The future: staying in Portugal or taking the leap?
The contract signed by Jimmy with Rubén Pereira’s team is valid until the end of this season. While, on one hand, the Australian cyclist found a familiar place in Portugal where he could once again engage in competitive high-level cycling in Europe, it’s also true that his ambition to return to the World Tour hasn’t diminished. Everything is open:
My answer now versus two months ago is very different. So, when I first joined the team I saw it as an opportunity for this year but hopefully I could go to Pro Tour next year, and if not I didn’t know what I’d do. But now, seeing the setup of the team, the racing and the environment, I’m having a genuine good time. It’s a reflection on the team and the racing available, and it works well with my current lifestyle too, so I can still live in Andorra. I still get the opportunity to race against the best teams and maybe I get the chance to go back to the World Tour.
I love being an athlete, and if I’m with Glassdrive/Q8/Anicolor next year I have absolutely no problems with that. As someone that was brand new to the team two months ago and had no idea what I was signing up for, I can say I am proud about racing with the team and I’d be happy about possibly racing for them next year. It’s a good plan B to have. I mean, of course I would love to win a stage or two in Volta a Portugal and then get back to the Pro Tour. And if I have that chance, I will take it. But at the same time, to have the support of the team for next year would be amazing. I have to show my ability to work well with the team, the staff, the riders, to show that i’m not annoying on and off the bike. there are things I could definitely work on, such as my Portuguese, but that can be an off-season objective [laughs].
I don’t know what the future will look like, whether that’s with Glassdrive/Q8/Anicolor or whether that’s in Pro Tour, but for sure I will be a bike rider next year. I tell my parents that I really am happy, a happy athlete again.
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