– When did you feel it was time for you to hit the highway? Or have you been preparing for this since childhood, but now the time has come?
– The life of a cyclist, in principle, takes place largely on the highway. As they say, being a driver of my profile, even if you win medals, titles and a name on the track, you realize yourself more and still earn money on the highway.
– When did you feel that you were ready to reach a new level in this regard?
– Last year, when there were some successes in road racing, but not at such a high level. And then it became interesting for me to test my strength in World Tour races. And the Astana Qazaqstan team at a certain time was ready to give me this opportunity. There was a chance to check out what I will look like against the background of those same “uncles”.
– By the way, here’s a question. Did you find yourself next to these very cool “uncle” sprinters, what feelings did you have – “God, it would be better if I was sitting on the track”?
On the contrary, I was interested. These races that I ran as a trainee are a great experience. During three multi-day events with the team, my eyes were opened in general to how they work on the World Tour. Before, you were thinking of riding a bike, but it turns out that you just went to kindergarten (laughs).
– Many people talk about such feelings after going “pro”. But how does this translate in practice?
It’s like heaven and earth. This manifests itself from the service – there are a lot of staff, masseurs, nutritionists, mechanics, managers, all of them of high class and with vast experience – to the construction of tactics for the race. Everyone has their own task and you have to complete it from and to.
– Have you ever used the services of a nutritionist?
– He listened to advice, but did not take everything seriously. But after riding at such a level, I understand how important every little thing is. And nutrition is very important.
What did you have to change in your diet?
– I realized that I needed to eat less sweets. It’s difficult for me to climb with a weight of 90 kg, but I feel that there will be a lot of mountains. Yes, and in principle you need to eat what is important from the point of view of the functionality of the body. Each has its own characteristics.
– Since you remembered sweets, then you like it all.
– Very (laughs).
– You trained with Alexander Anatolyevich Kuznetsov. What we know about preparation methods is a huge load. It works for you?
– On this I, roughly speaking, and left. If you work according to the program given by Alexander Anatolyevich, it is a chic base to join the World Tour. I have a lot to add, but the base is large and it saves.
— What are your ambitions in terms of specialization? It’s clear that a sprinter, but what about a sprinter, so to speak, with a wide range?
” It’s my aim. Pure sprint reduces rider options. These are flat races and flat stages on stage races. My goal is to prove myself in classic Belgian and French races, where the course is hilly, the wind is strong, where the group is subdued and you have to have good individual movement and performance over the distance.
I would like to try my hand at races with a separate start. When it’s loud and across the plain – why not?
– Have you adapted your life to a new place? Or have you already understood what and how since the days of Lokomotiv? Where will you be based?
Yes, indeed, we spent a lot of time in Spain. I think in the cold season it will be just Spain, and when it gets warmer, from the second half of March – in Italy, so that I can train normally. Where we live there are more mountains and the power base is mostly in the mountains.
Source : MatchTV
