Sunday 31 January 2016 14:05, UK
Ian Boswell's raring to get his fourth season under way at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, and is looking to build on a stellar 2015.
Ian Boswell is raring to get his fourth season as a professional under way at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race on Sunday, and is looking to build on a stellar 2015 which saw him come of age as a rider.
Boswell marked himself out as one of Team Sky's most valued domestiques last season by helping achieve victories in no less than four races, and the American also wrapped up three top-10 finishes himself in the process, as well as making his Grand Tour debut.
Those results - which included third place on a mountainous 11th stage of the Vuelta a Espana - earned the 24 year old a new two-year deal and he is now looking to go from strength to strength when he returns to action on Sunday.
Ian jetted in to Australia earlier this week and we caught up with him to see how he's been finding it, to learn about about his ambitions for the upcoming campaign, and how he hopes to end it with a bang.
How are you enjoying your first time Down Under?
It's really nice to be down here, especially with the summer weather - it makes a nice change from Europe. It's refreshing to come somewhere new, and we've got a good group of guys here which makes it even more enjoyable.
Are you struggling with jet lag at all?
I landed late on Monday and honestly, I haven't suffered any at all. I'm pretty lucky.
And how are you finding the Victorian roads?
The coastal roads remind me of those in Northern California around Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa. The towns that we ride through also look similar to back home in the States, and it's only when you get inland and it gets more arid that you remember you're in Australia.
Have you seen any of the local wildlife yet on your rides?
We saw some dead kangaroos on the side of the road yesterday, but I haven't seen any live ones yet I'm afraid. No koalas either. I'm jealous because the guys who rode the Tour Down Under apparently saw a lot of them. I think it might be a bit too cold down here for them.
How are you feeling ahead of your first race of the season?
I'm good to go I think. I had a hard block of training in Nice over Christmas and New Year, and then ramped things up even more at the team's training camp in Mallorca. I'm looking forward to getting started. The Cadel race looks like a fun one - a one-day race in warm weather which will allow me to see where I'm at before the Herald Sun Tour.
Will you be playing a similar role in both those races?
At the Cadel race our leader will be Ben Swift. He's an amazing sprinter - one of the fastest guys in the peloton - so my main job will be keeping him well positioned, especially if there's crosswinds throughout the day. Luke [Rowe] and Pete [Kennaugh] were also up there last year, so I'll be helping those guys too, and then at the Herald Sun Tour it'll be all about Froomey.
He's motivated to ride well and it'd be great if he could start his season with a win. My job in that race will be helping to pace him on the harder stages when we hit those climbs.
Do you feel more pressure to perform when you're riding with Chris?
Not really. I've built up a good friendship with him over the years and he's a good leader. He's friendly, easy-going, and that makes him the perfect guy to work for. Everybody knows he can deliver the goods as well, and having that confidence in someone raises the motivation right throughout the team.
Can it be hard to get going again mentally at the start of a new season?
Sometimes. I had a good finish to last season, signed a new contract, and maybe went into the winter a little too relaxed. Reality hit at the start of this year though and I've been working really hard since then to make sure I'm at the level I need to be at. I'm feeling good now, my numbers in training have been good, so now it's a case of seeing how things translate in a race situation.
What are your goals for the first half of the season?
Riding the Giro is a big goal for me, supporting Mikel Landa there. I learned a lot from Nico [Roche] and Christian [Knees} at the Vuelta on how to manage my energy over a three-week period and I'm looking forward to doing a job for Mikel in mountains. The last three stages are on climbs which I'm familiar, so hopefully my knowledge will be a big asset on those. Generally though, I want to be as reliable as possible over the full race and play a valued role in the team.
And once the Giro is over?
Once the Giro is done I'd love to be able to lead a team in a different race and hopefully win something before the season is out.
Find out who'll be riding the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, the Herald Sun Tour, and our other upcoming races right HERE.
