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Published on:

12th Jul 2024

Jordi Meeus: Champs Elysee winner

Last year Jordi Meeus stole the headlines on the Tour de France's prestigious Champs Elysee stage as he beat out his good friend Jasper Philipsen to claim his first stage race. As Bobby and Jens battled the entirety of Europe streaming a football match - they caught up with Jordi from his training camp in Livigno after taking a year away from the Tour.

Following on from our mailbag episode where we questioned what sprinters gain from altitude camps, we find out what Jordi feels he gains from the trips to the mountains and explore the changing face of sprinting in 2024.

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Transcript
Speaker:

Hello everyone, and welcome back

to another episode of The Odd Tandem.

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My name is Bobby Jullich,

and over there in Germany,

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:

we've got Jens back

from hanging off the side

4

:

of a motorbike for a couple of weeks

at the tour de France, Jensie.

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How was it, man?

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It was as good as always.

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the way I try to put

it is being on a motorbike

8

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in the race is almost like a comeback

without the pain in the legs.

9

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So it's actually. It's pretty good.

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You’re in there?

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You can smell the air.

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You can feel the wind. See?

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And you feel the quality of the surface.

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How the road bends.

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You feel the love of the fans,

the passion of the fans.

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It is pretty fantastic.

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But also it's, yeah, it's long days,

you know,

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you got to go to the start line,

got to got to be there.

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Like two hours before for the riders

show up.

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So three hours before the start basically.

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Then sometimes A 1,2 or even 2.5 hour,

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transfer like, you know, driving at six

until eight thirty dinner at nine.

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You’re basically in bed by midnight.

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But I'm not complaining.

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Also, one thing is, you embrace

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life really hard because you actually know

the chances little,

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but the chance is there that behind

the next turn it is actually all over.

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So you actually you embrace

life really hard.

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It makes you feel alive.

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Well, we're very happy that you survived.

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one question, though,

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because I used to drive the second car

or when I was out motor pacing riders,

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like you said,

I got the sensation and the fatigue,

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the mental fatigue of focus,

that I would have gotten in the bike race.

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I just didn't get the physical exertion,

so, you know,

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okay, my adrenaline was poppin

and everything was going crazy.

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But then once the race was over,

I was exhausted.

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Was that the same for you?

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Once you got out of that bubble?

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Of all the racers

and looking at all the fans.

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Did that light switch just go off and

you just feel exhausted all of a sudden?

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yes. Absolutely.

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Like, like a tire,

like pshhhhh you're losing air.

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But only if I'm if I'm in my room when

I'm out there, you know, you, like, go.

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Okay, today's work is done.

Okay. Just walk to a car.

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Somebody goes, hey, Jensie! Shut Up Legs!

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And then hey, I'm

an entertainer I'm like Freddie Mercury.

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I'm born. You know to entertain people.

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I go, hey, here I am, I’m

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the Jensie Even though you're, like,

completely tired, have no energy.

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But, you know, some of these people,

they waited a year or two years

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to see the tour de France.

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And then when you see you,

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at least you got to give them a smile

or little wave or little handshake.

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Right?

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So, yeah, but once, like,

you know, after dinner, I'm in my room.

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It's basically I just have enough energy

to brush my teeth, and then I, I be in bed

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and, like, completely done

and trying to recharge my batteries.

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You're one of a kind man of the people,

you know.

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So just to let our viewers know,

we had a little bit

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of technical difficulties today

recording our guest.

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And I'll let Jens introduce the guest here

after this, because of the European

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semifinal soccer or football match

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where Spain is playing whom Jensie,

ah France.

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Spain is playing France.

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So excuse us if we don't have

the video portion of the podcast today,

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because it was a little bit tricky

trying to get internet connection,

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like because we got about

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500 million people

living in the entire Europe

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and probably 385 million of them

were streaming to see the semifinal.

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So that's why I guess Europe wide,

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the internet was just a little slow

and caused problems of all kinds.

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And our guest today,

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Jordi Meeus,

was actually not only a great interview,

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but he had the game on behind him

the whole time during the interview.

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So sit back and relax

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and listen to our great interview

that we had with you already today.

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All right. Here we are.

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Here we are.

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Jordi Meeus, welcome to The Odd Tandem.

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Thanks. Happy to be here.

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Thanks for the invite, man.

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You know, here we are.

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You know the tour de France is happening.

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tell us a little bit about where you are

and what you're doing right now.

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Obviously,

I'm not in the tour at, at the moment.

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I'm, in Livigno a little bit

outside of Livigno in, in Trepalle

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on an altitude training camp to prepare,

the second part of the season.

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And Trepalle is

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the the town above Livigno, right?

