Ted King starts his season earlier than usual in Argentina at the Tour de San Luis on the 23rd of January. The South American race is fast becoming a popular early season race for the professional peloton and King’s Liquigas-Cannondale team is sending a competitive line up to this year’s event.
It will be American’s second year on the Italian team and, after missing a chunk of last season’s racing due to injury, he’s determined to make the most of a year that could include a Tour de France debut.
“I'm headed directly back to Europe after San Luis,” King told VeloNation. “My race program looks similar to last year; there are a few Italian stage races - Giro Sardegna and Regio Calabria - to get the legs up to speed. I'm on the fence for Paris-Nice now but then we go full-bore into the classics. I do some trans-Atlantic travel back here for Tour of California then Tour de Suisse and fingers crossed for the Tour [de France].”
The 28 year old returns to racing after an off-season that included taking part in some cyclocross races and spending days on his mountain bike. He also hosted the first ever Krempels King of the Road Challenge, a ride he put together to raise funds for the Krempels Centre.
He believes his preparation and health should ensure his form is much better than in the first part of 2011. “Basically I want to make up for what I missed last year. I had some knee issues early in the spring, which didn't give me nearly the fitness I needed jumping straight into the Classics.
“California is a big goal as a team and for me personally being American and all. The podium at nationals last year was really nice, but I'd love to be on the top step. That's a goal, although something of a stab being a one-day race. And then the Tour; I'm reserve now for the Tour in July, but that's a huge motivation for me.”