Cafe Roubaix

Oskar Svendsen: “I can become a GC rider”

Five years ago, he was at the start of a mountain bike race called Birkebeinerrittet, and although that was just his first race, Oskar Svendsen finished in the top 15. Impressed by his potential, some friends suggested that it would be a good idea to try road cycling, and that’s just what the young Norwegian did, inspired also by Edvald Boasson Hagen, who comes from the same town, Lillehammer.

Then, in September 2012, on the hilly circuit of Valkenburg, Oskar Svendsen (just 18 then) won the Juniors individual time trial at the World Championships, thus becoming the first Norwegian rider to get the gold medal in this race. Next season, encouraged by that result, but also by his VO2 max of 97.5 ml/kg/min, the highest-ever recorded in professional sport, he made the step to the U23 ranks, where he gained a lot of experience, that could turn out to be very important this season, in which Oskar – who will ride for Team Joker – hopes to show that he is not just an ITT rider, but a complete one, capable of fighting for the win in stage races.

– Oskar, I want to start with your 2013 season, in which you had some good results, including a top 5 in the Tour de l’Avenir, but no individual wins. What did you miss?

Last season was challenging in many ways, and I learned a lot. Of course, I missed some better results in many of the races I did, but most of all, I missed an all over better stability in the UCI races we did. And I guess that is something I am working on every day.

– Was it difficult to make the transition from the Junior to the U23 ranks?

Yes, for me, I think that has been the biggest challenge so far. As I went straight into a Continental team, and finished school at the same time, the transition was a big leap to pass. I have good physical qualities, but still got a lot to work with on the more technical and tactical races. That made the leap even bigger. 

– How was the winter training ahead of this year, with what feelings do you start the season?

The winter training has been pretty good. I’ve been a lot to Spain and kept myself healthy all the way through. So I’m starting the season with low expectations and doing the first races with my focus on training and improving the qualities I need to work with. But I also know that I need to do this season on a higher level than last year, so I’m looking for improvements and I hope to make steps in every race.

– Did you work on something specific? What did you improve?

We just had a lot of long distance trainings, and also worked on improving our own qualities. For myself, I did put an effort on the climbs, and also worked on handling the attacks on the climbs better. I think that I did improve on getting into the feeling of using a lot of power after a long distance, but as I did in recent years, I always spare some of the boost for the season.

– Are you satisfied after your first race?

The first race was really hard. We did Ster van Zwolle in the Netherlands, which is a really hectical race, with a lot of crosswind areas. I really have a lot to improve in this kind of races, and at the time, I am not really good at it. So, it didn’t went very well, but I’m getting there, race by race.

– What is your programme for 2014? 

My main programme for 2014 is doing the Circuit des Ardennes and Tour de Bretagne in April, followed by some UCI races in Norway, before the Tour of Norway in May, and then the Nationals, before the Giro della Valle d’Aosta in June. The programme after those races isn’t set yet, but most likely, I will also do the Tour de Alsace and Tour de l’Avenir.

– And what goals do you have? 

My main goals will be the Tour of Norway, Giro della Valle d’Aosta, Tour de l’Avenir and the World Championships, although the course in Ponferrada could have suited me better.

– People said after your win in Valkenburg that you can become a phenomenon in the ITT, but do you think there is more to that and you can be a strong rider also in stage races, in order to fight for the GC?

Yes, absolutely. My main focus will be to keep on develop my physical capacity. That means working on my VO2 max and threshold. I hope it will make me a better time trialist, but also better on the climbs. So yes, I see myself as a GC rider in the future and I will keep on working with my time trial bike.

– Are you thinking of going pro in 2015?

The most important thing for me now is to have most of the focus on becoming ready to be a pro. I know that it’s possible, and I think I will get there. But still, I don’t want to become a pro before I know and got the confidence to take the next step. If I am ready next year or the year after, I don’t know. But I will give it a little time.

Tobias Ludvigsson: “The Giro is my big goal this year”

In his very first stage race of the season – Etoile de Bessèges – Tobias Ludvigsson won the individual time trial and the overall, and thus confirming what people knew for a couple of years: that he’s a very talented rider, with huge potential. After Bessèges, he finished 5^th in the GC of the Tour Méditerranéen, after having bad luck in the ITT, and then moved to Italy, where he did Strade Bianche and Roma Maxima.

