Tonight will see the meeting of two of the great Icons of the 21st Century Podium Cafe. The PdC Volvo and the PdC Banner will get to share the same space and time, right here in Adelaide.

Last time I saw the banner it was in the most prominent and dominant position of the most race defining climb of the World Championships men's Road Race.  It saw the early break but didn't flap much as it sensed a race for the sprinters.  With a couple of laps to go, the banner was waving to a Phillipe Gilbert banner on the opposite side of the road that was going wild in some kind of scorn as by the next lap, Cadel flew by and the banner flashed it's rear to the offending Belgian.

It arrived on my doorstep earlier in the week, all carefully packaged for the long flight from Melbourne. Celerity had cared for it well although I did notice some evidence of one of those pesky Minah Birds on the \0/...shame on you bird!

The PdC Volvo was also in Geelong in November, but she was being violated down at the beach while PdC banner was erect in Geelong....she's been covering many thousands of miles since last years Tour Down Under in search of perfect berg, piste and wave and, as all elderly Swedish ladies do, she needed a little bit of make-up before the big meeting.  She also decided that she needed a new starter motor, clutch pedal, wiring loom and better speakers before she would let me abuse her this coming week.

So....since PdC banner has been in Adelaide, PdC Volvo has been in hospital having some 'elective' surgery...but she's ready to roll.  I even re-sprayed the bonnet (hood) and she looks gorgeous and I'll pick her up on the way to work tonight so she and the banner can do a bit of a recon of TDU stages 2,3 and 5 together.

I bought a new camera too. The Brownie gave up the Ghost in Geelong....the last picture ever taken was a rather blurry shot of Omnevilnihil and Celerity cheering Cadel over the climb. Hopefully I'll have mastered the darn thing by Sunday and can get some outstanding shots of the action for you guys.

A preview of this years race will follow....in the mean-time, I thought you might like to see the new Leopard Trek steed, courtesy of Stuey's bro who stole it for a whilehttp://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150121987681098&set=a.185704521097.154422.589756097.