Stefan Schumacher is optimistic for the 2012 season after a terrific start at the Tour de San Luis 2012
Stefan Schumacher is hopeful for the season ahead as he returns to professional cycling after serving a two-year-ban.
The cyclist was tested positive for EPO-CERA during the Tour de France 2008 and also at the Beijing Olympics but he never admitted the charges. However, the German confessed that he made a few mistakes early on in his career.
He told Sporten.dk, “I made mistakes, everyone makes mistakes. It is quite certain that I didn't do everything right. But I cannot change the situation”.
The German started riding professionally with Team Telekom in 2002 and stayed with the side for a period of two years.
He also represented Team Lamonta (2004), Team Shimano-Memory Corp (2005), Team Gerolsteiner (2006-2008) and Team Miche-Silver Cross-Selle Italia (2010-2011).
Schumacher marked his professional return in 2011 and grabbed a number of victories, including the two stage wins at the Vuelta a Asturias and the two stages of the Azerbaijan International Cycling Tour 2011.
He finished third at the GP Kanton Aargau and 8th overall at the Settimana Internazionale di Coppi e Bartali in the previous season.
Stefan accepted an offer from the Danish side, Team Christina Watches-Ofone, for the 2012 season and is positive to start the new season on a high note.
On commenting about the new team, Schumacher mentioned that he is comfortable with the Danish side, as it gives him many opportunities to learn in the season ahead.
He cited, “There is a willingness to develop and improve the team, there are some really talented riders and when we rode the Tour of San Luis under sports director Michael Blaudzun it was well-organized throughout”.
The 30-year-old started the 2012 season at the Tour de San Luis and claimed the fourth overall position, with a deficit of 1 minute and 34 seconds behind the race leader.
Levi Leipheimer won the race while Alberto Contador and Daniel Diaz claimed the second and the third positions, respectively.
Contador’s disqualification from all the victories since the Tour de France 2008 will ultimately result in the third overall position for the German cyclist.
He also finished amongst the top ten during the five stages of the race and briefed that the Argentinean race was amongst the best race experiences of his life.
Stefan has shown interest to divert his attention back to the classics and the Grand Tours for the 2012 season but his participation is subject to the wild card invitations received by the Danish team.
Tags: