Roman Kreuziger – Unofficial
The 78th edition of the Tour de Swiss begins on Saturday with the 9.5km prologue in the town of Bellinzona. Roman is returning to racing action after his last participation at the Liege-Bastogne-Liege at the end of April. Having put in a long training block after the first part of the season, his goal is to score the best possible result at his favourite race.
“I have done some good quality training and I look forward to another major confrontation with the best riders after six weeks without racing. I would like to deliver my very best as the Tour de Swiss is my favourite race. I have to admit that I have no idea what shape I will be in, however, I am usually on good form at this point of the season but I have never had such a long racing break before,” said Roman.
Roman took the overall victory at the Tour de Swiss in 2008 and finished twice in third position (2009, 2013). “It is also because of these great results that it is my favourite race and I am always happy to race in Switzerland. I like the Swiss roads, the countryside and the country as such. Thanks to the fact that I was racing for a Swiss team as a junior I know almost every road there,” admitted Roman.
The Swiss stage race starts on Saturday with a prologue. “It is rather a time trial than a prologue. It is quite technical. I will definitely do a recon ride of the course before the start. Besides, it takes place near our sports director’s Guidi residence, so we will have a source of useful information. We have not figured out yet the time of my start because it has been forecast that the weather should turn worse in the afternoon and it might rain,” revealed Roman.
Apart from Roman, the Tinkoff-Saxo roster includes Daniele Bennati, Matti Breschel, Chris Anker Sörensen, Manuele Boaro, Matteo Tosatto, Michael Mörköv and Oliver Zaugg. “We have brought along a strong team with riders for mountains, flat stretches and breakaways. Oliver and Chris Anker should help me out in the mountains,” added the Czech leader.
