Kreuziger adopts wait and see policy for first Giro

Roman Kreuziger leads, Giro d'Italia 2011, stage five

Team Astana leader Roman Kreuziger is putting the responsibility on the other leaders' shoulders in his first Giro d'Italia.

"I don't think about winning, I've just come to do well. I am here, I've never done the Giro, the Giro is hard, so we will see in the next days," Kreuziger told Cycling Weekly.

"I'm taking on the responsibilities and I am learning. In the end, others have been leaders for many years and have to show themselves. I am here at school, I am still learning and we will see how it goes."

The 25-year-old Czech's schooling began with top Italian team, Liquigas in 2006. Team management noted him as a junior at the 2004 World Championships and offered him a contract midway through 2005.

As a professional, he won the Tour of Switzerland in 2008 and Tour of Romandy in 2009, and in the last two editions of the Tour de France, finished ninth overall.

He decided to annul his contract a year early, however, since the team had both Giro d'Italia winner Ivan Basso and Vuelta a España winner Vincenzo Nibali in its ranks. He announced in August that he'd join Astana.

This year, he won the mountaintop stage to Madonna di Campiglio at the Giro del Trentino and finished fourth at Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

Yesterday, he finished 10th on the Giro's fifth leg to Orvieto and moved up the overall classification. He now sits 52 seconds, 52 away from Pieter Weening (Rabobank) in the leader's pink jersey. Though he's within striking distances, he's going to save himself until the mountainous third week.

"The team is going well. Yesterday, we were ahead with four men. We can be very confident for the stages ahead. The others are here to make the race," he continued.

"I don't think that we will go on the attack. We have a strategy, we had it since the first days and we are following it. Our line is that we follow the rest, but I can't tell you the strategy, otherwise they will all know it."

Kreuziger keeps his cards close to his chest. He's matured, trying to become more of a team leader, but lacks the charisma of his rivals Nibali, Alberto Contador and Michele Scarponi. Perhaps he does carry a little pressure ahead of the race's first mountaintop finishes: Montevirgine on Friday and Mount Etna on Sunday.

Giro d'Italia 2011: Latest news

Blythe finding way in second Grand Tour

Leopard-Trek withdraws from Giro d'Italia

Leopard-Trek uncertain to continue in Giro

Tuesday's Giro stage in memory of Weylandt

Giro doctor describes actions to save Weylandt

Wouter Weylandt killed in Giro crash

Giro news shorts (May 8)

Cavendish likely to take Giro lead tomorrow

Giro 2011: Who will win?

Kennaugh to lead Team Sky in Giro's opening stage

Nibali's Giro fight with Contador may reach the courtroom

Riis defends Contador's participation in Giro

Cavendish set to start winning again at the Giro

Doping investigations force cyclists out of Giro d'Italia

Kennaugh replaces Pauwels in Sky's Giro line-up

Contador scouts out the Giro mountains

Cavendish and Millar top list of Giro-bound Brits

Lampre likely for Giro despite doping investigation

Giro announces record 23 teams to race

2011 Giro to start in Turin with team time trial

Giro goes one up on the Tour with spectacular route

Nygaard, Sciandri and Lloyd comment on 2011 Giro route

Nibali's Giro d'Italia?

Giro d'Italia 2011: Stage reports

Stage five: Weening holds on to take stage and maglia rosa

Stage four: Tearful Farrar and Leopard-Trek lead riders across stage four finish line

Stage three: Vicioso victory overshadowed by Weylandt crash

Stage two: Petacchi wins as Cavendish takes lead

Stage one: HTC-Highroad wins Giro's opening team time trial

Giro d'Italia 2011: Photo galleries

Stage five photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage four photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage three photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage two photo gallery by Graham Watson

Stage one photo gallery by Graham Watson

Giro d'Italia 2011: Live text coverage

Giro d'Italia 2011 stage five live text updates

Follow the 2011 Giro d'Italia live with Cycling Weekly

Giro d'Italia 2011: Start list

Giro d'Italia 2011: Start list

Giro d'Italia 2011: TV schedule

Giro d'Italia 2011: British Eurosport TV schedule

Related links

Giro d'Italia 2010: Cycling Weekly's coverage index

 

Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Founded in 1891, Cycling Weekly and its team of expert journalists brings cyclists in-depth reviews, extensive coverage of both professional and domestic racing, as well as fitness advice and 'brew a cuppa and put your feet up' features. Cycling Weekly serves its audience across a range of platforms, from good old-fashioned print to online journalism, and video.