Psyched after a very strong 2009 season, Vacansoleil rider Johnny Hoogerland has racked up an impressive amount of training kilometres as he prepares for what could be a very big year for him.
The 26 year old Dutchman has covered 8400 kilometres since November 20th, thus averaging over 800 kilometres per week. Most have been done on Spanish roads, taking advantage of good weather.
Hoogerland is highly motivated after some key 2009 performances, which began with a stage plus the overall classification in the Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen followed by a twelfth place finish in the Tour of Flanders.
Vancansoleil didn’t compete in the Giro d’Italia or the Tour de France, but Hoogerland trained hard, lost weight and had a very strong end of season.
He was twelfth overall in the Vuelta a España, 14th (and first Dutch rider) in the world road race championships, and then fifth in the Giro di Lombardia. After a break of just over a month, he started training again and will aim to reach his top form for either Paris-Nice or Tirreno-Adriatico.
“The Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders) could also be a goal, but victory there requires luck,” he told Wielerland. “Amstel Gold Race and Liège-Bastogne-Liège are more straightforward in that respect.”
His Vuelta a España ride last year was one of the most impressive by a young rider, and he wants to continue to shine in three week races this season. He’s hoping that Vacansoleil can get wildcard places.
“Everyone could see how well we did in the Vuelta, so of course we are strong enough to do both the Giro and the Tour,” he said. “It would be great to ride the Tour de France. The Giro d’Italia is also a good race, but in marketing terms the Tour is more attractive. And we must develop further as a team, so it is necessary that we do a Grand Tour in 2010.”