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Yeah, exactly.

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So I think the center of Livigno is,

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around 1800 meters of altitude.

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And, where I am at the moment is, 2200m.

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So, it's a bit more optimal for,

for the best altitude, gain, let's say.

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And is it full on chockablock there

right now

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with, with cyclists

that, or athletes in general?

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It's quite busy at the moment.

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Yeah. A couple of teams are here.

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a lot of teams are also down in Livigno.

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But yeah, myself and a couple of other,

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individual guys are, are here,

a little bit higher.

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Do you by any chance

see any other Olympic athletes,

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like runners training at altitude

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from different nations or national teams

for different sports There as well?

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Or is it just cyclist?

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it's just,

I think the Olympic team from Denmark

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is here from the track,

in the same hotel as I am at the moment.

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And then,

I see quite some individual athletes.

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I think there are a couple of mountain

bike riders.

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I also have seen some,

some people running

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and, doing the, the skates already,

so I'm not sure

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if they go to the Olympics, but,

it could be.

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Could be, well, possible. Yeah.

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Wow. So

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to our viewers and our listeners

that don't know, Jordi

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won the final stage of the tour de France

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last year on the Champs Elysee.

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Jordi,

tell us a little bit about that stage.

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Your memories from that stage.

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Yeah, I remember, starting

from from Saturday after the stage.

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It was a really long, long transfer,

going to to Paris.

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I think we had 4 or 5 hours

in the evening on Saturday night.

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so we arrived at 12 in the hotel.

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then we still had to have proper dinner

and everything.

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So then I rushed myself to bed

as soon as possible.

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then in the morning,

we had another, 3 to 4 hour drive,

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and yeah, I remember, it

it all wasn't ideal for a lot of guys.

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The, the tour was finished

already. It was just,

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Yeah, let's call it the crit on the Champs

Elysee but,

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yeah, for me, it was the last opportunity

to try to win the stage.

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And, I remember

also was a bit of a strange feeling

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was my first, tour

I would finish and, Yeah.

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Then when the stage started,

it was all new for me.

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the the picture of the,

the yellow jerseys

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with the teams and,

the green jersey and all of those things.

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And then from the moment we,

we came closer and closer

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to the, to the city of Paris.

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yeah. The,

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the atmosphere got more and more tense

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it was fighting for a position

and then from.

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Yeah, it was basically,

a roller coaster going to, to the Champs

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Elysee, doing the laps

and preparing for a sprint and, yeah,

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also I the most of the images

I remember is from, video

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images or pictures that I've seen because,

at that moment, it was,

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it was all a little bit of, of a rush

and kind of a high.

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I was in.

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So, to be really clear,

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many, many people

call it the stage on the champs elysee

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the unofficial world

championships of the sprinters.

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I don't think there's a bigger win

or maybe not many bigger wins

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a sprinter can have.

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Jordi that day you used

just the normal bike or you did

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bigger tires, smaller tires,

less air pressure because of

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little cobblestones,

bigger, smaller chainring.

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Did you change anything on your bike

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or was just entirely identical

like all the other days?

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no. Normally I, I ride a 55 in front.

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that day we changed to 56.

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the big chainring, because, yeah,

we know with the cobbles

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it's better to have one gear bigger

than to spin the legs a lot.

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with the risk off of the back wheel

just jumping a lot.

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And, we changed tyre pressure slightly.

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We used the same tyres

that were basically the only two things

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we have changed.

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Jeez, but, I mean, you just said it.

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It was your first tour de France,

and you win arguably the most

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famous stage, but in your first tour

de France, you didn't know what to expect.

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You had to have suffered.

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And I'm curious not only about

your feeling of achievement,

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but what did you have to suffer through

to get to the Champs in the first place?

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Was there any 1 or 2 stages

where you were just like, man,

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I, I'm going to bag this. I can't do it.

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Yeah, actually, the first

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time I thought about this was,

the first stage

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already, I felt really bad, actually,

I have to say,

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I don't know, it was something in the air

there in Bilbao.

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The humidity was super high, and, Yeah,

I remember I, I was quite in trouble,

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breathing and getting enough oxygen in.

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then I remember I was with Cav

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and I think 3 or 4 other Astana guys,

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they basically brought me

to the finish line that moment

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I thought it that it was going to be,

or a really long three weeks

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or a really short, couple of days for me.

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luckily, through the race,

I, I developed a bit,

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then the second, second moment,

I had this feeling

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was when, my teammates, Jai

Hindley took the yellow jersey.

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It was up to us to, to lead the race.

