The Spring Classics, the Tour de France and the World Championships
Dane Matti Breschel will divide his season into three peaks next year.
“The Spring Classics, of course. I look forward to them,” he told Denmark’s DR newspaper. “And then, of course, the Tour de France and the World Championships – those are just the peaks.”
At the Spring Classics this year, Breschel won Dwars door Vlaanderen, finished eighth in Gent-Wevelgem and helped Saxo Bank team-mate Fabian Cancellara win the E3 Prijs and Ronde van Vlaanderen.
The most famous cobbled classics, Ronde and Paris-Roubaix, were a disaster for Breschel. He trailed behind the leaders due to a poorly executed bike change in Ronde and abandoned Roubaix due to pain from his right knee. Last month, he underwent knee surgery to remove scar tissue around the tendon.
Despite his knee problems, Breschel plans to use the same approach next season with new team Rabobank.
“I did not race very much actually, but I focused more on strength training and to maintain my muscle mass. I do so again this year [in 2011 – ed.] since I am injured. So, I must stay focused. The worst thing you can do is go too hard in the winter and risk peaking too early,” said Breschel.
“I feel that what I did last year is what it takes to win. I feel I had the right level this year, definitely.”
Earlier this year, Breschel and Cancellara announced they would leave Saxo Bank. With Dutch team Rabobank, Breschel forms part of the classics team with Dutchmen Lars Boom and Sebastian Langeveld, and Spaniard Carlos Barredo. He signed a contract worth a reported €540,000.
Cancellara and seven other Saxo Bank riders will join Luxembourg’s new team.