Talking Shop: Paul Voss (Endura Racing)

Talking to a rider who wore the mountains jersey for four days in the Giro (2010) as well as winning a stage in the Tour of Catalunya – Paul Voss of Germany. 

Larry Hickmott writes … We may not have seen Paul Voss a lot in Britain during his time at Endura Racing but when the German rider has raced here, he has certainly showed himself at the front of races. It’s early days in the season and Paul’s race programme for 2012 so far involves racing in Europe.

Paul explained to VeloUK he’s an all-rounder – “I’m fast but I’m not a bunch sprinter and I’m not climber but I’m good in the hills” he told me.  On stage 21 of the Tour of Italy in 2010, Voss was 4th after getting himself into a break and it’s no surprise that for him, that year’s Tour of Italy is a favourite memory in his racing career.

Morale in Endura Racing is good! Alex Blain greets Paul Voss at the team launch last weekend.

Whilst he may not have the opportunity to be racing his favourite event, Milan – San Remo in 2012, he is looking forward to 2012 being a special year with Endura Racing. Paul explained at the team launch at the London Bike Show that his training went well, perfect even, and that during December he went to Majorca and rode plenty of kilometres which did him a lot good. It was he says “a good winter”.

“At the moment, I am in the best shape ever so I hope I have a really good year and can go back to a higher level; I hope I can go up with Endura to ProConti level.”

Paul is keen to race at a higher level again and to have the opportunities of winning higher level races.  Asked about his programme for 2012 and whether he has any favourite races in that, he replied “I start with the Majorca Challenge and then Mercia (tour) but it is not so important which races I do because for me, every race is really important because every race can be the race where I can win and for me, that is important.”

Paul Voss congrats Ian Wilkinson during last year’s Halfords Tour Series.

“I did the Majorca Challenge a few years ago with Milram and they are real hard races. The first stage is flat but the rest are always with a hill and I really like them.”

Paul is also pleased that the team is stronger this year which he says will help him and the team on the road. “Maybe last year we had eight strong riders in the team but now we have 16 riders at a high level so we can go to two races and be strong or if someone is sick or injured, then we can change so we always have a strong team on the start line.”

“For me, it is good to because I will have better support for the races when I feel good and for the team it is good because they have many options for a victory”.

Paul, with not so good weather in Germany right now, is looking forward to the training camp in Majorca next week. Good luck to Paul and the team in 2012.

Paul Voss on the podium in Spain in 2011.