After 13 years as a professional you would think that it might start to get a little tough each winter to motivate yourself for another season. Not so for the cycling world’s favourite big Swede Magnus Backstedt.
After finishing the season strongly at the Tour of Britain where he showed that his sprinting and breakaway powers were back to full capacity, he settled into the winter. So what is different this year?
“I’ve gone back to the basics. After the Tour of Britain, I took a month off the bike completely–something I haven’t done in years. I am back in the gym to try and put some bulk back on my upper body which has been pretty devastated by injuries in recent years.”
No track this year? “Not for me. I’m totally focussed on a big year on the road next season, so it’s all for that. I looked at pictures of myself when I won Paris-Roubaix in 2004 and have decided to beef myself up a bit. I figure that another few kilos of muscle will make a big difference in the sprints and for the Classics.”
After the Garmin-Slipstream team bonding session in Colorado, Backstedt took a family holiday before embarking on his own personal training camp in France.
“I’m taking myself and the young Swedish team that I’m working with down to France to train. It will be good to have some company and really get myself on track for 2009. I’ll be there until just before Christmas.”
Looking ahead, goals for the coming year: “Everyone knows it’s all about the second Sunday in April for me. I will give Roubaix a big run again. I’m still confident that if I can get my fitness and equipment dialed in on the day, I can be in the fight again.”
“That said, I just want to win next year. I came close in the 3 Days of De Panne this year. Those races suit me. Also, with the team time trial in the Tour, and listening to Cav saying we aren’t going to have it our own way…well with me, Christian VandeVelde, Danny Pate, Dave Z and Bradley Wiggins, we’ll certainly be there all guns blazing!”
“I’m super motivated and ready to give it some!”