Mikkel Christensen of www.Procycling.dk caught up with Quick.Step's new talent José Antonio Pecharroman to find out what the promising Spaniard was up to for 2005.
After a fantastic 2003 season in which he won the Volta a Catalunya and Euskal Bizikleta, Pecharroman was less successful in 2004. "2003 was a terrific season!" he says. "Last year I was unlucky due to some physical problems, but this year I want to confirm my 2003 season."
With Quick.Step a part of the ProTour this year the team is expected to broaden its scope from the Classics and Tour de France stage wins, and Pecharroman will be part of that. He says he joined the team from Costa de Almeria, "Because it is an international team where I can develop and fight with the best riders of the peloton. It is exciting to ride alongside a such great riders as Bettini or Boonen."
Describing himself as "an all-round rider but I want to develop in all the specialties," Pecharroman says he will be, "free to play my cards, for example in the Spanish races," with Quick.Step.
Pecharroman will start the season with the Record-Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen, (March 3-6), before riding the Settimana Ciclistica Internazionale (March 22-26), Vuelta al Pais Vasco (April 4-8), Tour de Romandie (April 26-May 1) and the Giro d'Italia (May 7-29). He's not targeting any one of those races in particular though. He says his season goals are, "Do my best and win a race; doesn't matter what race and to do a great Vuelta Espana."
