CAVENDISH TRAINS IN MALLORCA

British sprint ace Mark Cavendish is currently in Mallorca for Team Columbia?s first 2009 training camp. The squad has set up its camp in the Robinson resort complex at Cala d?Or to the south east of the island.

The team's time together has been used to set out training programmes for the coming season and also to get acquainted with their new Scott road and time trial bikes during the scheduled training rides.

Scott has taken over the bike sponsorship from Giant for 2009. The bikes' colour scheme of black, white and yellow is echoed in the new Team Columbia kit - to our eyes it has a close resemblance to Saunier Duval?s kit from 2008, who were also on Scott bikes.

The sunny, balmy weather at the beginning of the week has given way to unusually cold, wet conditions. There has even been snow falling in the mountains to the north of the island.

Today (Thursday, January 8) was particularly wet and all three rider groups that went out got a soaking at some point over their five hour rides.

Cycling Weekly followed the Cavendish group which put in some lead out sprint efforts on route. Cavendish looked in good form in the mix.

Once back at base the team concentrated on their core fitness programme which underpins their training, full details of which will appear in a future issue of Cycling Weekly.

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