Dirk Bockel finished 8th at the 2010 Ironman World Championships and wants to move up a few more places this year. So tunnel time it is for the Luxembourger. Bockel drove up with a friend from St. Augustin, FL to Moorseville, NC to check out his numbers in the A2 Wind Tunnel. There he met up with the crew from Blue Competition and Mat Steinmetz from Retul and a day of fun was in the making.

All pics are © Herbert Krabel / slowtwitch.com

Dirk Bockel took the commands in the tunnel very serious.

The day started for Bockel with a morning run followed by a lite breakfast.

Time to go to work.

Dirk Bockel arrives with his friend Dave Thorpe at the A2 Wind Tunnel.

Mat Steinmetz did a quick Retul fit setup with Bockel.

Time to get started in the tunnel.

Former tunnel operator Mike Giraud now works for Blue and tweaks Bockel's arm rests here.

Dave Salazar is now at the controls of the A2 Wind Tunnel.

The Long Islands Bagels place is very popular at lunch time.

A room with a view.

It was hot in the tunnel, but the shirt came off to compare numbers with his race top.

Bockel had a Western Omelet for lunch, and a half a sandwich.

Meanwhile next door the daily pit stop training action was in full flight.

Back in the tunnel for some more tweaks.

Dirk Bockel believes in the power meter.

After a long hot day in the tunnel.

Now that all was fun.

Mike Giraud spent some time making sure Bockel's road ride is working perfectly.

Time to pack up and head to Boone, NC for a bit of training in the mountains.

When the bag of Mat Steinmetz did not arrive last night he bought a few clothes at the Walmart, including this t-shirt.