Through four stages of the 2010 Vuelta a Espana, HTC-Columbia's neo-pro breakout success story, Tejay Van Garderen, couldn't be better placed following the opening salvo of tough, hot days.
Ahead of the Vuelta, the Montana native was cautiously optimistic about his chances in the year's final Grand Tour. "I just want to try to fight in the mountains and in the time trial and just see how far I can go. If I end up with a top fifteen or even a top ten, that would be incredible," said the young rider in a recent interview with Steve Jones of VeloNation.
While a big result would be much appreciated, it wasn't something that the recently turned 22 year old necessarily needed, or one that his HTC-Columbia team was pressuring him for.
In a team press release, HTC-Columbia director sportif, Tristan Hoffman, confirmed that the hopes were high for the American, but the demands from management were nil: "Tejay is also keen to see what he can do in his first major Tour, although he's young and there'll by no pressure on him."
So with no pressure and dreams of a big result, Van Garderen took to the start line with his high-powered team Saturday night in Sevilla for the opening 13k team time trial. Just over 14 minutes later, the team smashed the previous best time and set a standard that wouldn't even come close to being bested. In his first Grand Tour stage ever, the third overall finisher at the Criterium Dauphine found himself on the podium, a winner, with his team. Talk about auspicious beginnings.
Stage 2 didn't quite live up to the high standards of Van Garderen's first day in the three-week office, but some solid work on the front for Mark Cavendish proved to be exactly along the lines of what Tejay had mentioned ahead of the race: "…They'll probably put me in the leadout train with 10k to go. That's good for the GC guys anyway, because it keeps them up at the front and out of trouble. It doesn't take too much energy to do just a couple of k's."
Van Garderen put in his work at the front then sat back and hoped for the best from his teammate, Mark Cavendish. Cavendish couldn't quite hold off a supremely quick Hutarovich, but a 1st and 2nd after two days for Bob Stapleton's boys was nothing to cry about.
The following two days would be a call to arms for the recent fourth place overall finisher at the Tour de l'Ain. Two straight short, but difficult finishing climbs would necessitate an early show of power from the former Rabobank Continental rider. As with everything Tejay Van Garderen, it seems it's always about improvement. Following an 18th place finish, 23 seconds behind Philippe Gilbert in Malaga, Van Garderen stepped up to 6th place on today's even harder finishing climb in Valdapenas de Jaen - only 8 seconds back of stage winner Igor Anton of Euskaltel-Euskadi.
After four stages, the multi-time US National Champion sits in the enviable position of 6th overall, 29 seconds off of the leading pace of Philippe Gilbert. In the general classification contender race, Gilbert can most likely be counted a non-factor, moving Anton and Katusha's Joaquin Rodriguez as the best placed overall hopes. Both riders are tied at 10 seconds back of Gilbert, meaning Van Garderen has done a nifty job through two difficult finishing hills and a team time trial: he's only 19 seconds in arrears of the Spanish duo.
After a performance that deserves at least an A through four days, Van Garderen will be put to the test over some more traditional first week courses - rolling days with likely bunch sprints. While the 2nd overall finisher at the Tour of Turkey has said that the pressure will not be a factor in his first Grand Tour, there is one thing he doesn't want to do: "I just don't want to give anything away on the flat stages."
The difficult courses over the last two days will be replaced by easier, perhaps more complicated days in the saddle until Saturday's Stage 8. With rain forecasted for tomorrow, Van Garderen's goal of not losing time on the 'easier' stages will be put to the test. And if all goes to plan, he'll be heading into the Vuelta's first big mountain stages with a top ten overall position intact and the possibility of much more.
Van Garderen will certainly be able to lean on the wealth of racing knowledge and experience he gained over two seasons with the Rabobank Continental team. The winner of the selective Tour du Haut Anjou and Circuito Montanes stage races can also lay claim to some decidedly excellent results in the flat, hardman races. For the espoirs, they don't come much flatter or windier than the Olympia's Tour - Van Garderen took a stage and 3rd overall there in 2009. In short, don't expect the climber to suffer the typical woes of a neo-pro in terms of positioning and race savvy.
There are still 17 stages to go, but with four days down, there's no arguing with the fact that Van Garderen seems to be picking up where he left off at the Dauphine in June.
Following his podium finish at the Dauphine, I asked Tejay where he saw himself in five years. His response? "I hope to be progressing into a Grand Tour contender." If September's Vuelta continues in the vein of the first four days and the rest of his season so far, he might need to readjust his five year plan.