Oct 13th, 09.

Meenhorst winning the GP Ganginsen Tour in Switzerland

The Under 23 rider spent the season based in Zurich, Switzerland racing for Team Hadimec.

Meenhorst's last race of the international season was the UCI World Championships U23 Road Race and now he's enjoying a few weeks catching up with friends across Europe before travelling back in New Zealand.

Best ride/result of the season?

I have had a few different "best results" of the season this year.

My personal best ride was a stage of GP Tell where I was in the move with all the favourites.

There were riders from BMC and other Pro Continental teams and there were only 10 of us total in the move.

I attacked solo up the final hill and held them off to the finish. I think it's the one of the few times where I have been able to hold off a group so that was really great for me.

Result wise, I think winning a stage, the mountains jersey and overall classification of a Swiss Elite race was maybe my best Elite/ Continental result.

My best professional result, and I think my strongest race of the season, was GP Prato a 1.1 that was extremely hilly. I finished 24th, outsprinting pro tour riders at the finish which was really cool.

Best experience (on or off the bike)?

"I think that was probably the coolest moment of my cycling career"I think my best experience this year was mid way through the season at a one day race in Italy. I felt really good and was going with all the attacks in the beginning. After a descent section of the race, and a lot of the moves going and coming back that I was mostly present in, nothing was sticking.

I decided to give my own little attack a go. I launched on a small hill and went hard for maybe 20 or so seconds before turning back to see what had happened. There was only two guys who came with me but as I lapped over to let them work, Allesandro Ballan and Ivan Basso lapped over me.

I think that was probably the coolest moment of my cycling career in terms of seeing that just last year I could never have imagined even being in the same race as these guys and now I'm going in breaks with them.

Were you happy with your 2009 International season?

I have been really happy with my international season as at the start of the year I had an injury that was preventing me from doing close to any training, and racing was almost pointless.

To then get that all fixed and get the experience and results I have had, I'm really happy. I was maybe a fraction disappointed with Worlds, that I couldn't keep up on the final lap, but I was happy with my end result!

When are you back in New Zealand?

I'm coming back to NZ at the start of December but sadly it won't be for as long as I had hoped. I have a training camp in early January and will be staying on from then until the end of the season in Europe. I will definitely be missing NZ this year!

Are you planning on riding; Tour of Southland, Taupo Classic, Festival of Cycling, Elite Nationals...?

This year I think I will only be able to ride Nationals and even that I'm not so sure if I will be able to do, because of the training camp, but I really hope I can because Nationals is always good fun!

Main goal for the NZ season?

Lots of surfing and beach time, catching up with friends and family and probably doing a bit more training than the usual training I do over December and January.

Related articles on Meenhorst's international season

• Jun 9th - Meenhorst talks Gippengen
• Jul 12th - Meenhorst shares three races across three countries
• Aug 9th - Meenhorst cleans up in Switzerland
• Aug 14th - Meenhorst talks tour win
• Sep 27th - Meenhorst shows his talent in Worlds U23 road race
• Oct 6th - Meenhorst reviews his World Championship race

Read the season round-ups of all the kiwi internationals..

Greg Henderson, Peter Latham, Alex Meenhorst, Tim Gudsell, OEX Team Enterprise, Matt Sillars, Roman Van Uden, Alex McGregor, Heath Blackgrove, Wade Mangham, Glen Chadwick, Genevieve Whitson, George Bennett, Logan Hutchings, Michael Torckler, Josie Giddens, Jesse Sergent, Tom David, Jack Bauer, Sam Bewley, Rushlee Buchanan, Clinton Avery, Ryan Wills, Cath Cheatley plus recent interviews with Alison Shanks, Hayden Roulston and Jo Kiesanowski. More to come...

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