Now, the 23-year old Swedish rider of Argos-Shimano is ready to start the 49th edition of Tirreno-Adriatico, where he hopes to get some good results. One day before the start of the “Race of the Two Seas”, I got to talk to Tobias and found out what he thinks about his results so far and what are the future goals for this year.

– Tobias, you’ve had an excellent start of the season. Did you expect for all to go so well?

Yes, I couldn’t have had a better start than this and it’s great for my self belief to know that I can win races. I knew I had a chance in Etoile de Bessèges, because I felt good, so I was expecting a nice result, but not a victory. This win means a lot, because I was looking for it since last year, so it was great to get it so early in the season.

– How was the winter training?

I didn’t do things much different than last winter. I’ve been for a day in the Netherlands at our Sports Center to try to save some watts, and I did ITT training, of course.

– Beside the ITT, did you train also for the climbs?

My dream is to have important results in the Grand Tours and there you have to be climb well and I’m working on that. I just moved to Girona for this season, so I hope I can do much better on longer climbs.

– Last week-end, you raced in Italy. How was that experience?

Strade Bianche and Roma Maxima where so cool and I hope in a few years I can do really good there, especially in Strade Bianche, because you race on gravel roads and that’s why I like it so much, as I started with mountain bike. 

– What are your next targets?

I hope I can continue my progress and win a few more races, but it feels like it will be a bonus from now on, as I have my first victory already. Tirreno-Adriatico is next for me and I want to do a good time trial in the last stage, and see how I feel day by day. If I’ll have a chance to do a good GC, that would be great, but it will be hard with all these strong riders there.

– Later in the season you are scheduled to ride the Giro d’Italia. With what expectations will you start?

Indeed, I’m aiming at the Giro d’Italia again, because it fits me. I will go for the individual time trial, but also for some other stages. It means a lot that I did the Giro last year, now I know how to handle a three-week race and how to get better every day.

– Is this a goal for the future, to do well in a Grand Tour?

Yes, that’s the idea. I want to win a big stage race, like the Giro, the Tour, or the Vuelta.

Joxean Matxin: “Sacha Modolo can win Milan-Sanremo”

This season, in the team ranking, Lampre-Merida lies fourth, with seven wins in as many races (Tour Down Under, Tour de San Luis, Trofeo Palma, Trofeo Ses Salines, Volta ao Algarve, Trofeo Laigueglia, and Gran Premio di Camaiore), brought by Diego Ulissi, Sacha Modolo, and Jose Serpa.

Unlike last season, the team enjoyed a perfect start and all of its riders seem to have found their form very early. If January and February weren’t so important in terms of pressure, March will bring the first important tests for Lampre-Merida, but Joxean Matxin, the sports director of the blue-fucsia team, is very confident in his riders.

– Mister Matxin, Lampre-Merida had an impressive start this season. Were you surprised by the number of wins?

To be honest, I knew we will have a strong start, but we did not expect to get so many wins, we have not even thought about it.

– Sacha Modolo brought the most wins so far, four. Is he one of the best sprinters in the world now?

Yes, he can get there, and I firmly believe that Sacha will soon be at the same level as Mark Cavendish, Marcel Kittel, and André Greipel. Therefore, I see him capable of winning Milan-Sanremo this year.

– What are the goals of the team for Paris-Nice?

We have Rui Costa there and this means we are thinking only of winning it. I don’t expect for the rainbow jersey to bring extra pressure on him, but to have a positive impact on his ride. Although Rui is one of the contenders, we are aware that there are other important cyclists and we should respect them. Anyway, the big favourite is Vincenzo Nibali.

– And for Tirreno-Adriatico?

Same goals as in Paris-Nice, the team always competes to win, and if we don’t get the win, that’s just because someone else was better, not because we didn’t do everything. We’ll have Chris Horner in Tirreno and his form at the moment is ok. Certainly, this is not the best Horner, however, he will improve step by step and get at the highest level.

– What expectations do you have when it comes to Filippo Pozzato and Diego Ulissi, two of the team’s leaders?

