As Team Garmin-Slipstream makes the final preparations for the 2009 Giro d’Italia campaign here in Lido di Jesolo, Italy, riders and directors take a look back at last year’s epic ride and ahead to tomorrow’s start:
Christian Vande Velde, the first American to wear the Maglia Rosa since 1988, says: “leading the team across the line in the TTT and wearing the pink jersey are great memories. Little was I to know at the time that it was going to be the hardest grand tours of my career! It laid the foundations for my fourth place at the Tour and for that reason I’m here again.”
Christian will be joined by one of the youngest riders – if not THE youngest rider – in the race: 21-year-old Cameron Meyer of Australia. The reigning points race world champion from Australia faces not only his first Grand Tour, but his first race in Europe this season: “I do not know what is going to happen over the coming weeks in this amazing bike race. I hope to learn as much as possible in this tour and gain experience while doing my best to help my teammates.”
The team’s veteran of Grand Tours, David Millar – recovering from a collarbone break – is eyeing the TTT: “I’m particularly looking forward to the team time trial. We’re very relaxed although extremely focused, a good combination! Beyond the TTT, I want to be able to get through the race without any problems, with the Dauphine and Tour remaining my primary objectives. As my fitness increases here I can work for the other guys in their quests for stage wins.”
Coming off a pre-Giro training camp, Christian is optimistic about the opening stage: “We’re ready for Saturday, secure in the work we’ve done and ability we have. Our training in Girona was better than ever before and I’m excited to see how that will translate on the road. I’ll be taking it day-by-day. My head is firmly in July, but that doesn’t mean I won’t be ready to seize the day given the opportunity here!”
The man in the car, director sportif Matt White, outlines the team’s goals: “Of course one of our goals is tomorrow’s TTT but we’ll be looking at sprint stages, too, and all the guys have the opportunity to roll the dice for individual glory. We are not here to ride for GC but with some of the core TDF squad here, we have a good opportunity to see how the team works around Christian.”
Bradley Wiggins – Five-time Olympic medalist and six-time world champion on the track, his two team pursuit world championships will be a key factor in a TTT success.
Danny Pate – The Pate’s skills on a time trial bike are well known, and his results at this year’s Critérium International (second-place on stage 2, third-place overall) show he is on form at the right time for an individual win as well.
David Zabriskie – The current US national time trial champion for the past two seasons, DZ’s red, white and blue argyle Pearl Izumi skinsuit will be easy to spot in echelon during the TTT.
Julian Dean – A two-time national champion on the track as well as the road for New Zealand, Dean will be a strong engine for the team and a solid lead-out for sprinter Tyler Farrar.
Tom Danielson – His numerous hill climb records, from Mt. Evans to Mt. Washington, mean that TD will be a threat for a mountain stage win.
Tyler Farrar – Farrar has been on the business-end of field sprints all season, beating the best-of-the-best in Tirreno-Adriatico and coming close on many other occasions. He will continue to be a favorite on any stage with a sprint finish.
Pre-Giro training camp
The issues that go with the pre-Giro training camp…
