More Moscow Mayhem

We have been in Russia for a few days now training hard and getting all the last minute details done and dusted. All our teams are coming together well and we are entering the competition with a lot of confidence. Training on the track is totally different to the training we had been doing on Aigle. We share the track with Great Britain, USA and Ukraine so it is all a matter or claiming the track and fitting in what we can before our time is up. Even though its crazy it is cool to see all of the different cyclists from all around the world who are here with the same goal as us... to take home some rainbow jerseys. The temperature is over 30degrees every day and has only been getting hotter since we arrived, so our time in Aigle prepared us well compared to what I am hearing is totally freezing weather back home.

Way to hot to do anything

On Monday we had training on the track in the morning and then the whole team headed to Red Square for the afternoon. It was insane getting there considering we were all clueless about where to go and we could not read or speak any Russian, but luckily we all made it there in one piece. It is an amazing place and the buildings are like nothing I have ever seen before. You walk in and it is like a combination of Russia, Germany, China and India all in one place. We had a walk around for a bit and I managed to do some bargaining a stall owner and purchased a Russian fur hat. While we were out we saw the American team making the most of the experience just like us, which was cool to be in a massive place like Red Square and to see some familiar faces. Then we found a nice cafe to sit and relax in before it was time to head back to head home again to remember what we came here to do.

 Some of the amazing buildings in the square

Fraser, Chris and myself getting in touch with our Russian side.                                                       

Russia is growing on me and I am realizing just how much of an amazing place it is and how far they have come. The food seems to be improving and we are all making ourselves at home and finding the things that we are comfortable with which is good since good nutrition is just as important as training.

Salads at dinner.. the only recognizable thing we are served.

The racing all starts tomorrow with the Kiwi sprinters and boys Team Pursuit teams racing.. Its going to be an eventful day and I can not wait to support my team mates! My first race is on Thursday, which I am ecstatic about. It is the Team Pursuit which is the main event that we have been training for since we left New Zealand. I can not wait to race finally after all the months of training and I have a lot of confidence in our team and I will keep you all updated with how the team is going.