Kohl working hard for Tour chance

By Susan Westemeyer

Bernhard Kohl is happy to have changed to Team Gerolsteiner, even if it means he has to work harder this year. "In two years with T-Mobile I never once had to help defend a leader's jersey, at Gerolsteiner I did that already in the first race. That says a lot," he told sport1.at.

He rode for Davide Rebellin in the recent Paris-Nice, and noted also that on the same weekend, teammate Stefan Schumacher took over the leader's jersey for a day in Tirreno-Adriatico. "When everyone just sort of pointlessly rides for good results, that's a different situation. But Gerolsteiner had the yellow jersey in the first two ProTour races, that's twice we almost won. That says something of the team and the internal understanding."

The Austrian is still riding himself into form. "As compared to last year, I am now a month later with my form. California and Paris-Nice were two super intensive training races. Since I'm not yet in form, I'm totally satisfied with my performance."

He hopes to come into form for the Vuelta Ciclista al País Vasco in April, where he has his eye on the overall classification, and then to hold his form through the Tour de Romandie. "At the latest, after Romandie, I should be assured of being on the Tour de France team and have proved that I can perform and be at the front on the climbs. That would be important, in order to prepare for France."