Chilled champ chasing double
Relaxed Arndt would love to go back-to-back
NIKIAS Arndt is candid when he talks about defending his Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race crown tomorrow.
He knows a lot can happen on the road. He understands the quirky nature of this road race means the only certainty over the 164km is uncertainty.
Maybe that’s why he was so relaxed when he sat down with the Geelong Advertiser.
Cappuccino in hand, the German rider soaked up the summer sun as he talked about wanting to go surfing while his team is based in Torquay and also finding the region’s best cafes for a post-ride brew.
But what we all want to know is whether the Team Sunweb 26-year-old is confident he can become the first rider in the race’s history to go back-to-back.
“Of course we are going to try to defend it,” Arndt said
“I don’t make myself too much pressure (to win the race).
“I wouldn’t say I have my top shape here, now ... it’s getting better. It’s missing a few races.”
Arndt, who won the 2017 race in his debut on the course, has seen enough of the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race to know the different results it can throw up.
He claimed the title by overpowering Cameron Myer in a sprint. But climbers also stand a chance of winning and that’s what Arndt loves about the race.
“If you look at the Canadian races, (they) are always on the same circuit. Like Quebec and Montreal, there they have 95 per cent always the same procedure,” he said.
“(There’s) a small breakaway, they chase it down then the last two times are very hard, the last time they try to attack. It’s always the same story.
“Here you really have different winners. You have a sprinter, you have climber.
“I am curious what happens this year. I like that it’s unpredictable, that you can send a climber here and have an opportunity with him but the same with the sprinter.”
It means Team Sunweb will make sure it has plenty of cards to play out on the road.
When asked if he would be the team’s protected rider Arndt said “yes and no”.
“We also have Sam Oomen with us, (and he’s) a quite good climber. It’s a hard circuit. With me it’s always a gamble, if I can survive or not. With him we have a really, really good other rider,” Arndt said.
“We will ride for Sam and me. It’s a combination and see how the race develops because you don’t have everything in your hands.
“We have two plans and we will see how it goes.
“It’s always nice if you have two cards to play. It takes a little bit of pressure away from me. We have a very good team here, they are in good shape. We will try to do our best.”
The predicted 40C scorcher will be another massive challenge for the peloton to contend with. The Europeans in particular are likely to find it tough in the heat.
“In Europe we have zero degrees and a lot of rain,” Arndt said.
“Before (Tour) Down Under I struggled to get the kilometres (in my legs).
“We had a training camp before but it’s not comparable to the Australian riders.
“You’re used to wearing a lot of clothing. Thermal jackets, all this stuff. I think we even had some days below zero degrees.
“I did at home some sauna sessions and hot baths (to get ready for the Australian climate). It’s something where you can adapt kind of so you come here and don’t get shocked.”
Arndt’s win was a kickstarter for an unbelievable 2017 for Sunweb.
They went on to win the Giro d’Italia general classification, four stages, the sprinter’s green jersey and the polka dot jersey at the Tour de France.
“Last year we had a crazy year,” he said.
“A year which (came to) us as riders and also the team owner and everyone as a surprise. We won a Grand Tour, we didn’t expect that, we wanted to go for it and we knew we could end up on the podium but we were just dreaming that we could win it.
“The same with the Tour de France, four stages and two jerseys.”
For Arndt the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race will flow into a training camp in Spain, followed by a race in Abu Dhabi.
“Then into the classics,” Arndt said.
“I really like these classics. I like the classic here, I think it’s a classic just a little bit shorter.
“It’s the first practice, first try and then you head to Europe with all the big classics starting. I’m looking forward to that.”