Top US talent Tejay Van Garderen underlined his ability last season with an unexpected third place overall in the Criterium du Dauphiné. The HTC Highroad rider took second in the prologue, conceding just two seconds to Alberto Contador, and ended the prestigious Tour preparation event two minutes 41 seconds behind race winner Janez Brajkovic (Team RadioShack) and one minute behind Contador.
Being then just 21 years of age, it highlighted his potential in the sport. He also netted second overall in the 2010 Presidential Tour of Turkey, and finished second this season in the Volta ao Algarve.
In a video interview with VeloNation this week, Van Garderen confirmed that he will target a top result in the California and also hopes to make his Tour de France debut.
“Everything is building towards the Tour of California and a possible Tour start,” he said, sitting in the front courtyard at the HTC Highroad team hotel in Belgium. “I think everything is on track. I am on the potential list for the Tour, but the Tour is the Tour; you never really know if you are going until three days beforehand. I hope to make the team.”
More immediately, he will aim for a strong performance in tomorrow’s Liège-Bastogne-Liège Classic. He was active in the finale of Flèche Wallonne on Wednesday, attacking in a group near the end. “I got into a pretty good move with about 30 k to go. It didn’t stay away, but I was happy that we rode aggressively and we tried,” he said.
Tomorrow he is going to be another strong card for HTC Highroad, in addition to team leaders Tony Martin and Michael Albasini.
“We have Tony and Albasini and I think those are out two protected guys. I think I will have a free role,” he explained. “I will probably follow some of the guys going in the earlier attacks; Kolobnev was saying that he might want to attack further out, so maybe I will try to get in with him and Albasini and Tony will be the guys to mark the big favourites.”