Cannondale Pro Cycling
You’ve become known for your finish line celebrations when you take stage wins, do you have any interesting celebrations up your sleeve if you win stages in the Tour this year? Usually I don’t plan my celebrations in advance; the best thing about them is the surprise…
Most of your victories in the past have come from sprints, have you targeted any specific stages on this year’s Tour as stages you think you have the best chance of winning, or will you read the race as its happening and take your opening when it presents itself? Not yet. During the past few months I have only been focused on the preparation required for the Tour. I have had a quick look at the route and I have seen many good chances. Anyway, I don’t think of myself as just a pure sprinter, so I hope to have more options than just the obvious ones to take points for the Green Jersey throughout the Tour this year.
Your rise to the top of cycling has been a quick one with many triumphs in a short space of time. Have you had any difficult moments in your career so far, and how have you overcome these moments? Well, it’s really difficult to sum all of the difficult moments up. In life, in everything, there are always ups and downs. I’m not a dreamer and I know I can’t expect to not have any difficult
racing, I love cycling and I ride purely because it’s a passion for me and not just about making money. I think people watch sport to have fun and to be entertained and as professional cyclists we have to present a show to them
I enjoy
moments in my career and in my life. One thing I do know is that I won’t lose heart when I do go through these difficult times.
Which are the one day classic races you would most like to win and why? Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, Milan-San Remo and the World Championship. These races are my goal for the next few years. Why? Their history, prestige and appeal is the simple answer.
What would you say are some of your biggest highlights in your career so far? My performance at last year’s Tour de France, with the three stage wins and winning the Green Jersey for the points classification, then there’s the first victory at Paris-Nice and last year’s wins at the Tour of California.
What benefits does your Sugoi kit give you on long days in the saddle and which is your favourite item from them? Comfort and performance are the major benefits. Whether in winter or in summer, Sugoi’s kit helps me to feel extremely comfortable on the bike. I usually sweat a lot during training or races but with the use of Sugoi clothing I’ve never had any problem with my skin. This is exactly what a pro rider asks for and needs to get the kind of performance required out on the bike.
www.activinstinct.com 33
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