Strong Breschel feels good for Worlds

By Bjorn Haake in Ponferrada

CSC-Saxo Bank's Matti Breschel made the successful escape of Vuelta a España's stage 15 – 202 kilometres from Cudillero to Ponferrada. The Danish rider didn't have the legs to pull off a win, but feels he is ready for the World Championships.

"It looks good for the World Championships. It was a tough and long day out there, but I am glad I made the final selection," he explained to Cyclingnews after placing seventh for the stage. "In the first time in I don't know how many years we will have six riders. We should have a really strong team."

His preparation for the Worlds in Varese, Italy, came together perfectly. "After the Vuelta I will take a couple of days off, maybe only do one hour, and just sleep. I won't be doing any specifically hard training before the Worlds. Maybe one long ride of four and a half to five hours, with some efforts, but that's it.

"I know the course of the World Championships already. It is a good course, but also a bit tricky, especially if the weather is bad."

Good Spanish weather blessed Breschel in his Worlds preparations. "Usually, I don't suffer from the heat, just from the climbs... The last climb [stage 15's Lombillo] was a little bit too tough for me," Breschel said.

"If my legs are good I will try again. ... I can't help to be a little bit disappointed with today's result."

The Vuelta helped him reach optimum form for Varese. "I am feeling better and better. Definitely, much better than at the beginning of the race."