The Cannondale Pro Cycling team has just completed its first training camp of the winter, as the WorldTour team’s riders begin their preparations for the 2013 season. The team, which is currently known as Liquigas-Cannondale but will lose its title sponsor at the end of the year after eight years in the sport, spent a few days in Riotorto, near the coast of Tuscany, Italy.
“We chose a soft approach with aerobic training because, primarily, riders need to prepare themselves for January’s high intensity,” explained team trainer Paolo Slongo . “Other than riding the Cannondale SuperSix Evo, we planned a personal gym training program to increase power, depending on riders’ characteristics. At the end of the camp, we evaluated condition with a test to be able to plan preparation for next months.
“Looking to goals and debuts, each rider will have a specific training table,” he added. “I was impressed after this camp; the team showed a great desire to work and to start the new adventure in the best way.”
Although the Cannondale team’s 28-strong roster will match that of Liquigas-Cannondale in 2012, there are eight new faces for 2013. The integration of new riders was another important aspect of the camp, as Slongo explained.
“We had to bring them all up to speed in terms of knowledge of our training methods,” he said. “In particular, we showed the importance of stretching and relaxing with team’s mental trainer Marino Rosti.”
Several of the teams big names have departed, including 2010 Vuelta a España winner Vincenzo Nibali, but the 2013 Cannondale team will be led by two-time Giro d’Italia winner Ivan Basso and Slovakian prodigy Peter Sagan.
“First team camps are the best situation to create the group and spend time all together,”explained 35-year-old Basso, who is to begin his fifth full season with the team. “Training is important, of course, but now team building is maybe more. We’re going to start a new adventure and I feel great enthusiasm all around.”
Like all of the other WorldTour teams, Cannondale Pro Cycling will kick off its 2013 season at the Santos Tour Down Under between January 22nd and 27th.