ProTeam Jarno Widar returns to racing in Gippingen

He finished a strong fourth in the Figueira Champions Classic and impressed during the Volta ao Algarve. But that was all the way back in February. After that, Jarno Widar faced a long period on the sidelines. Illness forced him to withdraw from the Faun-Ardèche Classic, while a lingering knee injury sustained in a training accident in Spain kept him out of competition for several more weeks. This weekend, however, the wait is finally over, as Widar lines up at the start of the GP Gippingen. And it is a moment he has been eagerly anticipating: “It was about time I got to race again; it's been long enough.”

Widar was forced to stay off his bike for four weeks following the unfortunate training incident. “Of course, at first it's frustrating,” he explains. “It's a matter of trying to switch your mindset as quickly as possible and focus on what's ahead. Setbacks are simply part of the sport. The advantage of cycling is that the season is long, so after a disappointment there's usually another race and another opportunity just around the corner.”

Traditionally, Gippingen serves as a warm-up race for the Tour de Suisse, and after the race Widar will travel directly to Sondrio, Italy, where the Tour de Suisse begins on Wednesday. It will also be his first-ever WorldTour race. “Obviously, I lost some ground. I had to stay off the bike for four weeks and I've only been training properly again for about six weeks. During that entire period I also remained in Belgium, whereas in other years I would have gone to altitude. But going on an altitude camp without sufficient fitness didn't seem like the best idea. So I'm very curious to see where I stand.

“I feel good, that's for sure. I hope I can use that good feeling to be competitive and gain experience in my very first race at WorldTour level. Of course, I hope to come away with a strong result as well, but we'll take it day by day. Besides, I have one major advantage: I'm heading to Switzerland with a very fresh mindset, because my season is only really starting now.”

Picture: PhotoNews