Jan 2, 2007
Iban Mayo Aims for Giro and Tour
Ivan Basso may have sparked the latest trend in cycling of racing both the Giro and Tour de France. Basso was unable to ride the double last year due to some doping investigation, but with the Giro win in his pocket he was able to get some trophies from the adoring Italian press by the end of the year. Since then many other pros have looked at doing the double themselves. Paolo Salvodelli announced he is going for the Giro-Tour double as is Iban Mayo. Fresh into his new Sauunier Duval team kit the enigmatic Spanish cyclist is full of hope for 2007.
tuttobiciweb.com reports:
Today for the first time Iban Mayo unveiled the new look for Saunier Duval-Prodir. Mayo took the opportunity to talk with the press and announce his objectives for 2007.
“The Giro D’Italia and the Tour de France. Above all the Giro is very attractive to me. This year will be my debut on the Corsa Rosa where I will work for Gilberto Simoni.
I have had a very quiet winter where I was able to put in lots of work without any pressure. This is much like it used to be long ago. In the team I feel much more free. At the Giro I will race without pressure with the only objective being to learn from Simoni and help him with the major objective of final victory.
Director Sportif Joxean Fernández ‘Matxin’ says that Saunier Duval-Prodir has a great deal of faith in Iban Mayo.
“Seeing Mayo with the Maglia Rosa on his back? I don’t think it would be heresy. I see that he is considered one of the major talents in professional cycling today”
Interview translated from: http://www.tuttobiciweb.com/home.htm
The comments from DS Joxean Fernández ‘Matxin’ are interesting. With Mayo being given new life at Saunier Duval,could this put a strain on the relationship with Simoni? Mayo sounds like he will be a force to contend with at the Grand Tours this year. After withering under the pressure of high expectations at Euskatel Euskadi he seems to have found a good team that will keep the pressure off for some time. Mayo is one of those cyclist who needs his own space. After his breakout performances in the Tour de France in 2002 and 2003 Mayo seemed to wither under the pressure of expectations. Now with less pressure and an emotionally supporting team it is a make or break year for Mayo.
What would be interesting is if Mayo has great form during the Giro and we see a replay of the Saeco saga of 2004 where Simoni was the favorite who ended up playing support for Damiano Cunego. Cunego had the support of DS Giuseppe Martinelli much like Maxtin seems to support Mayo. If I were Simoni I’d be making sure everyone is on the same page when May rolls around.