Mount Etna and Sicily set the scene for Tinkoff-Saxo’s second winter training camp ahead of the ambitious 2015 season. 23 riders, excluding the squad bound for the Santos Tour Down Under, gather on the 9th of January, where they’ll train intensively for two weeks to build up race speed. Tinkoff-Saxo will also unveil the new and improved bike setup building upon the Specialized S-Works frames that will carry the riders during the camp and all of the 2015 season.
 
Riders and staff will meet up at team partner JSH Hotels’ resort Il Picciolo Etna at the foothill of Mount Etna, which features an ideal terrain for simulating race conditions. Head Coach Bobby Julich will overlook the training and progress of the riders. He tells why, it’s important to build in training camps ahead of a new season:
 
“A camp like this allows us to fully concentrate on training – both as individual riders and as a team. The trip to Kilimanjaro was about getting together and building a strong team spirit, while the first camp at Anfi on Gran Canaria was used to lay the foundation after the off-season. But this camp on Sicily will be much more specific getting the riders up to race speed, simulating race situations and pushing the general condition further”, explains Bobby Julich, who has re-joined the team before this season.
 
Despite the fact that the riders will peak at different races during the season, Julich tells that the team will train in one big group.
 
“One thing I learned from Bjarne Riis, when I rode as a rider for the team, is that these camps offer a unique opportunity to build a great camaraderie on a team. Already now, when I look at the team, I see a unified group with a very solid team spirit. So during the more intensive rides, we’ll have the opportunity to make sure that everybody knows how they can help each other even when they’re put under pressure”.
 
“We’ll of course make a smooth transition to avoid overtraining or sickness. But for sure, we’ll kick up the tempo in the second part of the camp. The season is upon us, and we’re all very excited and ready for the big battles”, concludes Bobby Julich.