McGee: I feel like a junior again

Bradley McGee, who has left Française des Jeux squad to join Team CSC in 2008, says he feels like a junior again and admits that he's cherishing the feeling. McGee, who has won stages in both the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France, added that he's even happy to play domestique during 2008, if that's what the Danish ProTour squad's management decides is best.

"I feel like a junior all over again, it's great," McGee told team-csc.com. "My ambition is to regain my strength completely to the level I was at two years ago. From there on anything is possible really.

"The interests of the team hold first priority," added McGee. "If that means I have to be a helper for the entire season, fine by me, and if I get a chance to achieve some results that's great as well. I trust the team management completely – they've proved over the years that they know what they're doing, so I'll do whatever they think is the best."

McGee has struggled with injury in recent years and hopes that the new atmosphere and attitude to racing will help him revert to his former stage-winning glory. "Unfortunately I've had a couple of difficult seasons due to an injury, which it took a long time to locate," explained McGee. "At first we thought it was a back injury, but in the end it turned out to be some kind of cyst in my knee, and I only had it removed in June after having been bothered by it for more than a year. After the op I haven't had any problems and already during this fall I've felt a major improvement."

"Team CSC radiates an atmosphere, which is noticeable by everyone," added McGee. "Even from the outside you're able to appreciate what goes on here so I've wanted to be a part of it for a long time now."

McGee joined the French Française des Jeux ProTour squad in 1999, taking two Tour de l'Avenir stage victories and the Tour de Normandy Prologue win. In 2002 McGee took his first Grand Tour stage win, claiming victory on the Tour de France's seventh stage. When McGee returned to the Tour the following year he claimed another win, this time on the opening Prologue. The Australian's Grand Tour success continued in 2004 when he claimed the 6.9 kilometre Prologue at the Giro d'Italia.

"I knew Bobby Julich and Jens Voigt before they joined Team CSC and I can tell it's had a positive effect on their attitude towards cycling in general and also their motivation to race," added McGee. "So I'm very excited to get the chance to become part of it all."