Jamie Burrow, riding for the Italian Continental Team OTC Doors – Lauretana, has made an impressive start to the four-day Brixia Tour in Italy. On Thursday’s 178 kilometre first stage from Concesio to Toscolano Maderno, the former Hainault Road Club and US Postal rider finished a highly respectable tenth behind Gerolsteiner’s Davide Rebellin. Friday’s Passo Maniva mountain-top finish saw the 60kg British climber move up to fourth overall, after finishing seventh on the stage.
Rebellin, back racing after breaking a rib during May’s Giro d’Italia, appears to be targeting team selection for Italy at the Salzburg World Championships in September. The hilly nature of the Austrian course is something that has not gone unnoticed to Burrow. “I’d like to go; I really wanted to ride the Elite (World Championship) race in Verona (in 2004) having performed well on the same course in the U23 race in 1999. If it’s a hardish circuit I don’t think there are many UK riders that can go up hill better than me. When it comes down to the World’s, Dave (Millar) might be the man (leader) and the team works for him. I don’t mind if I have to ride for someone else, I’d just like to ride it.”
Burrow, a polite and deep thinking man, made his pro’ debut for US Postal in 2000. Illness and injury led to his release from Lance Armstrong’s team at the end of 2001. The former world number one U23 rider has put in some respectable rides during his pro career, but so far has failed to be taken on by a Pro Tour team.
“I did a couple of CSC’s training camps a few years ago, I nearly went there, but it all fell through at the last minute. The organisation was incredible; Bjarne Riis is one-to-one with every single rider, which is why so many of his riders get results.”
The British professional, who resides in Sansepolcro, Italy, was knocking on the door of a Pro Tour team again in 2005. “Rolf Sorenson has always helped me out in trying to find teams. In March (2005) he rang me up saying you may have the last place at Quickstep, but don’t get your hopes up. I was like, what did you tell me that for, tell me when they’ve decided! I lost the place to a Dutch lad, almost on the toss of a coin. I know that if I were to get back in a big team I could really show my worth. It’s getting back in that’s the hard point, it’s all about contacts, the two times that I have been close were down to Rolf.”
A good finale to the season for Burrow may just turn the heads of those selecting team rosters for 2007. Burrow’s ambition of riding the Tour de France remains alive!
Brett Travers’ website – www.Brett-Travers.com
Read another of Brett’s articles on Jamie here
