An Interview with Bjarne Riis


Bjarne Riis wants to win the World Championships

The new target of Bjarne Riis, this years winner of the Tour de France, is to win the title of a World Champion in Lugano (Switzerland) in October. In an interview with the Swiss newspaper "Tages-Anzeiger" Riis said: "My next big target is the road World Championship in Lugano mid of October. The parcours is really tough. This lessens the number of potential winners, and I think I'll be one of them. If I go on doing my training as I've planned and when everything's alright in my mind, I can win in Lugano. Body and mind, both has to be right.

"Just seen from the physical condition, I'd be able to take part in the Vuelta d'Espana; but my head wouldn't follow. In the moment of the start there wouldn't be the kick which is needed to be able for extraordinary results. Lugano is different, cause it's a one-day race.

"If I'd be in the same condition as I was at my victory in Lourdes-Hautacam, I'd become World Champion. I've alaways dreamt of that, and this year, there's a possibility because of the parcours.

Asked for his programm until the championship, Riis said: "The Tour of Denmark was my last stage race this season. I'll start in the World Cup race in Zurich, then in the time trials "GP Eddy Merckx" on September 1st and - together with Jan Ullrich - in Karlsruhe/Germany on September 15th. Then I'll ride some races in Italy, and finally I'll go for training somewhere in the mountains.

Riis' most mermorable moment of the Tour de France is the finish at Lourdes-Hautacam. "That day was - seen from the sports view - the strongest moment. On that day, I was unbeatable. My father found a good comparison. He said, it was as if the wheel of time had been turned back for 10 years, when I've had been an amateur. In those times, nobody could follow me in the mountains.

"The podium in Paris, the Defilee on Champs-Elysees, that were also great moments. And the arrival in Copenhagen or in my hometown Herning, where 25000 people were waiting for me - Herning has only 50000 inhabitants - how can I ever forget that?

For Riis, the Olympic road race was more a lottery. "The course wasn't decisive enough. But we, the Danes, rode a good race, and that wasn't easy with only five men. But we were in each group that was going, we had two men involved in the decisive attack, and finally Rolf Sorensen got the silver medal. I think, Denmark was the best team in that race.

"At my defeat in the time trial, that day wasn't mine. Perhaps I was not concentrated enough.

"It was great to be at the Oympic games, because I didn't take part in any games before. But I think that for cyclists of my generation, it's more important to win a classic race or a world championship than a medal at the Olympics.