Riis Injured - Out of Classics

Riis fears that there might be a fracture to his hand after all, so he has withdrawn from the training camp and the injured hand will now undergo further examinations. He looks like missing the early season classics. Perhaps, he will be in better form for the Tour now!

Jalabert Interview

Laurent Jalabert, cycling’s No.1, does not need impertinent questions. At 29, starting his 10th year as a pro, the French racer is able to speak such perfect Castilian that he permits himself to answer questions without qualification. Like when he speaks of the French press or when he remembers Zuelle, who’s emigrated to Festina and left Jalabert the only leader of ONCE.

He’s probably tired of the question ...

LJ: That without Zuelle I’m the only leader of ONCE and now have more responsibilities? (laughs)

CA: That’s right; give me an original response.

LJ: Not, it’s not about giving an original response. I’ll say what I always say: I will continue to have the same responsibilities I’ve always had. That’s it.

CA: Or rather, that any team in the world would love to have you and the wins you guarantee.

LJ: That’s what I hope (laughs). But no, here on the team they are satisfied.

CA: Who wouldn’t be happy with the world’s number one?

LJ: I don’t know, and I wouldn’t care to know whether they would be happy in different circumstances. I know that they want me here, and I’m in a good place, and that I’m well ...

CA: But it’s the first time in your career that you’ll be the only leader.

LJ: I’ll say it again: the responsibilities are the same for me. Look, I get along well with Alex, but since I get asked so often I’ll have to say it: it may seem that Zuelle won everything last year, but take away the Vuelta, and what has Zuelle won? Pais Vasco, where I was second. And look what I have also won. Alex has chosen another path and that’s it.

CA: Always the same pressure, before whatever race?

LJ: I can’t relax. There’s always another race after a win, however important that win may be. And that’s fine by me, I have to go out and win it. I have this mind-set since winning frequently as a sprinter.

CA: This is a different point of view than Ullrich, for example, who only thinks of the Tour.

LJ: Cycling for me is competing. Rolling along and biding my time wouldn’t appeal to me. I like competing and when I feel good I want to take advantage of it. And if I get a good result, it boosts my morale for what comes later.

CA: Will you be frustrated by never having won the Tour?

LJ: Not at all. If my sporting career were to end tomorrow, I would be content regardless.

CA: They say that to win the Tour you have to forget everything else and follow the model of LeMond, Indurain, Riis or Ullrich.

LJ: LeMond and Indurain started the fashion and Ullrich has taken the same road, but there’s a bunch of riders who do the same and don’t win, and never will. I wouldn’t like to plan myself that way.

CA: If you weren’t French, would there be the same obsession on this topic?

LJ: More is always asked. When I won Lombardy they asked "why not Liege?" If I won Liege, they’d say why not something else, the World’s or what have you.

CA: The other day L’Équipe was saying ...

LJ: I don’t read L’Équipe.

CA: OK, the newspaper suggested that you be more selective in your objectives, that you create grand palmarés, with Liege and the World’s, and that you forget about the little stage races in Spain.

LJ: Let L’Équipe tell me which active rider wins more than me, which French rider wins more than me. I know that for them a race in Spain doesn’t mean anything, but for me a Vuelta a Burgos is worth more than a Ruta del Sur (French race). But when they collect my palmarés they mention the Ruta del Sur, which is a shitty race. And Cataluña, or a Vuelta a Burgos or Valencia are races that are at a much higher level. But you have to be here to see and to know. And since they’re not here ... they don’t know.

CA: You’ve had some bad times, but always because of accidents. And after them, you’ve returned transformed. Perhaps all those who would like to be stars have to lose some teeth, following your example.

LJ: That doesn’t strengthen character. You don’t let yourself fall when you have problems. However, someone who has had a hard moment, when he sees that everything could end, emerges stronger psychologically than someone for whom everything goes well.

CA: Can he turn into a man without feelings?

LJ: Do you mean do I have feelings?

CA: Well, you like to hide them.

LJ: It depends for what, or with whom. I don’t hide anything.

CA: Your image is of a champion of old, not a superhuman aspect like Ullrich has or Indurain had. Are you a holdover from the past?

LJ: I am a remainder from the past, but it’s better that way. The way I am is the way I like to be. That is also what I strive for: being like this.