Eduardo Sepulveda proved to be a revelation of 2015 season's opening weeks, winning the Boucles Sud Ardèche on February 28. Bretagne-Séché Environnement strongly believe that Argentinian climber is a future of the Pro Continental squad and hope that he will show his impressive potential in the Paris-Nice this week.
Sepulveda revealed that he felt a lot of pressure in the beginning of the 2015 season due to bad luck he suffered last year, and thus claiming a victory so early was tremendously important for him.
„I'm just more relaxed now,” Sepulveda told in the interview for Bretagne-Séché Environnement official website. „Last year wasn't a good one for me. I wasn't able to heal my knee injury on time to participate in my first Tour de France. Despite this, Emmanuel Hubert didn't lose confidence he had in me. It's satisfying, but also puts additional pressure.”
„I wanted to win quickly. It happened in the end of February, which was perfect. Thanks to this, I'm a little bit calmer.”
Even though the Argentinian climber participated in Paris-Nice only once, he turned out to be perfectly aware of the specificity of the French WorldTour race.
„This is an incredibly nervous race, especially during the first two-three days when the sprinters and their teams want to succeed before moving to more hilly terrain,” Sepulveda explained even before Tom Boonen pulled out of the race as a victim of a sleepy first stage. „This is a first event of a year with a huge media coverage and it increases a pressure in the bunch. Last year, it eased off no sooner than on the fourth day.”
While last season's Paris-Nice course was tailor made for classics specialists, race organizers decided to return to more traditional course this year with the general classification to be decided on the Cross-de-Chaubouret climb and final individual time trial atop Col d'Eze. The Bretagne-Séché Environnement leader was obviously pleased with an inclusion of the mountaintop finish.
„I appreciate an inclusion of the 10-kilometre long climb (Cross-de-Chaubouret). I think that Col d'Eze might be favourable for me as well, but strangely enough I've never ridden any uphill chrono since turning professional. I look forward to it.”
Asked about his objectives for the French WorldTour event, Sepulveda without any hesitation pointed out to top 10 spot in the general classification and a stage victory.
„A top 10 overall,” the Argentine confirmed. „And if an opportunity arrives to fight for a stage victory, I'll try to play all cards I have.”
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