Although the three final spring Classics have similar protagonists that highlight the classification, the races are quite unique and different from one another.

Amstel is a technical course loaded with short steep climbs on tiny roads; Flèche, the shortest of the three, is a race that essentially comes down to one climb, the Mur de Huy, and is a race that is nervous, fast with open roads and fewer climbs; Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the hardest of the three, has longer climbs, is the longest in distance, the most selective and perhaps, the least tactical, as the strongest man usually wins.

Under 30 degree (Celsius) temperatures and sunny skies, we prepared for the race in the bus like we were getting ready for a race in the middle of August. We applied sunscreen, protested it was too hot in the bus and the AC needed to be turned on, and sat around in our bib-shorts drinking bottles of water.

Last time I rode Flèche, we were trying to figure out if you we needed to wear vests and knee warmers and the soigneurs were asking if we wanted the hot cream massaged onto our legs before the start and tea in our water bottles. This has been a unique week in the history of the Classics.

The warm weather had the whole peloton motivated and ready to race-- from the wave of the starter's flag it was apparent it was going to be a fast start at Flèche. One of my teammates, Thomas Ziegler, checked his average watts on his SRM after the first twenty minutes of racing and it read 370. Considering the road was flat and he was following the attacks from the peloton that's not a bad average.

Generally, the peloton will race like mad for the first hour or so, chasing every attack, and attacking over the top of the breakaway as soon as it is caught; but, ninety percent of the time after kilometers of relentless racing only two to five riders get away and forge a gap, usually because the peloton finally gives up and is happy with the group of less potent attackers up the road.

Like Amstel, Flèche went well for the team until the final kilometers. We rode as a team, attacking and covering the attacks, and were represented in the right groups. With a few kilometers to go, Kim Kirchen was in a breakaway that looked like it might go to the finish, yet, they were caught and his chances at a podium spot quickly vanished. We are trying. We are racing well together and now, we just need to finish it off. The foundation is there, so the results will come.

Frustratingly, I crashed and, although not too cut up, I have a few bad bruises. With a few days rest and some easier rides I should be back on track for Liège this Sunday.

Between the races, we are staying at Valerio Piva, our director's hotel just outside of Maastricht. The hotel is comfortable and the food is some of the best Italian I have tasted: like his grandmother had cooked it while we were out riding. Our rest days are quite relaxed and enjoyable: we wake up late, eat well, ride in the sunshine, eat again, nap, eat again and socialize.

In the next couple of days, we will ride bits of the Liège course and preview the key climbs and sectors where it is crucial to be in good position. We will likely ride for four hours with Valerio and a mechanic in the car behind to point us in the right direction and ensure we are well hydrated.

The talk around the hotel is all about Puerto. It is sad how the news of doping often overshadows the races yet right now. It seems there is a lot of momentum in the peloton for things to change and for the riders involved to be tested to prove their innocence. I am confident the right thing will happen and when it does the sport will move forward and will hopefully also be more unified.