Pozzato was in Roma Maxima and did a good job. He worked hard in the winter, is a very talented rider and I’m sure he’ll have a good season. As for Ulissi, he will make some important progress in 2014 and will become one of the best riders in the world. I have complete faith in him, not only because he’s a strong and very intelligent rider, but also a kind person.

– The team also has many talented young riders. Who should we watch closely for this season?

Jan Polanc, Mattia Cattaneo, and Luca Wackermann. Pay attention to them.

Adam Phelan: cycling, books, and movies

2014 is the first season of Adam Phelan in the Pro Continental ranks and the Drapac rider has high expectations. One of the most promising cyclists from Down Under, the 22-year old Aussie caught everyone’s attention in 2011, after winning the prologue of the Tour de Taiwan ahead of more experienced riders. That win was followed by many good results in Europe in the prestigious U23 races, such as Flèche du Sud, Olympia’s Tour or Thüringen-Rundfahrt, adding to those top 10s a win in the Gran Premio di Poggiana.  

Last week, knowing that Adam had some free time, I talked to him about how he began cycling, what are his goals, but also his favourite books and movies. 

– Adam, why cycling, what made you come to this sport?

My older brother was racing BMX, so when I was really young – three years old – myself and my twin brother Michael started to race BMX for fun. Obviously, when you’re that young there isn’t actually much racing happening, but we would go out on the week-ends and play around on the bikes. When we started getting old we decided to try road and track racing and it really took off from there. 

– And how were the first years of your career?

Very good! When I was a junior I did it for fun, and never really took it too seriously until I got to U19. I was still at school doing U19, so still found it hard to train 100 percent, but I was taking steps every year growing with training and racing. Once I left U19’s is when I really tried to step up and give cycling a go. 

– In 2011 you won the Tour de Taiwan prologue. What meant for you that win?

It was my first ever UCI race and the first outside the Oceania region. So to go and win the prologue was a big confidence boost. I wasn’t sure where I’d be in that type of field back then, so to know I was competitive was really nice. 

– You showed real skills in the ITT so far. Will this be your focus or are you thinking also about short stage races that have an ITT?

I think I fair a bit better with ITT’s during tours, so that will probably be more my focus. Trying to get a good enough ITT in order to be good on the GC in the shorter tours is more my goal, rather than trying to win one-day ITT events. 

– Besides the ITT, what are your other strenghts?

The all-rounder title often seems like a default position a rider takes if he don’t have a specific and obvious strength, but I do see myself fitting into that type of rider. I can climb quite well on the shorter climbs and don’t mind the windy and tough road races. My sprinting could be better, but from a small group I can get a good result in. Hopefully I will be able to develop myself further over the next few years and find out what type of rider I develop into.   

– Were you disappointed not to ride the Tour Down Under?

Obviously it would have been awesome to race Tour Down Under with the team, but it was always going to be tough to make the team and we sent a real strong squad there. I’m excited about the races I got coming up with team, so that’s been my focus. 

– How was the New Zealand Cycle Classic?

It was a good start to the season, with the team getting two stage wins and myself finishing 3rd in the GC. Legs felt good and was good to get some consecutive days of racing in, now looking forward to the next one!

– What’s your schedule for this season?

Recently I was at the Oceania Championships, and now I’ll do a couple NRS before heading to Tour of Turkey in late April. Turkey will be a big race for me, so hoping to be going well for that. 

– Do you have any goals for 2014?

Turkey and Japan are two tours that are on my schedule that I think I could do well in. I love going to Japan and haven’t raced the Tour of Japan before, so looking forward to that one! 

– What races do you dream of winning?

The Tour de France is an obvious one, but I’ve always loved the idea of doing the big Classics. The Tour of Flanders is one of my favourites! 

– I remember you saying a good book or movie never hurts. What are your favourites?

I’m pretty broad with my book and movie interests. I like a lot of different genres. “The Road”, by Cormac McCarthy, is one of my favourite books. It is incredibly well written, McCarthy’s prose is almost poetry, yet it’s dark and haunting. It’s a post-apocalyptic novel that really makes you think about our planet and our future. Currently I’m reading “The Orphan Master’s Son”, which is set in North Korea, and loving it, had a pretty big impression on me. Another good read is “The Book Thief”, by Markuz Zusak. When it comes to movies, I’m a big fan of “The Dark Knight” series, and most movies by Christopher Nolan.

