Sylvain Chavanel aiming the Paris-Nice 2012
Sylvain Chavanel is aiming Paris-Nice as the main goal for the coming season. The cyclist will start his 2012 campaign at the Tour de San Luis, next week, but his main target will be the French stage race, scheduled in March.
“Like a lot of riders, my first objective is going to be Paris-Nice really, it’s the race that really starts my season, and from there until the end of April is the first really important period of the year for me,” he explained.
Sylvain started his professional career in 2000 and represented Team Bonjour for a period of five years.
He remained with the French side, Team Cofidis, from 2005-08, and finally joined Team Omega Pharma-Quick Step in 2009.
Chavanel claimed the National Road Race Championships in 2011, along with an impressive second place finish at the Tour of Flanders 2011.
He finished 4th at the Three Days of De Panne and held the red jersey at the Vuelta a Espana from stage 4-7.
Sylvain will continue his fourth consecutive season with the Belgian side through 2012. The French stated that he will be happy to claim a stage win at the race, along with a top podium position.
The route for the 2012 edition of race has yet to be announced, although some stages have been leaked by the French media.
The all-time famous, Col d’ Eze time will be included in the coming edition of the race on the final day.
Chavanel stated, “There’s the time trial on the Col d’Eze and all that, so it’s a real Paris-Nice, a bit of a return to the past. It’s a nice route. Maybe they wanted to put more difficulties on the route in order to avoid having a boring race like last
year”.
Paris-Nice, also referred as "the race to the sun", is being held since 1933. Belgian rider, Alfons Schepers, won the first edition of the race and is considered as the most successful cyclist at the event. He won the race for seven consecutive years, 1982
to 1988.
The 32-year-old’s best performance at the race was back in 2009, he finished third overall and also claimed the leader’s jersey, along with the third stage of the race.
Chavanel is hopeful to take his 2009 performance one step higher at the Paris-Nice 2012.
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