Team Giant-Alpecin rider Luka Mezgec is hoping to shake off the winter blues and get the cycling season off to a flyer at the Dubai Tour which starts tomorrow.
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The Slovenian arrived in the UAE yesterday and he is hoping that this year’s team can replicate the success they had in 2014, when Germany’s Marcel Kittel won three of the four stages at the event for the team.
American Taylor Phinney won only one stage of last year’s Dubai Tour, but the BMC Racing Team member went on to claim the overall victory at the event.
Mezgec feels this year’s German backed team line-up possesses a good blend of youth and experience, with the 26-year-old joined as a lead rider by Germany’s John Degenkolb, who returns after competing at last year’s Dubai Tour.
Mezgec also singled out new recruits like veteran Dutch rider Roy Curvers, 35, and young Belgian talent Zico Waeytens, 23.
“The team is mixed, we have the new riders in Zico and the experience of Roy and we will try to get a result, but I’m not sure if we can win,” added Mezgec.
“It is the first race of the season for everyone and, because it’s the first race, it is difficult to predict and to know what to expect.”
Mezgec enjoyed a stage win at last year’s Giro d’Italia, one of cycling’s three Grand Tours.
He is predicting that Etixx-Quick Step’s British rider Mark Cavendish, along with new Team Sky recruit Elia Viviani, will be two of
the main men to watch in Dubai this week, although because it is the first event of the season, he believes anyone is capable of winning.
#DubaiTour2015 #LineUp @RoyCurvers @johndegenkolb @j_froe @ChadHaga @ThierryHUPOND @tludvigsson @lukamezgec @ZicoWaeytens #KeepChallenging
— Team Giant-Alpecin (@GiantAlpecin) February 2, 2015
“The key will be to see if we have benefitted from the winter,” he said.
“Training has been really good, the weather was really good in Spain. Some riders get their rhythm back quickly but some others, like me, need more time.
“We have no clear tactics yet and I am not sure if I’m going to be the main guy for the sprint yet, but I am prepared and the team is prepared for the race.
“We’ve had a nice welcome, there’s nice weather here in Dubai, the temperature is perfect and it’s my first time here in Dubai and I’m looking forward to it.”
Mezgec joined several Giant team-mates at Dubai’s Ride Bike Shop yesterday for a meet and greet with fans and members of the general public, put on by team sponsors Dubai Desert Extreme.
The Dubai Tour runs from February 4-7.
