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Juan Antonio Flecha
The popular and experienced Spaniard had a season to remember in 2011, gaining a number of quality results in the spring before reverting to the influential role which has characterised his career.
Flecha got off to a strong start at the Tour of Qatar, making his way into the decisive break before eventually claiming fourth place overall. The classics specialist then came within a whisker of defending his title at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, narrowly edged out on the line by Sebastian Langeveld.
An 11th place at the Tour of Flanders after a frantic finale was followed by ninth place overall at a dusty Paris-Roubaix – a consistent run through two of the toughest monuments to call in years.
Part of winning squads at the Critérium du Dauphiné and Eneco Tour, the 34-year-old again put his experience as a road captain to good use to help secure crucial victories for Bradley Wiggins and Edvald Boasson Hagen respectively.
The Spaniard was involved in an unfortunate accident during the Tour de France where he was hit by a television car while in the day’s breakaway on stage nine. Despite his injuries the 2003 Tour stage winner battled on to finish in Paris, gaining an entire new legion of fans in the process.
He says: “For me there is always a focus on the Spring Classics, especially Flanders and Roubaix and you have to start in really good shape if you want to be strong there.
“For the first part of the season these are my main goals. Later will come the Tour de France and I hope to make the team for the race. There are also some big races after the Tour but these are the long-term goals.
“Now the team is going into the third season. Everything is better settled, the team is more organised and everything moves quicker and more efficiently. It feels like now it is really rolling. In the training camp everyone is looking really motivated and I am excited to see how we can get on.”
