Danish climber has big chance in Tour due to Alberto Contador’s absence
He’s yet to get into his stride this year but Chris Anker Sørensen has been working hard at altitude in order to be in good shape for a big target, the upcoming Tour de Suisse. Staring Jun 9th, the WorldTour race will be the last big preparation for the Tour de France for many riders, and with Sørensen a likely leader of the Saxo Bank team in July, he will want to show strongly there.
“I’ve had my eye on three stages which on the paper could be good opportunities for me,” he said. “Already on the second stage we finish on a long climb, and there is also an opportunity for success on the penultimate and final stage that have two uphill finishes in store for us.”
Given Sørensen’s uphill abilities, those stages will give him the platform to push hard for the overall classification. He confirmed that this is also a potential target for him. “Going for the GC is also relevant if everything works out. If things go my way on the second stage, I will definitely do my best to stay in the top of the classifications.”
He also tipped Karsten Kroon and Nick Nuyens as possible contenders for a stage victory.
A former stage winner in the Critérium du Dauphiné and the Giro d’Italia, Sørensen’s climbing ability is underlined by his mountains jersey successes in the Tour de Romandie and Volta a Catalunya. He rode in support of Alberto Contador for much of last year but with the Spaniard sidelined by CAS until early August, Sørensen could have a big chance in the Tour de France.
However he’s yet to really shine in three week races, with twelfth in last year’s Vuelta being his best result to date. He has been training hard of late to be in peak condition, and also to get over setbacks earlier this year. His form has been delayed by crashes at the team training camp in Israel and also during the Vuelta al Pais Vasco, as well as due to illness.
His last race was the Tour de Romandie in April but after staying for a week at 2000 metres altitude on Mount Etna in Sicily, he is feeling strong.
“I feel ready now after a somewhat dubious start of the season. My trainer has given me a specific altitude training program with intervals from 5 seconds to up to one hour,” he said. “I follow it closely.”
Apart from the Tour de Suisse, the Danish nationals is also a target for him He recognises that there are many strong riders who he will be up against, but also that the course plays to his strengths. “The route with twenty climbs of Pøtten (Pøt Mill) favors riders like me,” he said, relishing what could be an opportunity for him to wear the distinctive Danish jersey in races such as the Tour.