Karsten Kroon Believes In Spring Classic Success
Omega Pharma – Quick-Step | January 11, 2012
Born and raised in Holland, Karsten Kroon initiated his professional career at Rabobank but made the transition to former Danish Team CSC where he had a great period of his career conquering numerous top results during the spring classics. As a spring classic expert, his resume holds two top five results in Amstel Gold Race, fourth place in Ronde van Vlaandern, third place in Fleche Wallone, a fourth place in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne as well as wins in Rund um den Henninger Turm and stage wins in Vuelta a Castilla y Leon and Tour de France. In addition, he played a crucial tactically superb role in 2006 leading former teammate, Frank Schleck to win Amstel Gold Race.
After a two year long stay at Team BMC, 35-year-old Karsten Kroon has returned home to Team Saxo Bank where he had his best results so far:
”I've always admired and believed in the way Bjarne (Riis) and the rest of the team is working throughout the season and the way they handle the riders and logistics and I missed being around. During the Israeli teambuilding, I was confirmed in my beliefs and re-experienced how well they're treating the riders at Team Saxo Bank,” says the Dutch Tour de France stage winner.
Kroon has lived in Belgium for eleven years with his Belgian wife and their two kids but despite the exodus from Holland, he has been a part of the Dutch national team and participated in 11 consecutive world championships and two Olympic Games wearing the Dutch colors. This Spring, the experienced rider's knowledge and will power is going to be crucial for Team Saxo Bank in order to achieve success:
”Well, the plan so far is that I'm to do the Mallorca Challenge and Tour of Algarve before launching off to Paris-Nice, Milan-Sanremo and then the rest of the classics with the possible exception of Paris-Roubaix and I'm looking forward to kicking ass with the rest of the Team Saxo Bank classic line-up. Even though we might be the dark horse of the peloton during the classics, I believe that we'll do well this spring again,” concludes Kroon who has worn the mountain jersey in all grand tours.