Since Monday, Alexandr Pliuschin, 23 years old, takes part in the Tour de Romandie. This Wednesday he tried to attack near the end of the second stage.
But in his head, the Moldovan is resigned to being a simple domestique at the service of his leaders.
NO PROBLEMS WITH AG2R-LA MONDIALE
Alexandr Pliuschin turned pro in 2008 with the AG2R-La Mondiale team. Vincent Lavenu, manager of the french team, felt he had achieved quite a coupby signing the Moldovan.
The young man made himself know by winning the junior Classique des Alpes in 2005. Despite two crashes, he took the win at the summit of the Col du Granier.
After two years at at Aigle, Switzerland, the Junior World Championships TT runner-up chose, in late 2006, to joing Chambéry Cyclisme, the Continental feeder team of AG2R.
With AG2R's feeder team, he confirmed his immense potential by taking the Ronde van Vlaanderen espoirs.
He wouldn't stay at Chambéry for a second year. AG2R-La Mondiale didn't waste time in adding him to their pro ranks, as he signed a 2 year contract in June.
At 21 years of age, Alexandr Pliuschin debuted with the pros.
Despite a 10th plae at the Ster Elektrotoer and a national title, his 2008 season was quite discrete.
"I broke my collarbone". I restarted racing, but it was hard. Like something was broken inside my head.
His second season was once again a discrete one.
"The problem was with me, it wasn't with Vincent Lavenu, who is a superb manager. I don't have any problems with him"
I AM CLEAN
Having gone to Katusha this winter, he hopes to restart his career with [Katusha team boss and former classics superstar] Andrei Tchmil, who he's known since his teenage years.
"I thought a change of environment, from a french to a russian one, would change something, but it wasn't the case", he laments.
With the russian team, Alexandr Pliuschin is at the service of his teammates. Only.
"I don't get to ride for myself, I'm here to help my leaders, that's all. Hopefully I can achieve some small results, but I no longer have the motivation to do even top 5s. I desired to be a champion and nothing less. That's surely over."
But Alexandr Pliuschin continues to train as best he can. Despite his efforts, he believes he's made little progress.
"I want to do better, but I see that I can not. I'm clean. I don't want to take stuff [performance-enhancing drugs]. I prefer to help my teammates and know that I do all this naturally" confides Pliuschin who benefits from a good reputation in this regard.
TURNED PRO TOO EARLY
Alexandr Pliuschin can't imagine having a long career. At the end of the season he'll reassess his situation-
He can see himself racing another year or two. Barely more than that. How has this rider with such large potential arrived at this point?
Going pro with only 2 espoir years in his legs was, according to him, an eror.
"I turned pro too soon. That was my biggest mistake. In hindsigt, I should've turned pro in 2010. I think I could've done well. It's better to know how to be patient, even if your dream is to turn pro."
After catching the eye of the biggest professional teams, such as T-Mobile, Alexandr Pliuschin has to settle for being an anonymous member of the pro peloton.
A situation that's quite onnel. "Even when you're one of the best juniors and espoirs, it's hard to jump right into the pros.
I dreamed of being among the best one day, but it's not possible. It won't happen. That's just how it goes. I could do something more [needle-to-arm gesture], but I don't want to "slip".