Cummings: I have to fight for my Tour de France spot

By his own admission this season’s results have been below expectations but Steve Cummings his confident that after a break from racing he can showcase his improving form at the Criterium du Dauphine and secure a Tour de France spot with Dimension Data.

Cummings, 37, has not raced since abandoning the Tour de Romandie in April due to allergies. The Swiss race brought down the curtain on a disappointing spring campaign in which both rider and team struggled for results, but with the Dauphine just days away Cummings believes that he has regained his health, and his mojo.

“At the moment, I’m more interested in performance. I’ve not performed all year, and that’s me saying that. I’ve not reached my capabilities and I’m just hoping that I can perform. If I perform well then results will follow,” Cummings told Cyclingnews before heading to France.

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Part of Cummings’ disappointing spring could be down to his change in race programme. With Dimension Data looking to embark on a number of goals this year, including the hunt for WorldTour points, Cummings was given a new race calendar. The team was hoping that he could be one of the main driving forces in securing points but not all change leads to immediate success. A number of the team’s riders, not just Cummings, have struggled with health and bad luck this year, while the team has also looked to once again take on the responsibility of developing raw talent from Africa. With so many injuries and securing rider visas a constant battle for the team, several riders including Cummings has been asked to fill gaps in rosters.

“Romandie didn’t set me back but it was never really a race on my programme. I had to do it because the team was stretched and to have the allergy problem was tough on me mentally after what had happened in the spring. It never rains, it pours,” Cummings said.

“I think that the team was a little bit worried about WorldTour points at the start of the year. They were trying to maximise the group and thought that it would be better for me to do some other races. I thought it might be a risk, in that why change something if it’s not broken. I’m not a young rider and over the years I’ve found a programme that suits me. But I can understand that the team needs WorldTour points.”

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