By Shane Stokes, Irishcycling.com
2003 Tour de Langkawi winner Tom Danielson may have finished fifth, 3'01 off race victor Ryan Cox in this year's edition, but the Discovery Channel rider is nevertheless happy with his form and says it bodes well for his targets later in the year.
Speaking to Cyclingnews, Danielson said that he had made a conscious decision to hold back on the crucial climb up to the resort of Genting Highlands, sacrificing his chances of a higher GC finish in order to peak later in the season.
"I just rode at threshold the whole way," he said. "I didn't go above it at all because my goals this year are at the end of March and in May. Two years ago when I won the Tour de Langkawi I did a lot of high-end for the race...I went all out for it and I peaked too soon. Then the rest of the year was too hard.
"I have bigger fish to fry this year. It was a conscious decision on the climb to hold back. I could have jumped around all day but I backed off when the final attacks started to go. I am quite happy...I have done real low training, in that I have done lots of miles but not much threshold work. To be able to ride with the front guys here is a good sign for the rest of the year.
"My real goals are a little later on. Firstly, I would like to go a good Paris-Nice for the team, to be able to be an asset because we are sending a really good team. And then my real goal for the year is the Giro d'Italia. I am hoping to do a real good race there.'
Danielson had been due to ride the Italian Tour last year with Fassa Bortolo but wasn't selected for their final lineup.
