!http://www.active.com/images/newsletters/cyclist/TourdeFrance2007/images/fredrod.jpg|style=padding:10px;|align=left|src=http://www.active.com/images/newsletters/cyclist/TourdeFrance2007/images/fredrod.jpg!I am stuck rooming with my Italian teammate Cioni !

Very nice guy, and we actually have something in common other than the bike. He makes a very nice olive oil. I told him we have to start a boutique shop together.

We also share the common interest in cycling politics. I would say he probably is a bit more involved than I am, but with my foundation, I probably have a different interest as well.

Stage 1 coming. Robbie and I both feel confident for tomorrow. We know it’s the first stage and anything can happen, so we’ll just stick to our plan as always---hit them late and hard.

It has been nice taking the tour out of France. It shows the level of support that top-level cycling has. They estimated 1.5 million people out on the course. I think that has to be a record for the tour prologue. Nice to see.

Freddie

Colombian-born Freddie Rodriguez is a professional American road racing cyclist. He is a three-time US national champion and currently races for team Predictor-Lotto. His Fast Freddie Coffee, the Fast Freddie Foundation, and his new Team Fast Freddie raise funds to support youth cycling in America. Freddie resides in Emeryville, California, and Girona, Spain. Freddie is riding this year's Tour and will give us an insider's perspective on life inside the peloton. He welcomes questions and will try to respond during the Tour.