Mikel Iturria, a future star of the Basque cycling

Euskaltel dissolved at the end of 2013, but the Basque cycling continues to live on thanks to Euskadi, the Continental team which has a roster of 11 riders. One of these is Mikel Iturria, the 21-year old rider who made himself noticed in several stage races, like the Giro della Valle d’Aosta and Ronde de l’Isard. At the beginning of his second season with Euskadi, the young Basque rider competed in the Challenge Mallorca, and then continued with a training camp, where started preparing for the next races.     

What are his expectations for 2014 and what are his future goals? Read about it in the following interview, which Mikel kindly gave to me a few days ago. 

– Mikel, how did you start cycling?     

Since childhood I liked to ride my bike. At first it was just a game, I used the bike to spend time with friends and to make trips with family. Then, slowly, I got the taste of competition. I began to race interschool competitions when I was 10 years old and I’m still here, with the same desire, although the expectations are higher.      

– At that time, Euskaltel was one of the best teams of the peloton. Did that influence and made you believe you can become a pro rider?     

Euskaltel always had a big influence, I grew up watching Samuel Sanchez, Haimar Zubeldia, Iban Mayo, and David Etxebarria competing with this kit and I think all Basque cyclists dreamed of wearing the Euskaltel jersey. Fortunately, I can say that I have fulfilled half of this dream while competing for Euskadi. We were and still are part of this more than 20-year-old project and although the team’s category is not the same as before, it is a pride to compete for Euskadi.      

– Do you have a favourite rider?     

I never had an idol or a favourite rider. It’s difficult to choose one or another. I admire many cyclists, although many of them have disappointed me. Fortunately, things are changing and cycling is moving in the right direction.      

– Last year you had many good results in stage races like the Ronde de l’Isard, Vuelta a la Comunidad de Madrid and Giro della Valle d’Aosta. Which of these was the most important for you?     

For me the most important one was the Giro della Valle d’Aosta, which was a confirmation of what I did in Ronde de l’Isard. That year was the first time I competed in major races and it was really nice for me to be there. In the Giro della Valle d’Aosta I managed to recover after some problems I had in the last 5-6 kilometers of the first stage and on the second day I was very close to winning the stage, so I was fighting again for the podium.      

– Do you have any regrets after 2013?     

Without any doubt, the crash in the road race of the European Championships. I was very determined to race well because I was in an excellent shape. But after just seven kilometers I was already on the way to  the hospital and basically had to say goodbye to the whole season. That crash was the most serious since I started riding and it was very hard to come back.     

– How was the start of this season, how do you feel after the first races?     

I raced two days in the Challenge Mallorca and things didn’t go so well. I still lack confidence and the rhythm of the peloton. However, I am confident that in time and with a lot of hard work, I will overcome what happened in 2013.     

– What is your schedule for the next weeks?     

In Spain there are just a few races left on the calendar and the team, even if it doesn’t have the best financial situation, makes efforts so that we can go in as many competitions. My next races are Vuelta a Murcia and Clasica de Almeria.      

– What goals did you set for 2014?     

I want to progress further and to take part in the battle for the overall at the Tour de l’Avenir.    

– Are you also thinking of the World Championships in Ponferrada?     

There is still a long time until then, but it would be nice to race there, so that I can erase the bitter taste left by the World Championships in Florence. Without any doubt, this is one of my goals;  the route is difficult and I could do well. However, now I need to focus on the first part of the season and I must try to get good results.    

– What do you want to improve this season: your climbing skills or your time trial?     

We will try to focus on all aspects, but I would really like to work harder in order to improve my climbing skills. This is the area where I did the best last year, and if I develop these skills a little more, I think I’ll get good results.      

– You will turn 23 in the Spring of 2015. Do you hope to race by then for a World Tour or a Pro Continental team?     

I do not know how things will be in 2015, but no doubt it will be a dream come true if I can be part of a World Tour or Pro Continental team. You can be sure that I’ll work hard all year to achieve this.     

– Every rider has a dream. What is yours?     

