After several weeks out with a knee injury Esteban Chaves is back on the bike and determined to line up for the Tour de France in July as Orica-Scott’s team leader.
Chaves picked up the injury in early spring and was forced to miss the Colombian nationals. The prolonged time off the bike saw him scarp plans to race in Europe during March, and after four weeks without riding, the 2016 Giro runner-up has confirmed he will return to action at either the Tour de Suisse or the Criterium du Dauphine in June.
“The knee is now good and a lot better than before,” he told Cyclingnews via Skype from his home in Colombia this morning.
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“It was a small injury and I’ve used the time to concentrate on areas I’ve not worked on much before, so swimming, gym, strength and core work. That’s all really helped and now I’m back on the bike for almost a month come this next Monday.”
Chaves’ stellar 2016 season saw him finish on the podium in both the Giro and the Vuelta a Espana, with an Il Lombardia title thrown in for good measure. This campaign is centred on the Tour de France, where Chaves plans to make his debut later this summer. According the Orica climber the plan was never in doubt, despite the prolonged time off the bike. He admits that he is currently far from his best but that with time to train with two injury-free knees, he should be back up to speed in a matter of weeks.
“The pain has completely gone but I still feel shit on the bike. Tut that’s normal,” he told Cyclingnews.
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