News

06 February 2010

During our get together back in November, each rider met with the team of coaching staff and directors to plan their season. I had a great chat with the staff and we decided that my plan would be to head to Europe at the beginning of January for the team presentation followed by the first training camp.

It was a difficult decision to skip the Australian races as I love racing in Australia and the support I get down under is like nowhere else. I missed the Tour Down Under in 2009 and arrived in Europe a lot earlier than in previous years. I was better prepared for the Spring and achieved some great results at the Ardennes Classics. Amstel, Fleche and Liege are a big goals of mine this year so I really want to give myself every opportunity to perform well. Unfortunately that meant missing some racing in Australia.

I also want to be in good shape for Paris-Nice [in March] and to perform well there however the really big goals are the Ardennes races in April. I've never really tried to compete for the general classification in a race like Paris-Nice before. I have had some success in weeklong stage races, more so in Australia at the Tour Down Under and Jayco Herald Sun Tour, so Paris-Nice is going to be a new experience and possibly something I'd like to work towards over the next few years.

The coaching staff, directors and myself pretty much mapped out my program for most of the season barring any problems. After the Classics I plan to have one month away from racing where I will do some similar training to what I'm doing at the moment including base work which will then set the foundations for the European summer. Throughout June I'll compete in some shorter stage races and attend team training camps to learn a few of the roads for the Tour de France. Hopefully I will be lining up in Rotterdam for the start of the Tour de France. It is a big goal of mine to race the Tour this year and whether it's going for stage wins or helping Wiggo for the general classification, I'm super keen to be back there again.

Simon.

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