Robert Gesink was very strong at this years edition of Paris - Nice. He came in second (behind stage winner Cadel Evans)
at the queen stage with an uphill finish on the Mont Ventoux and a few weeks before he won the queen stage of the Tour
of California.
Gesink will not start at the upcoming Tour de France. The management of the Dutch Rabobank team decided to build-up
Gesink with patience and the Dutch talent will now race his first three week stage race later this year, at the Vuelta
Espana. But Gesink will start at the Dauphiné Libéré today and he could be in for a surprise.
"I feel good and I am looking forward to it. I can't judge if it really will be a 'peak' moment for me. After all there
are more important races waiting for me this season, we have choosen to build-up normal and with patience. W'll see where
I stand. But its pretty heavy with the Joux Plane and Croix de Fer," Gesink said.
After the Dauphiné Libéré follows the Dutch National Championships in Ootmarsum on June 29. "I trained there with
Joost Posthuma the other day. A nice route but easy and not very selective. I tink the fast sprinters will have a chance there."
Dutch national coach Egon van Kessel has selected Robert Gesink for the Olympic Games in Beijing. Gesink will be one of
two captains, teammate Thomas Dekker will be the other one.
