Bos nostalgic for track, but sticking with road
- By Andrew Hood
- Published Apr. 1, 2009
- Updated Apr. 1, 2009 at 6:50 AM UTC
Theo Bos is racing this week at the Settimana Lombarda in northern Italy with the Rabobank continental team in what’s his third stage race since switching from the track.
The former world sprint champion admitted he was a bit nostalgic watching the world track championships last week in Poland, but the Dutch sprinter remains firm in his commitment to give the road a shot.
“When I saw it on TV, I really had the itch again,” Bos said in an interview on the team’s web page. “That’s normal after all these years. I enjoyed watching the world championships, but now I’ve started my new role on the road.”
Bos is making steady progress since he walked away from the track, at least temporarily.
In an interview with VeloNews back in February at his first road race at the Volta ao Algarve, Bos said he’s committed to the road in the short-term, but hasn’t discounted a return to the track in time for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
In the meantime, he’s learning what it takes to be a pro on the road. He abandoned the hilly Volta ao Algarve in his road debut, but made it through the flatter Three Days of West Flanders in March.
Now he’s racing at the weeklong Lombarda race, which once again tackles some hilly terrain.
“I still have difficulty in hilly terrain. When it’s fast and flat, I’m already doing OK, but as soon as it goes up, I am in trouble,” Bos said. “I am a little worried about the mountain stages in the second part of the week, but that’s what I need. This kind of racing will make me stronger.”
Bos says he’s taking inspiration from fellow trackies who’ve done well on the road, especially from teammate and two-time Olympic gold medalist Graeme Brown. Mark Cavendish’s victory at Milan-San Remo also gives Bos some hope.
“I am a sprinter, I will never be a climber, but I want to be able to get over the mountains with the pack,” he said. “That takes work and takes time.”
The team got off to a good start, finishing third in the team time trial on Tuesday, stopping the clock just 23 seconds behind the LPR team of race leader Alessandro Petacchi.
Joining Bos in the weeklong Italian race is American Tejay Van Garderen.
Photo Gallery
- FILED UNDER: News / Road
Andrew Hood
Hood cut his journalistic teeth at Colorado dailies before the web boom opened the door to European cycling in the mid-1990s. Hood's covered every Tour since 1996 and has been VeloNews' European correspondent since 2002. He lives in Leon, Spain, when he's not chasing bike races.
