Kroon looking for classics revival

Karsten Kroon is looking to get back to his best in the spring classics with a return to Saxo Bank for the 2012 season.

The 35-year-old Dutchman spent two seasons with BMC, but couldn’t hit his stride due to crashes and bad luck. He’s optimistic about a move back to Saxo Bank, where he notched some of his best results during a four-year run from 2006-09.

“I’ve always admired and believed in the way Bjarne (Riis) and the rest of the team is working throughout the season and the way they handle the riders and logistics and I missed being around that,” Kroon said in a team interview. “During the Israeli team-building (camp), I was confirmed in my beliefs and re-experienced how well they’re treating the riders at Saxo Bank.”

Kroon has come close to some big results during his career, including fourth at Tour of Flanders, third at Fleche Wallonne, two top-5s at Amstel Gold Race and notched a stage win in the Tour de France.

Kroon will make his season debut at Mallorca Challenge and the Tour of Algarve before ramping up for the spring classics in what are his favorite races of the calendar.

“I will do Paris-Nice and the rest of the classics, with the possible exception of Paris-Roubaix, and I am looking forward to kicking ass with the rat of the Saxo Bank classics lineup,” Kroon said. “We might be a dark-horse of the peloton during the classics, I believe that we’ll do well this spring again.”