Llaneras ready to stand on podium

Spanish racer Joan Llaneras thinks getting gold at the World Track Championships will be difficult, but he is still aiming for the podium. "Personally, I intend to be up on the podium. We (the Spanish team) have possibilities of fighting for a medal in the individual and team pursuits," Llaneras told the championships' website mundipalma2007.com. The track worlds will be held in Palma de Mallorca, near his home.

In a press conference Wednesday with president of the Balearic Federation of Cycling, Andreu Canals, and with worlds director Jorge Moisés, the Olympic medallist said he may compete in the Madison with Carlos Torrens. While Torrens has been confirmed at a starter his partner is yet to be selected by the team's coach.

Llaneras is a former madison race partner of Isaac Gálvez, who passed away after a tragic accident in Belgium last fall. The pair won the world championships together twice (in 1999 and 2006), and Llaneras also won it in 1997. For this year's championships he named Swiss racers Bruno Risi and Franco Marvulli and Argentineans Juan Esteban Curuchet and Walter Perez as top contenders for the madison title.

Llaneras said the track in Palma Arena is, "a unique setting in Spain, and one we should take advantage of," referring to the local advantage. As the days pass, the three-time world champion said he likes the track more and more because small details are being added to improve the facility.

"The level of the worlds is very high, and hopefully it is warmer in the next few days so that the track acquires more speed," Llaneras told todociclismo.com