Thank
you for taking the time to talk to us. You are obviously very busy with
preparing for the Tour de France.
2005 has
been an interesting year for you and your results include a stage win in the
Tour de Georgia. Tell us more about your season so
far...
What I
can say is that I’m obviously pretty happy with the way things have gone for me
with five victories till now, and I hope I can manage a few more before the end
of the year.
Getting
on to the team’s Tour strategy, what are Phonak’s main goals in the 2005 Tour de
France?
That
would have to be to try and win the Tour of course. We will have two riders
right up there for GC, I think, and from there I’ll be trying to win a
stage.
Robert Hunter takes the win ahead of Brooks in Georgia this Spring. Photo copyright Ben Ross/Roadcycling.com/www.benrossphotography.com.
Phonak
will be starting the 2005 Tour de France with two potential Tour winners as part
of its team. Last year the team only had one leader (Tyler Hamilton). How do you
expect to double-edged sword tactic to work out? How will you determine who the
supporting riders should work for?
It’s
easy to answer... We work for both riders for three weeks. You never know what
can happen, so it’s always better to have two riders up there than one.
Obviously, it’s up to them in the end to see who has the legs to do the
damage.
How do
you rate Landis’s and Botero’s chances of success in terms of stage wins and the
overall classification?
I think
in terms of stage wins they are both capable riders and both can win, but saying
that they are both very different riders with Botero being more aggressive, and
Floyd more patient.
Are
there other Phonak riders that our readers should keep an eye out for when
watching the Tour de France stages? Any specific riders you expect to perform
above expectations, and why?
I think
the team as a whole is in good shape and obviously every one has his job to do
with the main focus being GC, but you never know what can happen if a breakaway
goes with one of us in it. We will have to wait and see I guess.
Robert Hunter. Photo copyright Ben Ross/Roadcycling.com/www.benrossphotography.com.
What are
your own goals for the Tour de France 2005? What will it take for you to leave
France in a
happy mood?
A stage
win in the bag will make me a happy camper.
There
are fewer sprint stages in this year’s Tour de France than there were in last
year’s. Some of them will take place after some of the hardest mountain stages.
How do you think this will affect the sprints and the outcomes – not least your
own chances?
It’s
always difficult to say, but the fewer stages just means that the sprinters’
teams will for sure take control on these days to take maximum
advantage.
Tell us
more about how do you plan to ride the Tour sprints? Will you have any support
from teammates?
It’s
difficult to have the team support when most of the team is based around the GC
guys, but I’m happy with that. I know how to handle myself, I think, so I’ll
just have to take advantage of the other teams.
You took
part in the 2003 Tour de France where you placed third in stage 12. How have you
changed as a rider since 2003?
I guess
every year I get a little more experienced and stronger both in the legs and
head.
This
year, the field of sprinters appears very strong, and many are reaching top form
for the Tour, with Thor Hushovd performing well in
Dauphine Libere
and Robbie McEwen winning a stage in the Tour de Suisse. How do you plan to
tackle the other sprinters in the Tour and what advantages do you have compared
with the other sprinters?
It’s
difficult to say. No one sprinter is the same, but all of them including myself
can get the job done on any given day. So I don’t think I can really say I’ve
got any advantages.
Will there be sweet podium kisses for Hunter in France this July? Stay tuned to Roadcycling.com to find out! Photo copyright Ben Ross/Roadcycling.com/www.benrossphotography.com.
With
sprint king Alessandro Petacchi not taking part in the Tour, many analysts don’t
expect the Fassa Bortolo team to control the peloton like they usually do. How
do you expect this to affect the sprinter stages and their
outcomes?
It
won’t. There are always teams keen to take control of the
race.
In which
Tour de France stages should Roadcycling.com readers expect to be thrilled by
your performances?
For sure
not the mountain stages...can’t get more specific than
that.
There
are now only a few days left before the Tour start. How do you plan to spend
these days?
I’m
still training, obviously, and besides that just taking it
easy.
The
whole team here at Roadcycling.com thanks you for taking the time to talk to us
at this busy time of year and wishes you great success in the 2005 Tour de
France.
