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2004 Tour de France
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Bobby Julich Interview
By Thomas Valentinsen
Jun 30, 2004, 12:59
Roadcycling.com’s Thomas Valentinsen talks to Team CSC rider Bobby Julich about his move to Team CSC, the team’s chances in the 2004 Tour de France, and life after pro cycling.
Describe how and why you ended up riding for Team CSC?
I was very interested in the team from the beginning. Not only because of Tyler Hamilton, but I watched Bjarne get the best out of his riders. I was very curious, and now I’m very happy I was one of the last signings at the end of 2003, where I actually thought about ending my career after some disappointing seasons.
Was there any involvement with Tyler Hamilton and you signing with Team CSC?
No. We’ve had very minimal contact, as we’ve always been on different teams with different objectives.
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| Bobby Julich with his daughter Olivia. Photo copyright Angela Julich. |
You had a long fallow period before you joined CSC. What is the difference between Team CSC and the other teams that you have ridden for?
In general I think it’s the leadership of Bjarne (Riis), Kim (Andersen), Sean (Yates) and Alain (Gallopin). They’re installing confidence, and I’d been lacking confidence the last couple of years, so I seemed unprepared. Now the team has given me a lot more energy to focus on riding my bike.
What do you perceive to be Team CSC’s main strengths and limiters?
The main strength is teamwork. Bjarne has preached teamwork from the beginning as one of our most important values. I don’t really see any limits, as we have a strong team with a very diverse make up of guys. Perhaps we need a high level sprinter, but on the other hand the team has never focused on that.
What are Team CSC’s main goals in this year’s Tour de France?
The main goal is to get a rider on the podium. Tyler came close last year, and with Basso, Sastre, Jaksche, Voigt and myself able to go for the GC, we have a good a chance as everyone to get a rider on the podium. Second on the list is winning the team time trial, which I’ve tried before on Credit Agricole. It’s an amazing feeling, not only for the riders, but for the whole staff and sport group surrounding the team. It’ll be difficult to win three stages like the team did last year, but sometimes a stage victory comes along while pursuing other goals.
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| Bobby Julich (Left) pulling hard on the roads of France. Photo copyright Fotoreporter Sirotti. |
Describe your role in trying to obtain these goals.
I think my role on the team is very important. I’m one of the most experienced guys on the team, I’ve been on the podium, I’ve won the team time trial, so I know a lot of day-to-day tricks, little things here and there to help you save energy. I’m not putting any pressure on myself regarding the GC, cause first of all I’m there to help Basso and Sastre. Then we’ll see how the race develops.
You have been performing very well since your switch to Team CSC. However, you had one or two off days in this year’s Tour of Switzerland. Explain what happened?
It was my first race in Europe after almost two months in USA. I felt very strong, and perhaps over confident in the first stages, but as we hit the high mountains, I didn’t feel like I had the form to stay in the front group. Perhaps I was a little bit too exited the first days.
Have you taken any steps to make sure that history won’t repeat itself in the Tour de France?
Well, I’m definitely more hungry now going into the Tour, than if I’d made the podium in Switzerland, but there’s no crystal ball, the Tour is a battle every day. There are gonna be days when you take one on the chin.
In what stages should our readers look out for Team CSC? When can they expect to see you excel?
The team time trial is the first big test. The next week could be very important, as everybody’s waiting for the Alpe d’Huez time trial. Here we’ll go for stage wins, but I think it’s in the last week of the Tour you’ll see Team CSC make its mark on the race.
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| Bobby Julich (Right) on the podium at Paris-Nice in the spring of 2004. Will he reach the podium in this year's Tour de France? Stay tuned to Roadcycling.com to find out! Photo copyright Fotoreporter Sirotti. |
You have been part of the pro scene for a long time. Do you see your current contract as your last one, or do you see a future in cycling beyond it?
When you at last find what you’ve been looking for your whole career, you wanna continue. I’ll be 33 in November, and I hope to be on the team for at least two more years. In my opinion, it’s important to keep the core group of guys together.
Both Lance Armstrong and Tyler Hamilton have started their own foundations supporting people in need. Do you plan to do something similar? Why, why not? Tell us about your expectations for your life after pro cycling.
I haven’t really been in a big fundraising awareness campaign. I do however help people by donating money to juniors and things like the 9/11 campaign, but Lance and Tyler have much more of a name than I do, and sometimes things come up naturally. Nothing has come into mind or presented itself in front of me yet. I would like to spend time after my cycling career, helping people on a grassroots level and I’d love to do some charity work, cause the meaning of life is to help other people.
Thank you for taking the time to do an interview with us Bobby. The whole team here at Roadcycling.com wishes you great success in this year’s Tour de France.
Thank you Thomas.
Stay tuned to Roadcycling.com as we continue our 2004 Tour de France coverage...
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