Photo: ©Tim Johnson

Tim Johnson 2004 Diary

Tim Johnson earned the Stars and Stripes jersey of a national champion in 2000 when he won the elite national cyclocross championship, adding to his four national cyclocross championship titles, one as a junior, two as an under 23 and one as a senior elite. Tim also has the honour of being the first American to medal at a world championship cyclocross race with his Bronze Medal at the 1999 Cyclocross World Championships. This year he starts with Saunier Duval-Prodir, a European Division One team, and will post regular diaries of his travels.

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Tim Johnson 2004 Diary: New Spanish Sensations

On the plane from Boston to Madrid on the way to my first meeting of my new team for 2004, Saunier Duval-Prodir, I was so anxious that I could barely eat anything or even be bothered by the 3 screaming kids that shared my row. I was on my way meet up with my new squad, a European Division One team and had no idea what to expect when I arrived in Madrid. It was like going from Double A ball to the Major Leagues! But thanks to all who helped me in this endeavour, especially John Profaci of Colavita-Bolla, who released me from my previous contract with him and encouraged me to make the move once Mauro Gianetti of Saunier Duval-Prodir made me an offer.

I had been told that I would be picked up by two of my new teammates, but I didn't know who they would be. I got a phone call from Mauro Gianetti telling me to take a shuttle to a nearby hotel and wait for them to get out of the Vuelta presentation that was taken place nearby. I looked up from my newspaper to see Martin Pedriguero strutting over totally dressed to the nines. He was looking super-euro, hair done and a sweet suit; we shook hands and walked out to the car where Ruben Lobato was standing next to his Mercedes all dialled in as well. I felt like I walked into an episode of the Spanish Sopranos, but these guys were a little skinnier! We stopped by Pedriguero and Lobato's houses in Madrid for them to change and to switch cars.

Then we hit the road for the northwest coast of Spain on the autopista in Pedriguero's sweet BMW wagon towards Santander where the camp would be held. Through my high school Espanol and their MTV English, we went back and forth most of the way. I was starting to crack from the long flight, but still kept an eye open to brace myself for the long sweepers in the road that were taking at 160kmh. Once at the luxurious El Gran Hotel Punte Viesgo, we had a few minutes to hit the thermal baths below the hotel before dinner started. El Gran Hotel Punte Viesgo is a sponsor of the team and had set up time for us to steam. We'll be getting back to the hotel a few more times during the year. Can't wait. Rubens Bertogliati was my roommate for the camp. He's the Swiss rider who shocked everyone at the 2002 Tour De France in Luxembourg when he attacked on the final rise leading to the finish of the first road stage to stay away and steal the yellow.

Rubens seems like a great guy, we had even spoken to each other a couple of times during last year while in Malaysia and Poland. He was anxious to practice English and I was trying my best to respond in espanol. Of course being Swiss he's pretty dialled into languages and had no problem drifting in and out. I then crashed pretty early and slept like a rock. In the morning we met up for a ride and I was handed my new bike for the season. It's a Scott Carbon frame with Shimano Dura-Ace and Mavic wheels. I was used to having a really nice ride on Saturn but this bike really goes another step. Being a large team with a varied schedule we are each going to have a few bikes, each with an identical set up, at the service course(s) in Spain and Italy. Just going off of numbers that I sent the team, the Scott Carbon was a great fit right away. Each rider had a meeting with the team doctor and the directors. The fitness testing on the bike showed where everyone was in early season fitness and to find markers to work from for the season. We were all joking about how no one really needs a test to tell them they are out of shape, or a body fat test to tell them their fat. I felt good about my fitness and the team doctor told me I was right where I needed to be at this time of the year.

My meeting with our 3 directors and Mauro Gianetti went well. We spent some time looking over the 2004 race schedule and picking out the races that would allow me to fit for the first half of the season and sketch out the second half. I'll try to be healthy and fit for the months of April, May and June. If I'm riding well I could have a chance to ride the Giro d'Italia. From there I'll try and carry some fitness into Philly for the Wachovia USPRO races. Saunier Duval-Prodir will be racing at the T-Mobile GP San Francisco as well, so I hope to be at my best for both. During the month of July, there's not much racing in Europe so I'll be free to come home and rest and get ready for the second half which will revolve around the Vuelta.

Since it is such a long year, my goal is to enter the 2004 season fresh, healthy and ready for a big load. It's going to be hard with all the races being so new to me, I'll have to adapt. Luckily for me, the directors on Saunier Duval-Prodir understand that. They will try and ease me into the season. We have one of the best teams in Spain and will have the goal of working well together and making the most of our chances. We will not be trying for the Tour, but for a Spanish team like Saunier-Duval, La Vuelta is just as important. For a Spanish team to do well in the Vuelta is a real sign of longevity and success. The team is also doing the Giro d'Italia, which will be the first big objective and a chance for the Italian contingent to shine.

At the team lunch after our one on one meetings, we had a speech by Mauro Gianetti. He welcomed everyone and explained that the most important goal is to build respect for one another, be united as a team and to keep the goal of the entire team above all. Since it's a new team everyone must be motivated to show that we are together and will act as one. His points were really well taken and actually very familiar to me. During my time at Saturn, the team goal was the most important thing. It created the fabric that the whole team was built around. We would always do whatever it took to get the team win. I remember during the Nature Valley Grand Prix last year when Trent Klasna apologized to Viktor Rapinski for winning the race! Victor had a hard final stage and Trent had been off the front marking an early move. Trent solo'd to the win, and gained enough time while everyone eyed Viktor, that he took the overall. It became Trent's win, but something that all of us were happy to see, even Viktor, who also apologized, but for having a bad day. Hopefully at Saunier Duval-Prodir we could have a situation like that with a real team win.

Then each of the riders stood up and introduced ourselves after Mauro's speech. After the first day or meetings and greetings, a few of us went to a local fair, JuVeCaNt, that evening. The hall was packed with locals from the area and we hung out in the Saunier Duval booth and met a few fans. Everyone seemed excited for the new team. Spanish cycling has been shaken up with Banesto and ONCE changing sponsors, and Kelme under the gun. Add the fact that Beloki has split to France, it's going to make for a different looking peloton this year.

Save for a few guys that still had their testing to do, the entire team went out for a ride in the area around Santander. It's on the northern coast in Cantabria and still kind of chilly. Some of the roads are on the route for the Vuelta in September so we all talked about what's going to happen and who will be the rider to watch. Riding with a Spanish team talking about the biggest race in Spain is a wild experience. Actually riding with a couple guys who have stage wins to their credit, brings it that much closer. Joaquin Rodriguez, a ONCE rider last year who held the golden jersey in the Vuelta, told me all about his family, his Mini-Cooper and the Vespa he's got at home. He told me how his hair stood up on end at the mountaintop finishes in the Basque country and the extra energy that jolted through him. After the team ride I needed to catch a ride back to Madrid with Lobato again and stay near the airport for my flight back on Sunday afternoon. As we retraced our route along the Autopista back to Madrid, from just four days ago, it hit me just how different things had become. The anxiousness and nervousness that I felt on the way out to Santander wasn't nearly as strong on the way back. I was now driving back with a teammate and someone that I will definitely get to know better as the year goes on. I'm in Santa Barbara now for some warm weather riding and will head back to Spain in mid-January when I'll send my next report.

Happy New Year
Hasta
Tim