Sicard set to realize dream

Romain Sicard's Euskaltel adventure has so far been a story of unfulfilled potential. After a promising maiden year at the World Tour level in 2010, injuries ruled him out for the better part of a year before he returned to fitness in 2012. While last season was low on high-profile results, the now 25-year-old got to ride a full season and made his Grand Tour debut at the Vuelta a España.

He now wants to "take another step ahead", and will hope to do so by taking part in the biggest race there is. Igor González de Galdeano has time and again showed his faith in the Frenchman, and has now decided to include him in the team for the Grand Boucle alongside Igor Antón and Mikel Nieve.

"I'm looking forward to discovering the Tour", he told BiciCiclismo. "I'm already 25 years old and has the experience of doing the Vuelta last year. The Tour is the race we all want to take part in, but before that we have to show we're at the needed level".

To gear up for the French GT, Sicard will tackle a calendar including Paris-Nice, the Vuelta al País Vasco, the Ardennes and the Dauphiné:

• 27 of January: GP Cycliste la Marseillaise
• 30 of January - 3 of February: Etoile de Bessèges
• 6-10 of February: Tour Méditerranéen
• 3-10 of March: Paris-Nice
• 23-24 of March: Critérium International
• 1-6 of April: Vuelta al País Vasco
• 14 of April: Amstel Gold Race
• 17 of April: La Flèche Wallonne
• 21 of April: Liège-Bastogne-Liège
• 23-28 of April: Tour de Romandie
• 2-9 of June: Critérium du Dauphiné
• 29 of June - 21 of July: Tour de France

Sicard is these days taking part in the team's training camp in Villajoyosa on Spain's Costa Blanca, and insists the injuries that dogged him for so long are finally behind him.

"I'm feeling much better, and the best thing is that I can concentrate on training and racing", he said. "It's been two hard years during which I've learned a lot. Now, it'll be like starting over from zero".

Photo: www.sudouest.fr