After playing a crucial role in Chris Froome 2013 victory at the Tour de France, Peter Kennaugh hopes that he will again return to the world's biggest race in 2014. The Brit is convinced that Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome can work together to reach the best possible result for Team Sky.
Peter Kennaugh has long been described as a huge talent but 2013 was the year when he finally got to show the world what he is capable of on the road. With an Olympic gold medal on the track from the 2012 London Olympics already on his palmares, the Manxman was one of the strongest support riders for Chris Froome in the 2013 Tour de France.
While riders like David Lopez, Vasil Kiryienka and Kanstantsin Siutsou who all have plenty of grand tour experience, failed to reach their best form, Kennaugh stepped up his game and took over the role of delivering Froome and lieutenant Richie Porte at the bottom of the climbs. In 2014, the Manxman is again hopeful that he will be selected for the roster that is going to defend the Sky wins from the past two years.
The race has been put on his calendar but he refuses to take anything for granted.
“You’ve got to do everything you can to make sure that you get into the team,” he told Cyclingnews. “You can pencil it in, but anything can happen before then. You’ve got to prove yourself throughout the season. There’s nine places and there’s probably about 14 guys who’ve got it pencilled in.”
It is no secret that Froome and 2012 winner Bradley Wiggins have had a strained relationship since Froome made his famous attack on the stage to La Toussuire during Wiggins' triumphant ride. It has later been revealed that Wiggins was ready to leave the Tour that night and that he didn't pay Froome his share of his bonus until the 2013 World Championships in Florence.
The pair tried to solve their issues at a recent training camp and Froome has insisted that their controversies are now behind them. That will be beneficial as they could both line up in the Tour de France this year.
In 2013 a knee injury prevented Wiggins from defending his crown and the pair have almost not raced together since the end of the 2012 Tour de France. Wiggins has stated his intention to return to the Tour for one final time before focussing on the track and the Rio Olympics from 2015 onwards.
Kennaugh is convinced that there will be no issues between the two former winners.
“As long as Brad wants to do it and I think that he does," he said. "I think if you set your objectives clearly, going into the race, then I don’t see why not."
In the interview with Cyclingnews, Kennaugh also revealed that he plans to do the Paris-Nice where he will support Porte. He also has a debut on the Ardennes classics on his schedule but he has no big personal ambitions.
“I just want to hit the ground running really, instead of starting the season out of condition,” he said. “If I can go for the win then I want to be able to, rather than not being able to, like last year. There are not any races I’ve got it penned in where I think 'I’d like to win that'. I don’t think I’m in the position to say or do that, because I’ve never won a pro race in my life.”
Kennaugh also stated his intention to return to the track to defend his Olympic title in 2016. He considers to return to the boards in earnest in the autumn of 2015.
This weekend he showed that he has not lost all his track racing skills when he won the points race at the Revolution series after lapping the field no less than 7 times.
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