Alexander Kristoff plans to ride what he describes as a "fake February Grand Tour" as he makes his debut with UAE Team Emirates and kicks off his 2018 season.
The 30-year-old Norwegian believes that combining the Dubai Tour (February 6-11), the Tour of Oman (Feb 13-18) and the Abu Dhabi Tour (Feb 20-25) into one block of racing will give him the foundation of form and early success he needs to again be at his best for the spring Classics.
"It's like riding a fake Grand Tour in February but with extra rest days, it's not fake racing, it's going to be hard," Kristoff tells Cyclingnews in an exclusive interview.
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"I hope to come out it with good shape like I did after last year's Tour de France. After a difficult Tour, I won the RideLondon Classic and had a good final part of the season. I need to race a lot and I hope my 'fake Grand Tour', followed by Paris-Nice, will get me ready for the Classics. Milan-San Remo is my first big goal but I'll keep going until Paris-Roubaix."
Kristoff's fallout with Katusha-Alpecin was well documented and he is ready to start a new chapter of his career at UAE Team Emirates. As current European road race champion, Kristoff will wear a star-spangled all-white kit. His new jersey is only one aspect of a pivotal moment in his career.
"It's exciting to make a change. It's all a little different for now, with new teammates, new people and new equipment but it feels good to start something new. It's exciting and it's a boost of extra motivation," Kristoff says, carefully to avoid any polemics with his old team but making it clear he was happy to move on and have more control of his career.
Why UAE Team Emirates?
No regrets about losing to Sagan in Bergen
Leaner and fitter
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
via Cyclingnews Latest Interviews and Features http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/kristoff-plans-a-february-grand-tour-for-uae-team-emirates-debut
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