Gearing up for a likely start in the Tour de France, Thor Hushovd believes that he is coming into good shape and that the upcoming Critérium du Dauphiné will offer him opportunities to chase victories.
The past world road race champion has previously taken four stages in the race, as well as wearing the leader’s jersey five years ago. He showed strong form in the recent Tour of California, where he took four top seven stage placings and helped team-mate Tejay van Garderen to victory, and is psyched to do something in the French stage race.
“I got a better feeling in California and my body was reacting over the race so I was pleased with my improving form day-by-day," Hushovd said. "I will have to look into the details of how the finishes are, but I think there are some nice opportunities for me.
“They all look like hard finishes, with some heavy climbs, but I think I'm climbing better, so there are some possibilities.”
The BMC Racing Team wil head to the Tour de France with two riders capable of finishing on the podium, van Garderen and past winner Cadel Evans. The latter was third overall in the Giro d’Italia, showing his best Grand Tour since his Tour victory in 2011, and that plus van Garderen’s US stage race showing have boosted the team’s morale.
The American squad is yet to announce its line-up and will likely wait until after the Critérium du Dauphiné and Tour de Suisse before doing so.
In the meantime, Hushovd will look to seal his place with a strong performance in France and, all going to plan, to add a stage victory there to the win he took in February in the Tour du Haut Var.
Assistant Director Yvon Ledanois has said that stage wins will be the focus for the whole team. “It's a bit different because we don't have a leader for the GC. But I think we have many quality riders who can contend for stages.”
The squad will also include the American Brent Bookwalter, who was second in both the USPRO time trial and road race championships last weekend.
BMC Racing Team Critérium du Dauphiné Roster (June 2-9):
Brent Bookwalter (USA), Yannick Eijssen (BEL), Thor Hushovd (NOR), Martin Kohler (SUI), Dominik Nerz (GER), Manuel Quinziato (ITA), Ivan Santaromita (ITA), Larry Warbasse (USA).