Even though he didn’t get the chance to do the ITT at the Worlds in Richmond, Patrick Gretsch (Ag2r) was again in contention for wins in his favourite discipline after a 2014 season during which things didn’t work out.
"Overall I am satisfied with the season. This year I could again improve in the time trial, but there is also still room for improvement,” Gretsch told radsport-news.com. The highlight was the fourth place in the long time trial at the Giro d’Italia. "That was the first time I was in the top 5 in a grand tour,” said Gretsch who also took the fifth and sixth places in the time trials at the Tour du Poitou Charentes and the Tour of Poland.
Thanks to its impressive Giro performance where he did not only shine in the race against the clock but also worked as a reliable domestique, Gretsch had legitimate hopes for a start in the Tour de France.
The German even made it into the initial selection but was then replaced by Damien Gaudien."That was disappointing. But I realized that the Giro had cost me more than expected, "said Gretsch.
In the upcoming season, Gretsch does not only want to build on his performances from 2015 in the Giro. The Tour de France is again on his list. "The team and I have analyzed the season and I'm confident and motivated that it will work out in the coming year," he said about his chances for a second Tour participation.
However, the really big target is the time trial at the Olympic Games in Rio, where he hopes to represent the German colors. "Therefore it is very important that I will do very well in time trials right from the start in order to get one of the two spots for Rio,” Gretsch announced.
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