30 year old, Allan Davis, is preparing for what could be the biggest season of his career in 2011. The Astana rider admits to Diario Vasco that 2010 was, "the best year of my career. It is true that other seasons, I have scored more victories, but I've never had the feelings I had this season before."
The native of Bundaberg feels that 2010 was a watershed season. "It has been a special year in my career. I've changed physically, I feel stronger, with more depth. I finished the Vuelta a Espana very well. I am able to compete in tough races [now]."
Those could be alarming words for Davis's rivals, as Davis has long been known as a rider capable of excelling in difficult races, and then putting his quick finish to use for, most of the time, a top result. The only thing that has really been lacking in Davis's career have been the big wins. He has been close to the top on numerous occasions, but the one great victory has still eluded the rider.
Victory at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi was a great victory, but it's Davis's close calls that have defined his career so far: 3rd at the Melbourne World Championships in 2010, 4th at Milano-Sanremo in 2009, 3rd-4th-5th in the last three years at the Vattenfall Cyclassics, 2nd at Milano-Sanremo in 2007, 3rd at Paris-Tours in 2005. The list goes on and on. If 2010 was truly a turning point year, it seems that it can't take too much for Davis to go from an almost to a race winner.
With that in mind, Davis is preparing well at home in Australia for the year to come. Davis is spending a lot of time in the gym lifting weights, boxing, jumping rope - a little bit of everything.
His season will begin in the not so distant future. He'll start with the Jayco Bay Classic at the turn of the year, then take on the Australian Championships on January 9th, followed by the Tour Down Under, a race that he has experienced more success in than any other, by far.
"I've won six stages in this race. I've won it once, and come second in two other occasions," says the Astana fast man.
After a full Australian swing, the podium finisher at this year's World Championships will embark on his European campaign, beginning with the Tour of Algarve. The it's on to the Strade Bianche, followed by Tirreno-Adriatico, and then his first highlight of 2011: Milano-Sanremo.
After that, he'll head to Belgium for Gent-Wevelgem and the Tour of Flanders, the Three Days of De Panne, capped off with one of the Ardennes Classics, the Amstel Gold Race.
The Tour de France will be in Davis's view after that. He'll use the Tour of California and Criterium Dauphine as preparation for the Grand Boucle.
He doesn't mention it, but there can be little doubt that next year's World Championships in Copenhagen are a big opportunity for the sprinter with all-around abilities. If not Copenhagen, the opportunities will not end there for Davis though, as most World Championship courses seems to fall within his wheelhouse.