After a remarkable 2014 season, Esteban Chaves (Orica-GreenEdge) wants to continue to his growth in 2015 and wants to be more consistent and competitive in his major goals reaching more regularly and competitive maturity to face major challenges. The Colombian rider is set to make his Giro d'Italia and will have the Vuelta a Espana as his main goal

 

With the Giro-Vuelta double on his schedule, Chaves has started his season late. He did his first racing in France last weekend. From his training base in Girona, he outlines how things are going. “I have never had this kind of preparation. After two training camps, one in Alicante in January and one in South Africa in February, we started late. We will see. I'm still very young and do not know my body too well. Let's see how it reacts during the season. If I am successful, we will continue along this path; if not, we will change it, "he explains.

 

He did two races, Classic Sud-Ardeche and Drome Classic, but he suffered in the climatic conditions. “They were very cold and not suited to my qualities, with close races, technical descents, a bit like the classics. We came from a training camp in South Africa with 30-35 degrees and were riding in 2-3 degrees and rain which is a big contrast, but in general the sensations were good," he says.

 

He already knows his schedule. "Strade Bianche, GP Nobili, Volta a Catalunya, Vuelta al Pais Vasco and possibly Liege. Then I will do the Giro d'Italia. After the Tour of Switzerland, I will return to Colombia to prepare for the Vuelta and then I will go back just like I did last year."

 

His priority is to "be a little more consistent than last year." "This year I want to do well in the Vuelta. In this first strong block (Catalonia and Pais Vasco) I will try to get more maturity to see if I can go for GC in the Vuelta. The first goal is to do well in Catalunya. I know the route: the most important stages are always the stage to Molina which I know from last year, the final circuit in Barcelona, ​​and of course, the day that begins and ends in Girona.”

 

Last year he made his Vueltadebut and now he will do the Giro for the first time. "The team will focus on the first stage and the first days. Last year Orica-GreenEdge won three stages and had the leader’s jersey for many days. I want to discover the Giro that everyone says is the hardest of the three grand tours," he says.

 

In 2014, Chaves stood out with his two wins atthe Tour of California and the Tour of Switzerland and his third place in the Tour of Beijing. "The two victories last year were amazing. In the last six months of the season, I had the consistency of a mature rider and that's what I would like to have again but for much longer. For this, we have trained well and we have focused on the preparation," he says.

 

Last year he had his first taste of grand tour racing. "At first, it was very hard, especially for the head. After ten days, I was cooked and I felt that the others were stronger. I had to choose my moments. I think the first grand tour is the hardest. It should be better in the future – at least I hope so,” he says.

 

Giro, Tour or Vuelta? Which one is his favourite? “It’s where I can do best. Colombians are good climbers but there are exceptions like Gaviria. To do the Tour? It is the most important race – without taking anything away from the Giro and the Vuelta – and the Tour is the Tour. I just want to take it step by step and tackle that race in the future,” he confirms