Ivan Basso has rejected suggestions that he is way off track in his preparations for the Tour de France, reasoning that while he is a distant 89th overall in the Dauphiné, that he still has time to turn things around.
“I am the first to criticize myself. But I know myself. Despite all the time conceded [in the Dauphiné], I feel well. I recovered well,” he told La Gazetta Dello Sport.
Basso took objection to a statement in yesterday’s paper, when the writer suggested that perhaps he believed that he has ‘the gift of metamorphosis.’ He rejects this suggestion. “In cycling, there is no metamorphosis. There is only work,” he insisted, being sensitive to any suggestions – perceived or otherwise – that he could use banned methods to get ready for the Tour. “I have already won the Giro, I don’t use a magic wand. I did not need transformation. I need work.”
The Liquigas-Cannondale rider has lost time steadily during the race. He finished only 102nd in the prologue, conceding 34 second to Lars Boom (Rabobank), then shed three minutes nine seconds with his 117th place on the first mountain stage to Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse. The following day was flatter but he still lost one minute 13 seconds.
The time trial was the most worrying stage, though; despite working hard on his aerodynamics over the past two years, he dropped a staggering six minutes 16 seconds to Tony Martin, placing 135th. "It was a difficult time trial and I was lacking rhythm. I am here to find it again. I am interested in quantity, not quality,” he said.
Basso won the Giro d’Italia last year but sacrificed the chance to defend his title this time round as he wanted to make a big push for the Tour de France. Although he finished second and third in the past, that was prior to his implication in Operácion Puerto and suspension from the sport.
He felt that his 32nd place last year was not representative of what he could do, and so gave his home Tour a miss this year to get ready.
Those plans were certainly complicated by a crash while training on Mount Etna in May. Basso received 15 stitches (pictured) and was sidelined from the bike for a while. “My fall on Etna affected me physically, but it also disrupted my plans,” he conceded. “I am lacking a week of work. At the same time, I do not shout from the rooftops that I will fly on the Tour. But I will do everything I can do to take advantage of the time I have left. And I still have time: the first Col isn’t until 32 days from now.”
The race continues today with the first of three mountain stages. He knows that more tough hours lie ahead, but is hoping that he will get some encouragement. Basso said that he’s hoping for “a ray of light, a sign that I'm on the right track.” If he gets that, it will make the remaining weeks of training a little easier. If not, he’ll have to dig deep to keep his morale up.