My dream is to compete in the biggest races in the world: Grand Tours, Classics and the big races at home (Vuelta al Pais Vasco and Clasica San Sebastian). If I had to choose a race, I would choose the Giro d’Italia . I’m not dreaming of winning a specific race, for me to win just one of these races or to get a stage win would be great.

Eduard Grosu: “I want to become national champion in 2014”

A promising Junior, with good results in Switzerland and Italy, 21-year old Eduard Grosu caught the attention of Pro teams in 2013, after he won stage 3 in the Tour of Romania and Gran Premio Sannazzaro. These wins helped him get a contract with Vini Fantini-Nippo-De Rosa, a Continental team run by Stefano Giuliani and Alessandro Spezialetti. For his new team, Edi Grosu raced in the Gran Premio Costa degli Etruschi, and his debut was promising, riding in the break and getting the the award for the most aggressive cyclist.

What’s next now for the young Romanian? What are his objectives for this season? You can find out from the following interview.

– Edi, you’re racing in Italy for some years now. How were the first seasons?

I’m here since 2009, and in my first year I won seven races in the Junior ranks. Then. in 2010, I was at the World Cycling Center, after which I returned to Italy. In the next season, I won the points jersey at the Giro della Valle d’Aosta and had several top ten finishes, but I didn’t get a win or a podium. Instead, in 2013, I won two races and I often finished on the podium, and also had many top ten placings. I made some progress, and this was obvious, as I’ve found my form and I adapted to the requirements there.

– While in the Junior ranks, I know you were at the start of some important races, like the Tour du Pays de Vaud.

At that time I still was at the World Cycling Center in Switzerland and I prepared that race. I finished it with the best climber jersey, a second place in the last stage, and another second place in the points standings. I was part of the UCI team and I was preparing the World Championships in Moscow.

– What’s the story behind your transfer to Vini-Fantini-Nippo-De Rosa?

Last year, mid-season, after winning the stage three of the Tour of Romania, I was contacted by Stefano Giuliani, sports director of the team. He told me that he wants to set up a Continental team and asked if I would agree to be part of this project. I said yes, and then for three or four months I haven’t heard anything and did not know what was happening. Meanwhile, I signed a contract with an amateur team in Italy, Viris-Maserati, but I had a clause according to which all that becomes void if I get a contract with a professional team. At Christmas, Stefano called again and asked me to come to his team. I agreed, and that was it.

– Did you get to talk to the team at the start of the season? What expectations do they have from you?

I attended a training camp in January and there we talked about the goals and the future of the team. My main goal is winning the National Championships. The team also wants this, because it’s important to have a distinctive jersey, it’s a good publicity. Besides the Nationals, I want to race in the Tour of Sibiu. Vini-Fantini, being affiliated to the Asia Tour, plans to be present in all of those races and I would love to go there and be in a very good shape, in order to get myself noticed, especially as several World Tour teams will be at start of the races. The Tour of Japan will be important as well and I will prepare specifically for it, because the stages suit me. Obviously, I will do some Italian races. For the moment, I don’t know all the races I will do. What I know is that on Sunday I will be in Slovenia for the GP Izola and I have big goals, that I hope to achieve.

– You’ve made an early start this season, in the Gran Premio Costa degli Etruschi, and you were very active, going in the break and getting at the finish the prize for the most aggressive rider. How was that experience?

It was my first race and I wanted to leave my mark on it. Before the race, Stefano Giuliani and Alessandro Spezialetti said that Pierpaolo De Negri and I will be the riders on which they count for a good result. However, if we were to go in the escape, we had to change the plan and keep going. So I did it and I stayed in the front for 150 kilometers. I was the second-to-last to get caught after trying to attack at the beginning of the last climb. Once back in the bunch I worked for my three teammates that were still there and then I got myself to the finish line.

– Were you nervous during the race?

To be quite frankly, I wasn’t. But I must admit there was a special moment. At the start of the race several riders attempted to go in the break, and I was in the group, along with six other guys, but I got caught immediately because there were also riders from Lampre and Cannondale in the group. That break had also Ivan Basso there, who was at the front, and when I passed him he said “Vai, giovane”. It was beautiful. 

