Brown meets new squad in Netherlands

By Greg Johnson

Australia's Katie Brown has continued her comeback to professional cycling after touching down in the Netherlands last week and meeting her new Virenden Van Het Platteland teammates. The 25 year-old was one of five riders seriously injured in the German training accident that claimed the life of fellow Aussie Amy Gillett.

"I have arrived in the Nederland's [on Friday] and let me tell you I have never been so cold in my life," Brown told her new website www.katiebrown.com.au.

Brown met with her new squad and went for a 120 kilometre training ride in five-degree temperatures on the weekend, while her family back home in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, enjoyed the 30-degree conditions.

"I don't know about all you, but I have no idea how to dress to go training in temperatures like that," Brown continued. "I had a long thermal undershirt on, a thermal jacket a vest, two pairs of gloves, knick and long knick's over the top, bootie covers and ear warmers. However this did not stop the cold seeping in under all the layers!"

Brown returned to professional cycling in January at the UniSA Women's Criterium Series, run in conjunction with the Tour Down under in Adelaide, Australia.

The 2000 Youth Olympic Criterium Champion heads into warmer temperatures later this week, when the squad goes to Mallorca on Friday for a training camp.

"All the girls are really friendly and I look forward to the coming season," she concluded.