He’s been spoken of by some as one to watch today, but Philip Deignan has said that he will take a wait-and-see approach to the the big mountain stage in this year’s Presidential Tour of Turkey.
If he’s in good condition, the 2009 Vuelta a Espana stage winner could do something noteworthy on the final climb to the 1850 metre high Elmali, described as the Turkish Alpe d’Huez due to its almost identical height.
However, speaking just before the start of the race, Deignan admitted that he wasn’t sure what to expect.
“The form has been gradually improving since the start of the season,” he told VeloNation in a video interview just after the team presentation on Saturday. “I was down last week with a stomach virus, it wiped me out for a week, so I am still gradually building back from that.
“I will take it day by day here, and obviously go for one of the mountain stages if I have the legs.”
Deignan is riding the race as part of the UnitedHealthcare team. It is his fourth pro squad in an eight year career, following on from stints with the Ag2r la Mondiale, Cervelo Test Team and RadioShack squads, and sees him as one of the designated leaders in hillier races.
That gives him more opportunity than he had last year with RadioShack, while also putting more responsibility on him to help build success for the team. Still, as he showed in winning into Avila during the 2009 Vuelta, and in taking ninth overall in the same race, he has the engine when his health is good.
Illness complicated things in 2010, last year saw him rebuilding, and now he feels more secure that some big things may lie ahead.
“Obviously the aim is to get back to that level again,” he said, referring to the time of his Vuelta success. “You need the combination of really good shape and to have your own free scope in races. I am still pretty positive that I will be able to get that shape back this year.”
Click on the video below to see the full interview and hear Deignan’s thoughts on his and his team’s chances for the Presidential Tour of Turkey, as well as his targeted objectives for the season.