This weekend just gone John Powell and myself paid a flying visit to Matt and Tom at there Cyclingnews-Jako team house in Boischot, Belgium. I thought some of you may be interested in what we found. We met Matt just outside the town so he could direct us to the house. We arrived about 9.30 in the evening and after meeting all the riders they then apologised for seeming rude, but said they had to be in bed at 10 o'clock! Tom stayed up a while to chat, but then went to bed aswell. Matt explained to me that he would also be in bed by now but was being polite to us. He also had no riding tomorrow.

Matt had to get his new tubs stuck on his wheels ready to pack in the van in the morning to leave for Serbia.  It was so impressive to see him still as organised and proffessional as ever. John and myself were really hungry and felt guilty taking food from lads that were trying to make there money go round, so we went to the only place in the town that was open, the kebab shop!! We went with Matt and it was pretty cool to see how everyone treated him - almost like a local David Beckham. Matt and Tom share a room which they let us stay in. Compared to most teenagers rooms it was spotless, that's all i'm going to say as i'm grateful for their kindness.

In the morning i got up a bit earlier than i would probably have chosen to as Nico mattan was coming round with various team personell to load up the truck and a car to drive all the stuff to Serbia ready for a 6 day tour. The riders would be flying there on Sunday. It was cool to see that all the riders got up to help load up even the ones which weren't going to be riding that race. Nico mattan was pretty cool, not really what i expected an ex classic winner to be like, but a really nice guy and i guess he's just a human being like the rest of us!

It was interesting to watch the riders and what there day was made up of. Basically  they got up, ate    breakfast while watching the BBC news channel ( of which they got bored once it had repeated itself a few times). Then they turned the telly to some music channel, flicked through a cycling magazine that they had read a hundred times, then went training. Once home from training they ate, slept, watched a bit more telly, flicked through some more magazines, ate, then went to bed!  Matt said this was the routine most days.  I think they need some outside interest.

We spent the day with Matt and Nick, one of the Australian riders, and went to Leuven and had lunch. I think they were actually glad of some different company for a change. So although only a short visit, it was good to see them both getting on so well and enjoying themselves.

Matt will be back on Thursday 26th June for the National road champs and staying till the following Saturday. I think he is planning on coming down to Preston Park to see whoevers there and is hoping to do a local race or two just for fun. Tom will not be over for the champs and apologises for not keeping his blog upto date, of which he has promised to do so from now on.