Robbie McEwen on His Tirreno-Adriatico Stage 1 Win

No Comments | March 15th, 2007 | Trackback

The original interview with Robbie McEwen came from Tuttobiciweb, and was translated by the husband:

McEwen: I anticipated the sprint, it went well

Robbie McEwen smiles in the post-stage press conference and he explains:

I remembered the finish well from two years ago, when Petacchi won and I was third, so I asked Rodriguez to follow me in that curve and to make a hole in Milram’s train: it went well and I won. I am coming through a difficult period, because in January I suffered bronchitis and sinusitis, but for the first time Monday I felt better and the feelings today were really good even on the climb. I knew that the finishing straight was curved so I preferred to take the initiative rather than to wait.

A dangerous curve? Not for me, for the others perhaps yes and this was able to make the difference. Now I will dedicate this week to regaining better form ahead of San Remo. Certainly, I will try to win it, but it isn’t an obsession. Up till now for a lot of reasons I have not been competitive [at MSR], either breaks started, or terrible conditions, or physical problems as last year, when I raced with a broken rib.

How did Petacchi look? Good. I raced with him in Qatar, at Algarve and at Valencia: Don’t forget that he had a terrible accident and you journalists at times are quick to judge. Petacchi remains a great adversary.

The favorite for San Remo? For me it’s Pozzato: he impressed me in Belgium, he is very powerful, and often in a small group he is the fastest.

Is my team weak? I believe that today we demonstrated the opposite, in particular with Cioni and Rodriguez and don’t forget that we had to do it down a man such as Zanini…