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 Sep 3rd, 09. Hayden Roulston talks to RoadCycling.co.nz about team changes, a return to the Tour of Southland and his ambition to take the black NZ champion's jersey back to Europe.
Sarah Christian caught up with Roulston in between nappy changes for his newborn son Moses, and preparation for the Tour of Britain later this month.
With the phenomenal first Tour de France Roulston had this year, no one could question whether the kiwi would stay within the pro-peloton ranks.
Roulston in his first Tour de France stage (c)Todd Maddock
What we didn't think to question was whether that would be with his current team, Cervelo TestTeam, or another pro tour team.
"I have signed a two year deal with a very good team," said Roulston who can't disclose the name of that team quite yet.
"I'm excited and already I have had a lot of contact with them re next season. I always knew the 2009 was a transition year, readjusting etc," he said.
Update 6th Sept: Roulston has confirmed he will be racing for Columbia HTC.
Roulston, who says he never enters a race just to finish, expects to have lots of opportunities to win in Europe next year.
"2010 is where I hope to stamp my authority on the European scene. I feel ready to have a biggy so here's hoping."
The rest of the 2009 pro-season
Roulston next lines up for his current team in the Tour of Britain, 12th-19th September, where he hopes to be given the freedom to go for stage wins.
"I think I can do whatever [I want] in this race. I think it's a perfect race to start back in. A little lower key etc and a good test on my form. I want to come out of it going really well as the World's are only a week away," he said.
The UCI World Championships are on 27th September in Switzerland where Roulston expects to again race with the elites of the pro peloton in the 227km race.
What are Roulston's goals for the World's?
"It depends how the next race goes, and how my form is. If I feel good then I feel I can do a good race. The World's is a different race, own rules etc, it's not a normal race. It's basically a ramp test, with an explosion of some sort with 50kms to go. I will do the best I can do that's for sure."
Roulston returns to Tour of Southland
Once his European season is over Roulston plans on heading back to New Zealand around mid-October.
Despite saying he wouldn't return, Roulston has confirmed he will be racing the Tour of Southland again this November. The triple time title holder says it has been in the back of his mind to race the event for a while.
"When my best mate "Dream" [Marc Ryan] asked me to ride, I thought it was a great way to extend the season, whilst catching up with everyone back home," Roulston said. After what he calls a pretty lengthy break since the Tour de France, Roulston feels he would like to lengthen out the season.
Roulston is cagey over his goals for Southland, but with the champion attitude he showed in an interview for RoadCycling.co.nz as he stood on the top of Mt Ventoux on the penultimate day of the Tour de France, we all know he wants his team to win.
"I never came here just to finish. I don't start any race just to finish. I think an attitude like that ... you might as well not even turn up. I'm a winner and an achiever," Roulston said back in July.
"The team is super strong and if it means riding for one of them to win then that is what I'll do" The Ashburton rider said it will come down to how he feels when he arrives back in New Zealand. "For sure I know this race, and having won it three times in a row helps, but I want to enjoy it this year. Relax a bit. The team is super strong and if it means riding for one of them to win then that is what I'll do."
That super strong team will be different from The Southland Times-Trek team Roulston has raced for in the past.
"The team has totally changed. Not for any reason, but I knew Ron [Cheatley, CEO of Cyclesport NZ who distributes Trek bikes and manager of Roulston's previous team] wasn't going back down there, and if he was he probably wouldn't be happy with me on a Cervelo or a Scott bike! Just time for a change and time to enjoy it. I'm just going there to ride," he said.
Roulston says this year's European season will have him in great form physically and mentally for the week long Tour starting 2nd November.
"In past editions when I was pro, I would start my season [at Southland]. Literally the first day on the bike after my break was biking to the ttt [team time trial], but I wouldn't advise that! After the Tour de France I had a good break, a lot of relaxing so I'm mentally fresh."
NZ Elite Nationals - the first goal for 2010
"The jersey deserves to be in Europe and I want to wear it next year"After the Tour of Southland Roulston plans on taking a break of "three full weeks off" before starting his training for 2010.
The first goal of 2010 is the NZ Elite National's competition to be held in Christchurch in January. New Zealand missed having the black National Champion jersey amongst the Tour de France peloton, but Roulston has plans to rectify that for 2010.
"The jersey deserves to be in Europe and I want to wear it next year. This year I will go to win, no two ways about it", said Roulston.
"The race is on my training ground and it suits me well. It would mean a lot to have it [the black jersey] in Europe and I'll be ready for that course come January."
RoadCycling.co.nz will bring you the news of Roulston's new team as soon as it is made official.
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