He could have said yes to contract extension with Astana, and he could have said yes to the other teams. Yet you chose Danish cyklings second name, Michael Valgren, in august to sign a contract with a south african Dimension Data.
he explained that he was happy to switch to a team that bet on the classics, while Ekstra cykelekspert, Michael Rasmussen, pointed out that the shift probably was due to lønposen was greater.
Now comes Valgren so even with a third explanation of the shift to the Dimension of the Data.
– They were very interested in me, and I had a good chat with the sports director Rolf Aldag. I had two good years with Astana, but I felt that something was missing, says Valgren in a great interview with Velonews.com.
– This team was so interested, and I’m a geek when it comes to equipment.
– I heard that they would run on BMC bikes and all the best equipment.
– In cycling today, we are all so equal, then it is these small differences, which sometimes can be the difference on winning or not to do it.
– It is almost a bit like Formula 1. The equipment was the main reason why I wanted to switch. I train like crazy every day, and I wanted to run on the best bike, said Valgren.
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Michael Valgren won the Amstel Gold Race in april last year. Photo: Ritzau/Scanpix/MARCEL VAN HOORN
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In cykelmiljøet there stories about that individual drivers are so indifferent to the technique, that they can’t patch the tire after a puncture – well, actually interested in the bike. But such is the Valgren not.
– more and More of us are geeky and goes into the kind of here. Everyone is obsessed with their Garmin and aerodynamics. All will be in the top with these things, but it is the small details that victory is.
I am convinced that it is often the difference between winning or becoming the number three and four. And through a long stage race, so you save much energy over the course of three weeks.
– ultimately you may have saved quite a few phase energy. Things like suits and aerodynamics makes a big difference, says Valgren.
the surprising move fell into place in august last year, so it was not otherwise equipped, as Valgren focused on as the reason for the shift.
– This is a great opportunity for me to switch to a team that is so keen on building on their team for the classics. I’m really looking forward to working with the guys on the team, and I see a big future for me here, said Valgren at the time.
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Michael Valgren being interviewed for TV2 during the Tour de France. Photo: Polfoto/Claus Bonnerup
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Those explanation bought Michael Rasmussen, however, did not at that time.
– He has had ample opportunity to keep the focus on the classics in Astana at least, so I wonder if it in fact is that there has been a proper bag of money involved in the decision, said the cash from ’the Chicken’.
– I think that Astana has given a really good meaning for him until now. I think that what gives the fine sense to him, is, that there is a proper paycheck. The team must in each case be further reinforced if he is to have a sporting profit out of it, said Rasmussen at the time.
Astana’s team manager Dmitry Fofonov has previously alluded to, that it was the money that lured Valgren away from Astana to Dimension Data.
– Renewal of contracts are always complicated with finances, personal goals, promises and so on. You also need to think about the internal collaboration of the team. You can buy all stjernerytterne, but can they cooperate? It is first and last the most important thing, said Fofonov in november in an interview with velo-club.net.
in General, have Astana got harder to compete economically in the field.
– I can’t say that Astana is a small team, but if a rider demands ten million, so is it not the case that we have them in the back pocket and just gives them away. There must be fairness. Any rider has its value, and we can’t just throw money out through the window, said Fofonov at the time.
1. January joined Valgren so at Dimension Data and become part to live up to, if he must copy the 2018 season.
Here won Valgren both Amstel Gold Race and Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. This year, the goal is something else.
– During which I will win, is Flanders Around – 100 percent, says Valgren in the new interview with Velonews.
He is attacking the new season in the same way as last year. After Australia he will run in the Algarve, Belgium, Tirreno Adriatico, and all the classics except Paris-Roubaix – to the Liége-Bastogne-Liége.
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