– Depending on how you will do this year, is there a chance to sign a contract extension with Vini-Fantini?  

Yes, definitely. I talked to the staff and they have told me that there are no problems with the signing of a new contract. Obviously, I need results for this to happen.  

–  Do you have a dream, a race you want to win?    

There are many races, but my biggest dream is to become world champion, it would be the best win of my career. Of course, a stage win in a Grand Tour is also important. I do not know if I’ll get the rainbow jersey, but I want at least a podium at the World or European Championships.

Johnny Hoogerland: “I hope for a very good season”

Dutch champion on the road in 2013 after a wonderful ride, Johnny Hoogerland changed teams last season after the demise of Vacansoleil and signed a one-year contract with Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela, for which he already raced the Gran Premio Costa degli Etruschi, where he finished 19^th. Now, Johnny Hoogerland is in the Tour Méditerranéen, but the biggest goals for him this season will come in the Spring, when he’ll ride the one-day races and the Giro.

– Johnny, what made you sign with Androni for this season?

There were some difficult times. A few teams stopped and then I had to look for something new. I can’t say it’s a trend, just that some teams were lucky, while other teams weren’t. There were many World Tour riders on the street, it was very hard to get a contract. It wasn’t the time to raise any unreasonable demands and I decided I have to do this.

– The change of teams means for you a new country and a new culture. How were the first contacts with Androni?

Everything was ok. Of course, it’s a new culture, but it’s still cycling. I like the fact that I’ve found here a small family, everyone is doing things together, is more friendly, while in Holland people are more on their own. I’m very happy about everything, I’m really enjoying it.

– Are you satisfied with your training before the start of the season?

I was for three weeks in Spain and then I went home for the birth of our first child, so I didn’t train for 15 days, just from time to time. Then, in January, I began training again. I have around 7500 km of training so far, so that’s ok.

– What’s your schedule for the first months?

Now I’ll do Tour Méditerranéen, and then I’ll go to Trofeo Laigueglia, followed by the Classic Sud Ardèche and Drôme Classic. Afterwards, I’ll come back to Italy for Gran Premio Città di Camaiore, Strade Bianche, and Roma Maxima. After Roma, I have ten days without any races, so I’ll just train for Gran Premio Nobili and Milan-Sanremo.

– With what thoughts will you start the Tour Méditerranéen?

The condition is ok, I can and I want to do a good race, because it’s important to show that I have some form so early in the season. If things will go better and better, I will probably try something on Mont Faron.

– Do you hope to be at the start of the Giro?

Of course! If I have the condition and things will go as planned, I’ll be there. But you never know what can happen in the next weeks.

– What will be your goals for this year?

I just want a very good season. When riding for a Pro Continental team, all races are important, especially the ones from Italy, because those bring points for the Coppa d’Italia, which can secure us a Giro wild card. I want to be aggressive and have a strong showing in all races, it doesn’t matter if it’s Strade Bianche or the Giro.

– Is there any race in particular you would like to win?

There are a lot of races I dream to win, it’s very difficult to choose just one. I think there are hundreds of beautiful races, but if I would have to pick just one from this season, if I can dream of one race, then I would have to say Milan-San Remo. It’s not going to be easy, but the new parcours is in my advantage.

Leopold König: “I want a top 10 finish and a stage win in the Tour de France”

He started with ice hockey at a very young age and then, when he was 12, discovered mountain biking as an excellent preparation for the winter season. Even if he had serious potential in ice hockey, Leopold König decided to switch his focus to road cycling at the age of 14 and he has no reason whatsoever to regret that decision.

After a couple of seasons with PSK Whirlpool, the young Czech signed with NetApp-Endura in 2011 and had his best year so far in 2013, when he won his national tour, the queen stage of the Tour of California, and a stage in the Vuelta a España (Alto de Peñas Blancas), where he also finished 9^th overall. After these results, it’s only fair for Leopold Konig to have bigger goals ahead of this season. What are these? You can find out by reading the following interview.

– Leo, did you expect to have such a good run in the Vuelta?

Actually, I was sure of it, even if it was my first Grand Tour. I knew I was able to do well in a three-week race, because in shorter stage races, of ten days or two weeks, I was feeling better and better day after day. After doing the Tour of California and the Criterium du Dauphiné I was sure I’ll do well in Spain and luckily it all worked out.

