Ready for huge battle of picked: ‘The last week of this year’s Tour will be the hardest thing I’ve been involved in’
Although he won the award for the most combative rider in last year’s Tour de France, Chris Anker Sørensen has said that he is yet to be selected for this year’s race, with the high standard in Team Saxo Tinkoff increasing the competitiveness for places.
The Danish climber is hoping to be part of a squad which will be lead by Alberto Contador and will likely feature new team signings Roman Kreuziger, Nicolas Roche and Michael Rogers. They are valuable additions, while the battle for the remaining slots should encourage the riders in the running to work hard and reach a high level of form.
Sørensen believes that his team captain can be very competitive this year. “In general, I believe that the route fits Alberto really well,” he said.
“You tend to forget how much pain the mountains cause from year to year, but nevertheless, I have to emphasize that the last week of this year's Tour de France will be the hardest thing I've been involved in. The spectacular stage to Alpe d'Huez with two ascents on the legendary climb will be particularly memorable,” he continued.
“The prerequisites for all time great finish of the Tour are definitely there when the field on the first ascent will shatter to pieces, and then another climb will be a matter between the very best. There is no time to gain contact with the front of the pack after the first climb and the teams will most likely be minimized. As a consequence, only captains and lieutenants will remain in the front group at the foot of the uphill finish.”
Sørensen has just completed a training camp with Contador, Kreuziger, Roche and others. They spent time in the French Alps, riding some of the climbs on the course, and thus honing their form while also getting more acquainted with the terrain.
‘Of course I hope to be selected for the Tour de France line-up. There are probably seven riders in the Saxo-Tinkoff line-up as it is right now but I'm not one of them,” he revealed. “I'm on the periphery of riders of the final line-up.”
After spending some time with his family at home in Italy, he is preparing for the start of the Criterium du Dauphiné. He will join Contador there and sees it as a crucial race for himself.
“It's here that I have to prove my worth in terms of getting picked for the Tour line-up. Given the opportunity of going for a stage win, I promise you, I won't hesitate to grab it but first and foremost I'm there to help and support Alberto.”
After that, he is due to do a high altitude training camp in the Italian Dolomites for two weeks, continuing to build his form in advance of the Danish national championships and then, hopefully, the Tour.