Finlay Pickering is on familiar ground on the Alpes Isère Tour. Last year, he finished 12th overall and has fond memories of that experience. “I really enjoyed the race last year. I hope to be in better shape this week”he confides at the microphone of DirectVelo. It is therefore with ambition that he took the start of Charvieu-Chavagneux this Wednesday. His objective is to battle with the strong men in the difficult stages. “I want to be present in the bumps and in the rhythm of the best like Lennert Van Eetvelt, Oscar Onley, etc… I want to hurt their legs”, launches the Briton who got off to a bad start by receiving a 20-second penalty during the first stage, this Wednesday, due to an extended shelter behind the car.
The 20-year-old rider approaches the Class 2 race with confidence and relaxation. “My start to the season has been really good. I trained well, I was consistent. The legs are coming back, so I have no pressure”says the rider ranked 25th in the Tour of the Alps, in ProSeries.
“I REALLY ENJOYED MY STAY IN France”
If his motivation is the same as in 2022, his jersey has changed. After a year in Groupama-FDJ Continental, Finlay Pickering has decided to join Trinity Racing. “I really enjoyed my stay in France. The staff and riders were amazing. I love France, it’s a very beautiful country”. However, it was the winner of the Tour d’Alsace 2022 who decided to leave the Groupama-FDJ structure. “I think that for my future, the WorldTeam of Groupama-FDJ was perhaps not the place where I should go. I also chose to go elsewhere in 2023 because by staying in the Continental, I would have taken the place of a young Frenchman who aims to race for them. But I thank them for giving me this opportunity last year”.
In the wake of the Alpes Isère Tour, the Briton wants to shine at the Giro U23. “I want to win it. It’s ambitious but it would be really something special for me to impose myself there”. The Tour de l’Avenir is also in the back of his mind when he was not present in the British selection last year. “Of course I would like to be at the start this time. I couldn’t do it last year but I don’t hold any grudges. I understand the politics of the selection”. But before thinking about the objectives of the summer, it is already a big piece that awaits Finlay Pickering on the Alpes Isère Tour for the next four days.
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