– How was your stage win?

To be honest, my first goal was to get a top 10 finish in the GC, and my second goal was to win a stage. For someone who is trying to do well in the GC it’s quite hard to win a stage, and if you look at the top 10 from the Vuelta you can see around five guys won a stage. I was really proud that I was part of the group of riders that won a stage. I was also surprised that I achieved this goal in the first week, so it was a great feeling.

– You regret not finishing higher in the GC?

We can speculate about that, because it’s a long race and anything can happen. Of course, I could have been higher, but on the other I could have finished maybe 20-30 minutes behind. I’m happy I was in the top 10, but I regret the last mountain stage, on the Angliru, because I was confident I can keep my 7^th place. I felt good in the last two days, but that day I just didn’t had good legs and I paid for the fact I was sick for some time. Anyway, top 10 was a great success.

– Let’s talk now about this season. What’s your programme?

I will start at the Challenge Mallorca and then I’ll do the Tour of Oman, followed by Tirreno-Adriatico.

– Any early goals for these races?

Oman and Tirreno will be very important, we have to show that we are in a good mood from the start of the season. I want results in both races, GC and also stage wins.

– If NetApp-Endura gets some wild cards for the Ardennes Classics, are you interested in these races as well?

I’ve never done the Ardennes Classics, but maybe I’ll do Liège–Bastogne–Liège if we get invited. I know the one-day races are always very difficult, I also have some limits in going full gas there, so I will not have any big goals.

– Are there any things you would like to improve?

I want to focus on the Grand Tours in the following years, because this is what I like in cycling. I would like to improve my time trial skills. Things are already going very well, as I started working for the ITT since three years ago. Also, I think I can still upgrade in the mountains and bridge the gap to guys like Chris Froome, Vincenzo Nibali and the Spanish riders.

– NetApp-Endura has a wild card for the Tour de France. What will your objectives be there? GC and a stage win?

Yes, that’s the plan, even if it’s going to be very difficult and I will race against some of the best riders in the world. After the Vuelta, I’m very confident I can do it. The course is balanced, not as hard as the Vuelta, which was extreme. On the other hand, we have five mountain finishes and all are very hard. The first week will be very tricky, with the stages in Great Britain and the one with cobbles. The individual time trial in the last week can suit me, because I can recover without any problems and I could have an advantage comparing to the pure climbers in such a long ITT. Actually, I’m sure I can gain some time there.

Thor Hushovd: “I’m ready for a big year”

The first ever Tour of Dubai will have many great riders at the start, and one of these is Thor Hushovd, the 2010 world champion. Heading into his 3rd season with BMC, the Norwegian is determined to have a great season and repay the confidence showed by the team when he had difficulties for one and a half years.

With just a couple of days before the start of the Tour of Dubai, Andrea Agostini, BMC’s press officer, helped me get in touch with Thor Hushovd and thus find out more about the racing programme and the objectives he has for 2014.

– Thor, you had a difficult first half of the season in 2013, but things changed after winning the national title. Was that a crucial win?

That win was very important, and I needed it for the confidence. From that moment on, everything changed and I won lots of races. Also, it was very special to win in my hometown! I have to be honest, I didn’t expect to get so many wins, because it’s never easy to win a bike race. Biggest surprise was all the bunch sprints I won, after a few years without winning flat bunch sprints.

– How was racing in front of your fans in these new races, such as the Arctic Race of Norway and the Tour des Fjords?

It meant a lot to me, it’s incredible how big and popular cycling is in Norway. It was very special to race in my home country, to see and meet the fans, and also show them how the races are.

– Cycling is more and more popular in Norway. What do you think should be the next step: a World Tour team, a World Tour race, or hosting the World Championships?

I think all three would be nice, but if I could choose, I would say a World Tour team would be best. Then the team could sign more Norwegians, and that is what we need now, more Norwegians pros in the peleton. Would also be a big motivation for the younger riders, they will see there dream is closer.

– What’s your racing schedule for 2014?

