Bora-Argon 18’s time trial specialist Jan Barta doesn’t get many opportunities to ride for himself. But the Czech champion against the clock is always capable of winning against the clock and after finishing third in the Tour’s long TT last year, he says he is looking to do even better in tomorrow’s opening event, he tells CyclingQuotes suits him.

The 30 year old says he hasn’t enjoyed the best start to 2015 due to illness, but ever since a strong Bayern-Rundfahrt performance he has really picked his level up. He says he is coming into good shape for the Tour de France.

“Since I was ill in the beginning of the season, it didn’t start very well. In Dunkerque I returned and at the Tour of Bavaria I got third in GC, so I could consider myself as being on a good way. Now I feel super good as one could see in the ITT Nationals which I won.”

Barta also showed his class against the clock when he took third in the Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen prologue before taking fourth on GC a few days later.

As for the time trial, he only gets one shot at winning it, just like last year, and he says this is his moment to shine in front of the watching eyes of the world. But his chances wont be limited to the opening stage.

“Tomorrow, all hopes are of course on me. Everyone expects me to ride fast. So this will be my big moment. Afterwards I will support our two leaders, Sam (Bennett) for the sprint and Dominik (Nerz) for the GC. At the more selective stages I will get a chance to try something. So I will for sure head for a decisive group.”

Barta admits that he would prefer to ride a course like the 2012 and 2013 editions, which both featured two time trials and there was also a prologue in the 2012 edition. However, he is happy to be on the start line in Utrecht and will ride any course he is given.

“With just a short ITT and a TTT it could be better for me but I am here to race and I take every course the organizers give me.”

Briefly taking a step back from the Tour, he spoke about Czech cycling. At the Tour, fellow Czechs Roman Kreuziger, Leopold Konig and Zdenek Stybar, join Barta. And despite not riding the Tour, young Petr Vakoc has just finished the Giro, taken third in the European Road Race and won the Czech Road Race. The country’s cycling future looks secure. Barta says this is and he enjoys the personal benefits this brings him.

“I believe czech cycling got more and more attention and awareness in the past years. For me it is nice as I am also getting more attention. Many people watching cycling on TV now and like this also see my performances.”