Brammeier did well in 2011 but 2012 was one to forget; he’s strong and crafty and all set for next year
By Brian Canty
For Matt Brammeier, 2012 was a season he won’t store in the memory bank for too long. Save for his glorious win in the National Championships in late June, it was a year laced with bad luck and riddled with injuries.
To compound his misery, his prized S-Works Venge with unique Irish champion’s paint job was stolen from the boot of his car after a race in Belgium. It was later sold on eBay and even re-sold again, with the police and his team failing to act.
He had no new team lined up for 2013 up until a few weeks ago - after finding out in a Belgian newspaper that his 2012 squad Omega Pharma-Quick Step were to release him.
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But that's all now in the past and 2013, he hopes, can only be better.
"It wasn't my best season, that's for sure," he told stickybottle of 2012.
"I was dogged by injuries and sickness at just the wrong times and things just didn't click for me at all. I tried to stay faithful to the team and keep doing what I was paid to do but eventually it was just a shit season and one to forget.”
“But I strongly believe that everybody has to put up with this shit once in a while and it's how you can put up with the shit when you're down that makes you a good rider, not how you deal with life when you're on top of the world.”
Brammeier has just announced he'll be riding with the world's first ever Asian-based Pro Continental squad, Team Champion Systems. That, he admitted, is something he is mightily relieved about.
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"Very relieved," he exhales.
"You wouldn't believe how close I have been to actually putting pen to paper over the last few months. So to finally have in my head what I'll be doing in the future is a huge weight off my shoulders. I know of most of the guys on the team apart from the Asian riders. I haven't raced much over there but I'm sure I'll get to know them all pretty soon. I know Craig Lewis pretty well from my days at HTC so I'm sure he will help me out and show me about a bit. My race plan so far is starting in Qatar, Oman and possibly Langkawi before heading into the semi-classics too. After that I have no idea just yet."
One of the most difficult aspects of his career to date has been injury, and having had knee surgery back in October to correct an issue that dogged him all season he says he's on the comeback trail.
"I still have some work to do but it's going okay. I'm feeling strong, fit and healthy. I'm back and forth to Girona for training and Belgium too and I'll be heading out to California for a few weeks in January before racing starts for some more training."
One of Brammeier's biggest regrets from 2012 is not scoring any ranking points that would have made him an automatic selection not only for the Olympics but more than likely a ProTour team too. But because his role with the Belgian team was one of worker for the GC riders there, he could never get into a position to get any points. That might be about to change though.
"As one of the more experienced riders I’ll be given a bit more responsibility both on and off the bike to organise things as far as racing goes. Also, I think I have a fair amount of pressure to perform this year too but I'm looking forward to racing for myself more often and being part of a happy motivated bunch of guys.”
“If my season goes to plan I won’t be in the same tree ever again, scrapping for points! But saying that, I would be happy in any role. If I'm being paid to ride my bike I am happy, but I'm looking forward to a new challenge next year. I think each role has its own kind of pressure so its much of a muchness."
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