I will do the Tour of Dubai, Tour Mediterraneen, Tour du Haut Var, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Paris-Nice, then all the Classics in the North. I would also like to do Tour de France this year, after not racing there over the past two years.

– And what goals do you have for this 15^th season as a pro?

I’m ready and motivated, it helped a lot to finish last year on a high note. I also want to do well for BMC, since I had one and a half years with no results. My goal is to win a Classic, hopefully Paris-Roubaix, which will always be my dream. Then, I just want to win a lot of races.

– The Tour de France will have a stage with cobbles, four years later after you won a similar one. Do you think of this?

Absolutely! When I saw the course, I decided immediately to try to do the Tour. So that will also be a goal for me this year, to win that stage.

– Did you give a thought until what age will you continue in the peloton?

That is difficult to say. I’m very happy of what I’m doing, but first of all I would like to have a big year in 2014, then I will see if I can sign for two more years. If I do, it will be enough. What life brings after my career stops will just be an adventure.

Sylvain Chavanel: ”I want to win a mythical race before retiring”

IAM Cycling is the fourth team of Sylvain Chavanel’s career and will mark a new start for the 34 year-old, who wants to get as many wins as he can for the Swiss team. A couple of days before the first race in which he will take part this season – Grand Prix La Marseillaise – the French ITT champion made some time for an interview in which he talked about the new challenge that lies ahead, the races he will target in 2014, and the goals he has for the years to come.

– Sylvain, what made you sign with IAM Cycling?

I chose IAM Cycling because it was a fresh project, representing the new cycling, and when I talked with Mister Michel Thétaz, the founder of the team, I could see there was a new direction, that I liked. This is a new challenge for me and I’m happy to bring my experience here. My transfer to IAM Cycling it’s a move that comes in the continuity of my career, but it’s also a way for me to go back to races I haven’t been in a long time.

– How are things after the first months with IAM Cycling?

I had no problems integrating into the team, because IAM it’s pretty much like a family. There is a right mix between Swiss riders and foreign riders, between experienced riders and young ones, and this is very important. The fact that our sponsor is the general manager also makes for a pretty short decision line and that makes the team little bit different.

– What is your schedule for the first half of the season?

First of all, I will start in France, with the Grand Prix La Marseillaise, followed by Paris-Nice. Afterwards, I will do the Cobbled Classics. I would like to race also Amstel Gold Race, but we have to wait and see if we’ll get a wild card. It’s a schedule that I’m used to, without some of the World Tour races that I had to do when riding for other teams. As I’m part of a new structure, this suits me very well. Depending on the conclusions of the training camp, I will talk to my sports director and choose the races I’ll do.

– And what will be your goals?

My objective is always to win, and this is what I want to do for IAM Cycling. I’m not starting a race thinking of finishing 2^nd or 3^rd.

– As you’ll line-up for the Tour of Flanders, what’s your opinion on the new course?

It’s an important change, after the one in 2012. I believe every new change makes a race more difficult, and this will be the case now. The organizers want to have a more explosive and a more open race after what happened in the last two years. Cycling is evolving and we have to bring in some new elements, and changing the route is part of these elements.

– Where do you think you can get a better result, in the Tour of Flanders or in Paris-Roubaix?

I really love both races, but I have to say that Flanders suits me better, because it’s hilly and my type of attacks can bring something. I was very unlucky in Roubaix over the past years and one of my goals now is to get a really good result there.

– How strong would you say is the Classics team of IAM?

The roster is very solid and I’m sure that the combination of Heinrich Haussler and I will be very interesting to watch. More than that, the group that will support us is very strong, with Kristof Goddaert and Kevin Ista, and I really have faith in all these guys. One of the elements that will probably make the difference will be the spirit within the team and I can say the morale is already very high for the Classics campaign.

– You won Tour de France stages, one-day races, and short stage races. What’s your biggest objective, what would you like to win before retiring?

I’m working hard to get into this club of great Classics winners. I want to add to my CV one of the mythical one-day races of the calendar. I was very close a couple of times, I didn’t get a win, and that’s what I’m looking for. I enjoy races like the ones in Belgium they are selective and when I’m racing there I always want to give fans some entertainment. That’s another reason why I came to IAM Cycling, because the team has a new approach and a new spirit, which is good for cycling.