The highly promising Czech rider Roman Kreuziger has said that one of the key reasons he switched teams from Liquigas-Doimo to Astana was the chance to work alongside Alexandre Vinokourov. The 24 year old signed a two year deal with the team, which announced the contract yesterday.
“Vinokourov makes a great impression on me,” he said. “He has a feel for what is important for the team. Vino is a wonderful man, always a great competitor. I'm glad that I can work with him in the same team. His words have great weight in Astana, followed by the solution of many issues. Even taking into account that next year he still races, it is 99 percent sure that he will become the new team manager [after that].”
The move represents a big change for him; Kreuziger made his pro debut with Liquigas in 2006 and has remained with them ever since. This is the first time he has moved teams and it will require a period of adaptation and settling in.
He said that it was sporting rather than monetary considerations that prompted the switch. “I would say that money does not play a major role,” he stated on his personal website, when asked if he was satisfied with the financial aspect. “I tried to change the environment, trying to find a new motivation. I must improve my capabilities and I think Astana can help me with this.”
Kreuziger has long been regarded as one of the top young talents in cycling. Although he won’t be 25 until next May, he’s already racked up a strong set of results and it’s entirely possible that there is a Grand Tour victory ahead of him.
He grew up in a cycling family, with his father Roman Kreuziger Sr taking the cyclocross junior worlds in 1983 and then the Österreich Rundfahrt in 1991. The younger rider grabbed his own rainbow bands when he raced to victory in the 2004 junior world championships, then underlined his ability with two stunning performances as a young rider.
The first was when he nabbed second place in the prologue of Paris-Nice at 20 years of age. The second was when he won the Tour de Suisse at just 22 years of age, wresting the yellow jersey off the shoulders of Kim Kirchen in the mountain time trial up Klausen Pass.
Aside from taking solid results in shorter events, such as the final victory in last year’s Tour de Romandie and netting second in the Clásica San Sebastián, he has also shown a flair for the Grand Tours. 21st overall in his debut Vuelta a España was a very solid showing for the-then 21 year old, but it was 13th in the 2008 Tour de France that really suggested he could one day fight for the yellow jersey.
Since then he has finished ninth overall in 2008 and 2009, and knows that it is now time to step things up another level.
“I have been here [with Liquigas] for five wonderful years, from which I gained much,” he explained. “But last year I felt that changes were needed, otherwise stagnation. I think I’m moving at the right time.”
He should also have greater opportunities, given that Liquigas is a leader-heavy squad. It also features Ivan Basso, Vincenzo Nibali and Franco Pellizotti, who missed this year’s Giro and Tour, but was a protected rider in 2009. Riding alongside so many other strong riders dilutes opportunity, and he is likely to have a little more room to ride for his own interests in Astana.
Informal talks had been taking place for a while, then things picked up in intensity more recently. “We first met last Tuesday, although before that had been contacts,” he said. “But basically, [things were done] through my manager, Lombardi, who negotiated with Astana. I had heard before from Vinokourov and we talked about this possibility that I can move to Astana.
“I am pleased that the negotiations are completed. It finally became clear that in 2011 and 2012 I will be wearing a T-shirt Astana. This is a new great challenge for me.”
Kreuziger has never been to Kazakhstan and is uncertain that he will have to travel there soon. The team launch last year was in Austria and is planned for Nice next year. He’s likely to meet his new team-mates at a training camp before then, and has an idea of who will form part of the 2011 squad.
“Contador went to Saxo Bank with a few Spaniards, but Tiralongo and Grivko, who also proved to be excellent in the Tour, are likely to remain. From Liquigas, Kiserlovsky will also come along with me, and the team are chasing [new signatures from] Stangelj and Gasparotto.”
The team is also in discussions with Menchov, but the Russian recently spoke in positive terms about his home squad Katusha and it is possible that he will head there instead.
Either way, Kreuziger is likey to have plenty of opportunities in the next two years. If his career continues to evolve, he could find himself as being the undisputed leader of the squad. That would see him being guided by his new mentor Vinokourov as he aims to win his first three week Tour.