Jumbo-Visma have been standing apart as one of the most successful teams in the peloton. A successful winter window has seen them sign several strong riders with Attila Valter being one of them, who is racing with the team for the first time at the ongoing Gran Camino.
"I did three weeks of altitude training on Mount Teide, that training camp was perfect in every way," Valter said in an interview with Nemzeti Sport. "This was my first altitude training, it gives the body an extra boost by training under those conditions. The lack of oxygen made it difficult to find the rhythm at first, but once you get used to it, you can take your performance to that of sea level. We have completed tough training sessions of five, six and sometimes even seven hours."
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After developing as a classics rider and climber over the past seasons with CCC and Groupama - FDJ, he's taken a step above. "You can see that in many areas, but mainly because of the fact that they really want to be the best in everything here. It is a level that can only be reached with passion and that applies to everyone within Jumbo-Visma, from the staff members to the riders," he continued.
"You have to believe it, people are not interested in money. This team has a long-term goal and after Jonas Vingegaard's Tour victory, the project does not stop," Valter believes. "Even if you are the best, you have to keep improving. It is a traditional Dutch philosophy, in which everyone is open to each other and accepts constructive criticism."
The Hungarian national champion has ridden to 10th on the second stage of Gran Camino, having seen Jonas Vingegaard brutally attack to the win. He's realistic with his ambitions however, but Valter does not hide that he aims towards leading positions within the coming years.
"The essence of my first season is that I get the chance to see whether I can grow to the level of Roglic, Vingegaard and Van Aert in the long term, or whether I can do something extraordinary by Jumbo standards. I would like to start in the Vuelta a España, but August is still a long way off," he continues.
The 24-year old concluded: "At Jumbo-Visma there are three categories for competitions: on a red day you drive as a servant, on a yellow day you get a free role and on green days you are the leader. In my agenda, the color yellow dominates, with one or two red races. In many competitions I can earn the chance to start in green next year."
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