Announced this week as remaining with Team Tinkoff Saxo for an additional season, Karsten Kroon has said that he is determined to reach and hold strong condition throughout 2014.
The aim may sound like an obvious one for a pro rider but, given that he will turn 38 next month, it is crucial that he is motivated and willing to keep working hard as he nears the end of his career.
“My goal the coming season is to maintain a high level throughout the whole year so that I'll be able to support the guys who can win races the best I can,” he said.
The Dutchman has been training in advance of the season and spent time clocking up the kilometres with the team this month at its training camp in Gran Canaria.
He backed off in recent days, but is ready to knuckle down again. “I've been enjoying my off-season at home with the kids and I've been re-charging the batteries with a few days on Ibiza with my wife. I'm ready to do the kilometres needed before I kick off the new season.”
Kroon had hoped to shine in the Classics but suffered a deep wound to his leg in the Tour of Qatar. He was expected to be out for three months but returned several weeks later, riding the Volta a Catalunya and then helping Roman Kreuziger to victory in the Amstel Gold race.
Looking back at that, he said the latter was a prominent memory for him. He was racing on home roads and playing a significant role in the Classic is something he is proud of. “The greatest moment for me this season was being in the line-up with Roman in Amstel Gold Race which he won in such a convincing way.
“I never succeeded in doing that myself, but I gave everything I had that day to help him and he sure pulled it off,” he said.
“It was a great achievement after a personal and very physical downfall due to the crash in Qatar.”