Feb 28, 2006
Basso Ready to Start 2006
Ivan Basso is just about ready to start his ambititous 2006 season. Milano-Torino will be his first race pf the season and that takes place this Saturday. Recently the potential Giro Tour winner was promoting the marriage of Skoda cars and FSA wheels and TuttoBici got a chance to talk to Ivan and see how he is handling the pressure of going for two Grand Tour wins and heightened expectations in the post Lance era.
How is Ivan doing?
My condition is good because I trained well. From January 1st to today I rode 5500 kilometers and readjusted my training program from previous years. What do I expect in my debut? I would like to get a taste of racing again and get good work in with an eye to Tirreno-Adriatico. TA will be a good block of tests that will give me the opportunity to test my time trialing followed by a mountain stage. — Ivan Basso
What do you think about more, the Giro or the Tour?
Until the 30th of May I will only think of the Giro D’Italia. The Tour comes after and so will my concentration on thee race. It is a Tour that I do not like with too many Time Trials and few climbs therefore it is somebody else’s problem. The pressure? It is not a problem, I learned to deal with it. If you remember last year everyone talked about Cunego and me and neither of us won. This time I point to others to win…Plus, I am used to the stress and the pressure. Since the begining of my career I have always been talked about and watched
as a potential winner.
Who are your adversaries for the Giro and Tour?
There are many adversaries for and they all need too be respected. For the Giro, the number one adversary if Simoni and for the Tour it is Ullrich.
Where are you in studying the Giro course?
I have ridden pretty much every stage. One of the last climbs of the Pontedera TT is Bella, it is beautiful, but not very important, but what counts is who has the legs for that climb.
As for the TT, what about the Worlds and the Olympics?
As of right now, I am not going to compete in the Time Trial in Salzberg because my season is already intense with the Giro and Tour and the hope of having form for Lombardia. As for the Olympics, it is different beacuse the TT is disputed two weeks after the end of the Tour de France and I have always ended the Tour with great form. However, doing well in a TT during a three week race versus one Time Trial in the Olympics are two totally different challenges.
What about the CSC winter camp?
I have to say it is an experience to live for, money well spent. That games that are played in the camp help you realise what hunger and tiredness do to your head. The camp helps to understand exactly the limits your your own qualities when faced with difficulty. For us it is understood on the roads of the Tour, we relive the extreme situation that we faced in winter and this helps us get through the stages.
At Bunago Ivan was accompanied by the little Domitilla and wife Micaela who is with child. If all goes well, the small Basso ( a boy who’s name is not yet decided) will be born cersarian on May 30th two days after the end of the Giro D’Italia.