Karsten Kroon was reaching peak-shape during Tour of Qatar in the second month of the 2013 season but a crash destroyed his hopes and moral before the big classics. But the flying Dutchman was back on track to help teammate, Roman Kreuziger in Amstel:
“The greatest moment for me this season was being in the line-up with Roman (Kreuziger) in Amstel Gold Race which he won in such a convincing way. I never succeeded in doing that myself and I gave everything I had that day to help him and he sure pulled it off. It was a great achievement after a personal and very physical downfall due to the crash in Qatar where I cut my quad and was out for 7 weeks.”
“My goal the coming season is to maintain a high level throughout the whole year so I’ll be able to support the guys who can win races the best I can. I’ve been enjoying my off-season at home with the kids and I’ve been re-charging the batteries with a few days on Ibiza with my wife and I’m ready to do the kilometers needed before I kick off the new season”.
And the short answers from Kroon:
The funniest moment of the season: “When my kid ate a spoon full of wasabi.”
The biggest surprise: “Chris Horner winning the Vuelta at age 41.”
Ron Callahan is the chief cook and bottlewasher at Bike World News, doing everything from website design to bike reviews.