about the first camp is there is always a lot to talk about," Aldag said.

"They haven't seen each other in a while, some don't know each other as well and they even were once competitors. Really the interesting thing is how they are all looking forward to coming back from a break. Sure, there is hard work at this training camp, but it's not like we are in the final period before an important race. It's not super stressful. We wanted the riders to do some physical work, and then really spend time time together."