Team RadioShack's Philip Deignan says he’s a different rider than he was last year, but will be cautious at the Giro d’Italia as he isn’t sure of how his body will react to the tough terrain. The Irishman moved to the American team this season after a successful spell at the Cervelo TestTeam that saw him take a stage win and finish 9th overall in the 2009 Vuelta a España. 2010 was a less than desirable season though, with injury and illness affecting his performance throughout the year.
Speaking to Velonation on the eve of Italy’s biggest race, Deignan said, “I don’t think I have the same condition as in that period, but that is nothing to worry about. I was then in super shape. I had in the build up of the Vuelta four or five stage races. Now that’s not the case but my condition is not so far off. I feel good.”
Deignan’s build up to the race has included the Volta a Catalunya, the Ardennas classics and Brabantse Pijl. His best finish came in Flèche Wallonne where he placed 23rd.
“It’s been good, steady progressing, I believe. I built up gradually. I have no major setbacks. I can feel the form is getting better and better. I was a little bit sick after Liège where I missed three, four days of training. I believe it was better to start healthy at the Giro than to train sick. So yes, I am ready for the Giro.”
Team RadioShack has announced Tiago Machado as their leader for the general classification. The Portuguese climber will be making his debut in a Grand Tour, but has proven his worth in smaller stage races already, finishing seven out-of-ten times in the top ten of the overall standings last year. Team Manager Johan Bruyneel said, “This year he has never missed the top ten. If he can do the same in this Tour of Italy, we will be happy.”
The more experienced Deignan has no problem in supporting Machado in his overall ambition. “Ideally it would have been good to go for the GC, but for the moment I am not hundred percent sure," he continued. "We’re going to take it day by day and see how I perform in the first week or the first ten days. I would like to ride for the GC. If it doesn’t work out I will go for a stage win in the second half of the race and of course I will try to help Tiago Machado where I can.”
The American team has brought a competitive line up to the Corsa Rosa with Robbie McEwen and Robbie Hunter looking for success in the bunch gallops and the likes of Manuel Cardoso and Yaroslav Popovych looking to make their mark during the intermediate stages.