Michael Mørkøv: Giro d'Italia Was The Greatest
Saxo Bank | November 7, 2011
26-year-old Dane, Michael Mørkøv started his career in 1996 where he joined the local club, Lynby CC and since then, he has had a long line of victories on the track. He was a major contributor in securing the overall Giro d'Italia victory in May as he played a crucial role of keeping the peloton in one piece on the flat roads in Italy for Saxo Bank-SunGard captain, Alberto Contador. The former World champion on the track finished third overall in Tour of Denmark, finished fifth in the Danish national time trial championships and sixth in the road race and was one of the most characteristic Danes in the international peloton this season:
“My greatest experience this season was undoubtedly the Giro d'Italia which we won with Alberto (Contador) and it was a magnificent feeling supporting him and being able to make things work out for the whole team. Winning a grand tour is something unique and it will be a lifelong memory having been on the top spot of the podium after such a great race. In general, I enjoy every day as a professional cyclist and this year, I've been through a significant developing progress. I feel increasingly ready for bigger challenges in terms going for the wins instead of aiming for second and third,” says the winner of six-day races in Grenoble, Berlin, Fiorenzuola and Copenhagen and adds:
”My overall third in Tour in Denmark was my biggest personal achievement in 2011. On the very first stage, the bunch split up and I was in a very fortunate position regarding the GC from the get-go. I knew I was in perfect condition and I knew I was able to compete for the overall classification. I then launched a very up front press strategy stating that I went for the overall win. It was a personal strategy to put a positive pressure on myself and it provided me with a bigger fire within to grab it. It was a test. I was very well aware of the likely consequence and I have been met with quite a few raised eyebrows as it wasn't the Danish way of doing things. But I also know that the aggressive statements and the burning faith in success lead me to third overall and I'm immensely proud of that result today,” states Michael Mørkøv who's now looking forward to entering the European tracks:
”I have a different winter compared to most other riders. I'm having a break from racing right now but I'm looking forward to be doing a few six day-races and especially the one in Copenhagen before joining the team on the road where I'd like to improve my performance in the spring classics. But I'm very excited about the Olympics this summer and the games just might become my greatest experience in 2012.