With both riders feeling that their form is sufficiently good to be in the hunt for success in their first race of the year, Taylor Phinney and new signing Darwin Atapuma are hoping to clock up big results this week in the Tour de San Luis.
US time trial and Classic strongman Taylor Phinney said that his training has gone very well this season, with a lack of previous interruptions helping him to build a strong level of form.
“I have always struggled with injuries in the offseason, mainly due to cold weather, changes in bike position and not making use of the available therapy,” said the 23 year old, who has already taken a Giro d’Italia stage win plus runner-up at the world time trial championships despite his youth.
“But I have been able to knock out every training day and I owe that to having hired my own personal soigneur, plus being a couple years older and not growing anymore.”
He is aiming to win either the 19.2 kilometre San Luis time trial on Friday or else one of the race’s three flatter stages.
As for Atapuma, the Colombian rider is looking to excel on the other, more mountainous legs. The 2.HC race features three summit finishes and he believes that these should suit his attributes. “I had good training at home in Colombia and at camp,” he said, speaking in advance of what will be his earliest-ever season start as a pro rider. “My condition is good and this race will be a good test for my climbing.
“I hope not to lose too much time in the time trial so I can take advantage of the three uphill finishes.”
BMC Racing Team directeur sportif Jackson Stewart said that Atapuma, Phinney, Peter Stetina and Larry Warbasse benefited from a training camp held last week in Southern California, and were all in good form as a result.
He said that he believed that Atapuma, Stetina, Warbasse plus Dominik Nerz could all be in the hunt for a strong overall finish in the week-long race.