For the majority of Australian riders in the peloton, Girona has become a home away from home. Andorra has started to challenge the Spanish 'cycling mecca' in recent years with the added advantage of altitude.
For Miles Scotson, Spain wasn't a consideration when it came to packing his bags and setting up base in Belgium for his first year in the WorldTour with BMC Racing. The move has paid off for Scotson as he enters the final month of his neo-pro season with the American team.
The 2017 season started in dream fashion for Scotson as the 23-year-old ambushed his more experienced rivals in the final kilometres of the race to steal the Australian national title. While the win immediately took the pressure off, wearing the green and gold jersey has also helped Scotson to assert himself in the peloton and build his reputation.
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"Just to be a little bit more known can go a long way actually. In the peloton sometimes as a young rider, you want to build a good reputation as well and that is something I try to do," Scotson told Cyclingnews. "In the WorldTour, some riders can get off to a bad start and sometimes a bad reputation in the bunch can stay with you forever. I am already a bit known and I try to fit in well as I know it can be a long career. With the national jersey, I have had guys come up to me in races and ask how I am going and in the early season congratulate me on the national title. I think that was one of the better things about wearing that jersey."
Having completed a full schedule of race days in Australia to start his career, Scotson's focus turned to the cobbled classics. Having impressed the team with his work and dedication to the classics as his Belgium move suggested, Scotson earned selection for Milan-San Remo and Paris-Roubaix.
"I've forgotten how many times I've stayed up late and watched Roubaix before," he said. "Afterwards, I realised how special it was more than when I was riding it. Those two races were another level and made me respect other Australians like Mat Hayman or Stuart O'Grady who have come over and won a race like a Paris-Roubaix. Now I have more respect for what they did."
Worlds focus
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