Slovenia
18 December 1983
1.72m
59kg
2005 (beginning July 31)
first year Pro
As the reigning 2004 U23 World time trial champion, Brajkovic became the 28th rider signed by the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team in 2005. He trained with the team initially at Solvang camp in January and then returned to his homeland of Slovenia to fulfill a contractual obligation. He then turned professional in July and joined the team in Europe at the Tour of Benelux. Brajkovic immediately impressed his new team as he finished in the top 20 overall, seventh in the time trial, and contributed significantly to two of Max Van Heeswijk´s stage wins.
”He´s immediately been pulling hard and riding at the front; it´s like he´s been with us all year,” said assistant sports manager Dirk Demol. Brajkovic would then go on to race at the Tour of Germany and the Tour of Poland, where he came in fourth in the TT event. Brajkovic closed out his season with a top 20 placing in the elite men´s World Time Trial championship in Madrid, and then he ended 2005 at the Tour of Lombardy in Italy.
Since his first racing season in 2001, Brajkovic has exhibited his skill at the top U23 level and had a breakthrough season in 2004, capped by his victory at the Worlds in Italy. On paper, Holland´s Thomas Dekker appeared unbeatable, but Brajkovic won the near 37km event by 18 seconds over Dekker at an average speed of 47.0km/h (29.2mph), and was the only man to break the 47 minute mark too.
Other highlights in 2004 include a victory in the Trofeo Banca Popolare Piva, an event that was also won by one of his newest teammates, Yroslav Popovych, in 2001, along with the time trial stage at the Grand Prix Tell. His victory against the clock moved him from seventh to second overall with only his teammate and countryman Tomasz Nose between him and overall victory. He then went on to win the Slovenian national U23 time trial championship and finished second in the Gran Premio Palo de Recioto and second again at the European U23 time trial championship.
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7th, stage 7, Tour of Benelux
39th, stage 2, Tour of Germany
14th, stage 8, Tour of Germany
4th, stage 2, GP Tell
4th, overall, Tour of Berlin
3rd, Giro del Belvedere
2nd, European Championship, U23 time trial
2nd, Gran Premio Palio del Recioto
2nd overall, GP Tell
1st, World Championship, U23 time trial
1st, Trofeo Banca Popolare Piva
1st, stage 4a, GP Tell
1st, Slovenian National Championship, time trial |
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