News for March 28, 1997

Alvaro Mejia Unplugged

LS: Alvaro. Why do you have such a rep as a "bad guy"?

AM: What?! That's the first time I ever heard that! You must have heard it from someone who doesn't know me well....but... really....a "bad guy", *he asked with visible surprise*.

LS: Yes. They say that you are very complicated and hard to manage.

AM: Not true. What's happening is that I see cycling as akin to a military career. I'm strict. That's something I learned in Europe.

*Alvaro is Alvaro Mejia Castrillon, the Risaralda Colombia rider who raced until 1995 with the US team Motorola. He finished fourth in the World Championships in 1991 (Stuttgart) and fourth in the Tour de France in 1993.*

*Alvaro is informally dressed. He no longer has a mustache. His skin is deeply tanned. Despite no longer competing, he still trains and the wind and sun take their toll.*

*At 29 years of age, Alvaro Mejia has joined a new team: Petroleo de Colombia, with veteran coach Jose "Chepe" Castro. On 7 September 1995, in Orense, during the fifth stage of the Vuelta a Espana, hurricane force winds nearing 100kph splintered the peloton. One of the victims was Mejia. He fell and fractured his right collarbone. That injury, a month later, prevented his riding in the Worlds in Bogota. Since then, Mejia has not competed.*

LS: What happened? Why did you abandon cycling?

AM: I stopped riding because I had a verbal contract with Motorola, before the worlds, which afterwards was not met because the team failed to find a new sponsor. They couldn't give me the money they had promised so I decided to wait.

LS: Ah! It was for the money? Are you that ambitious?

AM: The money was important, but above all else it was for my personal good. I adore tranquility. But yes, I am very "ambitious" for my sport.

LS: So what did you do with your time?

AM: I trained, read, and studied music.

LS: Music?!

AM: Yes. I sing. And I'm not bad. I took classes in vocals and guitar.

LS: What kind of music do you sing?

AM: Ballads (Baladas....A type of Latin music)

LS: What did you read?

AM: I read books about countries. I'm very interested in learning more about different cultures. It was a very interesting experience.

LS: Did you decide to return to cycling because they came looking?

AM: No. I always expected to return. I never lost my form.

LS: But we were told that you were waiting for a contract with a European team. What happened?

AM: Yes. I had two options this year but in the end they both fell through.

LS: Why did you decide to ride for Petroleo de Colombia and why, after saying yes, did you say no, as happened just before your team was officially presented?

AM: I never said yes. That was a misunderstanding. I never pressured them. I just wanted everything to be crystal clear. I asked them for time and for some final changes.

LS: Such as?

AM: The team plans on racing outside Colombia this year and that's something I want. They also agreed to a set of special salary bonuses.

LS: Did you ask for a lot of money?

AM: No. It was a good deal all around.

LS: What do you need to do to return to top-level competition?

AM: Get back into top form. It isn't enough to just say I'm back and that's it. You have to prepare your body. And do the kilometers.

LS: They say that second times are never good. Does it worry you that Mejia II won't be as good as Mejia I?

AM: No. I was very clear on this. I will start racing again only when I feel on top of my form.

LS: And how long will that take?

AM: In 2 to 3 months I'll know exactly where I am.

LS: On a scale of 1 to 10, where do you see yourself physically?

AM: 6

LS: Doesn't the idea of giving up a beer and a late morning sleep for training fill you with laziness?

AM: No. I never sleep in, I only drink in December, and as for parties, I'm a tranquil man.

AM: Because I love the exhaustion.

LS: If you hadn't returned, what would you be doing?

AM: I'd sing.

*Mejia started his full training schedule during Holy Week. Or, another way of saying it, he ressurected six days early.*LS: What gives you sleepless nights?

Museeuw

Vandenbroucke

Millar

The 38-year-old Scot was fourth in the 1984 Tour and is the only Briton to have won a Tour classification, the red polka dot jersey of best climber in 1984. He placed second overall in the 1987 Giro d'Italia and the 1985 and 1986 Vuelta de Espana.

Millar quit racing in 1995 after 15 years as a professional with French, Dutch and Spanish teams.