I'm writing from Sacramento after another crazy day here at the Tour of California. Thankfully, things have been crazy for much more typical reasons. That's just how stage races are. It hasn't left much time for checking email and writing here, though. But I'm taking advantage of the rare free internet here to get a quick update up before bed.

We've had three days of racing so far. After Sunday's prologue, there've been two mostly flat road stages. I've been charged with looking after Fred Rodriguez and Mario Cipollini, bringing bottles up and taking jackets and whatever else. As for Cipollini, I have to admit that it's been pretty cool getting to be teammates with such a legend in this sport over the last few days. I wish I could say I'd actually helped him and Fred in the sprints, but I pretty much just get out of the way in the last few kilometers. Regardless, both of them have been up there. Cipollini managed third today, which is pretty great considering that he hasn't raced in three years.

I had a little scare on the first big downhill today, It was rainy and slick and I lost traction under my front wheel and hit the ground at about 35mph. I'm ok though. Moments like that are always scary.

Tomorrow's hard and hilly. It'll be the first chance to really see how I'm riding. There's a chance of snow over the top of Mt. Hamilton, which is the big climb of the day, so it could be a long, cold day. Hopefully not.

Sorry for the dry post, but I'm tired. There's a long transfer after tomorrow's stage, so I may not have time to post, but I'll try.