After nine years in French teams, Pierre Rolland decided to join Cannondale Pro Cycling this winter. He made the surprise move to the American team. In an interview with Cyclingnews, he tells that his new team jas opened his eyes to evolution and he believes he can add another 10 per cent to his performance.

At Cannondale, he has a different approach to racing. "Last year I rode 95 race days and this year it is very low. I have just ridden a few races. Before, I was preparing to race in the races, but now I am preparing to race in training. This is probably the biggest thing for me. Before I was starting my season in February and doing race after race, but now I do one small race in February, then a month’s training, another race and then three weeks training."

Rolland has currently had 21 race days. "In Europcar it was very much a family team, and it was 90 per cent French riders. In here, there are 15 nationalities and all sorts of environments. It’s very good for opening your mind, speaking a new language and it is a very big change."

He had to learn English quickly. "In October, I arrived at the first camp in Aspen not speaking English, and now I speak a little bit. I understand ok, and I am able to speak to my teammates or in meetings. I was a little bit apprehensive that I wouldn’t be able to understand, or that I wouldn’t be able to communicate."

Even if he is 29 years old, he thinks he can progress at Cannondale. "I think in the last two years, I didn’t make too much progress. I had good results every year but not the best. I don’t think I was 100 per cent in myself, and I think that I was only at 90 per cent each time. In this team, I am looking for that final 10 per cent for the best results," said Rolland. "I got into a routine, and I wanted to move for a change, for evolution, to open my mind to something different, and a new environment, tactics and training. We start a new challenge, and I have new objectives."

He will be present at the start of the Tour de Romandie. Then he will stay in the Alps for a training camp. His main goal is the Tour de France. He would like improve his best result (8th in 2012). "Top five is good. Climber’s jersey, I don’t know. Maybe I can win one stage. Any of these will be good for me. It’s too long away to think about it. You don’t want to be thinking about it 300 days before."