Klöden training for Tour in warm Spain

Andreas Klöden has also fled the cold of northern Europe and is training in warm and sunny Spain, while casting his glance towards this summer's Tour de France.

Writing on his website, andras-kloeden.com, the Team Astana rider noted that since there is nothing prohibiting his team's participation in this year's Tour de France, that race will be his main season highlight. "But it is a long time until July, and I still have a lot of work to do in order to be at the start in an outstanding form."

To get that form, he is spending as much time in Spain as possible. Klöden joined the week-long team training camp on Tenerife in December, where, he said, "we had a lot fun. The mood in the team is very good and everyone is really looking forward to racing again."

The 33-year-old German then stayed another two weeks for training before returning to his family in Switzerland for the holidays. But the deep-chill sent him back to the more comfortable climate of Spain for his further training. That will be followed by the next team training camp in California the beginning of February.