Mayo happy about season start

By Monika Prell

Iban Mayo is satisfied with the beginning of his season and draws a positive note of his debut in Paris-Nice. "I did not go well, but I believe that I showed some good condition. I am in better competition form than the years before at this same time. This was not Mallorca or Andalucía, there was a high level and we went very fast every day."

According to the Spanish newspaper Marca, the Saunier Duval-Prodir rider is pleased to be riding so well and so early. He said that he has never been "good so early in the season. Being in front with the high level we had satisfied me."

The Basque star is unhappy about his crash in the last stage that forced him to abandon the race, above all because he liked the day's profile. He admitted to some suffering as a result of the crash. "I feel pain but we had exams to exclude any fractures of the elbow." According to todociclismo.com, Mayo does not suffer any fractures, but he has pain in his hip, his head and the ribs.

"We went one after another," Mayo continued of the crash. "The crowds were too big, so we could not see the traffic island. I fell and then four or five other cyclists fell on me. I suffered a big knock".

His next goals will be the Vuelta al País Vasco and the Giro d'Italia, where he will aid two-time champion Gilberto Simoni. "I always had the chance to win the Vuelta al País Vasco, and this year our objective is to win this race, either myself or a teammate."

Though, his major goal this year will be the Giro, where he will participate for the first time in his career. "I think that I will be in a good competition form in the Vuelta al País Vasco, but my objective is to arrive at 100 percent for the Giro. I know that in April I perhaps won't be on my highest level, but the Giro really motivates me because I have never participated and I want to start well", he concluded.