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And I was, trying to control the,

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the breakaway on the tour

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de so I was riding all the way

through the valley, to Aspin,

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then on the bottom of the Aspin

my my job was done.

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remember, I was really struggling,

holding up, with the big bunch.

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I think it was.

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Only Kevin

and Caleb dropped at that moment,

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so a really small group

at the beginning of the stage.

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then I was really struggling all day.

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so Aspin was really hard.

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And then we went, up to Tourmalet,

and then I think another one

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other climb [Cauterets-Cambasque]

where we had to finish,

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so that was super hard, but I knew,

it was from my work in the beginning.

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And, yeah, other than that, of course,

I was struggling a lot, but,

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I wasn't the worst climber in the tour,

so, that made it a bit more,

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enjoyable, let's say.

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the from

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I have been in the grupetto 1

or 2 times as well.

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Of course,

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what I experienced, there's actually quite

some camaraderie there, right?

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People

help each other. Hey, you want a bottle?

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You need a power gel,

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Hey, I have whatever - I have

another pair of gloves, a rain jacket.

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If it's raining.

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Is that still like this that people like

once the all in the same boat

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and you just go on pure survival

to actually help each other?

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Yeah, it's.

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It's still like this.

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yeah.

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The first phase is it's a bit difficult

because everyone tries to find his spot

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in the bunch, let's say.

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But, for a couple of days, when you,

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when you see, familiar faces,

then it's definitely still like this.

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if if someone is thirsty, but doesn't

have a bottle from the team for sure.

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other guys will will help him.

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same with gels or,

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I don't know, all these all these things

that, make our lives, a bit more easy.

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I, I'm super interested to ask you

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about the mindset that you had.

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I know that your team has made some

changes, and maybe we can talk about that

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a little bit later, but you were on the

the long list for the tour de France.

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You did the tour de Suisse to get ready

for the, for the mountainous stages.

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what is it

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like to be on the other end of that phone

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when the team calls and says,

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hey, thanks for winning the last stage

last year.

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thanks for doing

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everything that you've done this year

to prepare to be as good as you can.

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But we've decided to take somebody else.

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how how was that for you?

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yeah.

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I mean, I think we have to start, really,

almost half a year, back.

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So in December,

we we have the team camp, there.

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We already had the meeting about,

the discussion about programs there.

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They already were pretty straightforward

that there was a really, slim chance for

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me going to the tour again.

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because

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as we all know, the team has Roglic now,

and they really had one goal,

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that was to win

the GC of the tour de France

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and still is the goal, which I think it's

still possible, by the way.

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But, yeah.

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So I wasn't really preparing,

going to the tour.

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the closer it came, the,

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the more the team let me knew that I was

still was a reserve rider.

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That's also one of the reasons

why I went to tour de Suisse.

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So in case anything happened

with, one of the guys, I would go.

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But, yeah, I have to say, in my mind,

I was I was never really part of of the A

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team that was going, also because,

the team was, was quite clear about that.

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yeah.

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Earlier at the program discussions,

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my question was a little lower down

my list, but I going to bring it up now.

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It's an idea you can

you can call it stupid.

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Feel free.

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It's an idea

it came to me over the last year.

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Wouldn't it be a good idea

to have a sprinter like you

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as a personal bodyguard for Primoz?

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That pretty much is, like,

glued to your wheel - they tell you.

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Look, you already know sprinting at all,

but you always have Primoz.

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On every flat stage.

You have Primoz on your wheel.

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You bring him safely into the last

five kilometers or to the finish line.

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Because, I mean, you're big, strong man.

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You demand respect.

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You know how to move to the peloton

and pretty much behind you.

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Wouldn't that be the safest place ever?

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Would that be a good idea?

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Or you go, nah, that's stupid.

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I'm a sprinter and I cannot do that job.

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What is your opinion about that?

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No, I think

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it could definitely be an option.

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but on the other side,

I think, the guy who is always

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in the best position doing

that is a lead out for, for a sprinter,

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which, that we have Danny Van Poppel

even in the team, he's used to

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to keeping the space open for one,

one extra guy to follow as a sprinter.

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you don't care how small the gap is.

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You don't care

if if someone can follow you or not.

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Actually,

you prefer someone not to follow you.

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So the other sprinters

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are not on your wheel anymore

while Danny, he is used to the opposite.

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He also wants to be in the front,

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but he knows he has to take care

of one more guy behind him.

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I think I can do the job also,

but in this case, I think,

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then he was the safer options.

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And then it's always,

it's always hard for a team to to select,

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only eight guys from, 30,

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30 guy, roster,

which you, you need to have the, the right

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climbing legs, the,

the right flat support legs.

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so, yeah,

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for sure,

I want to go back to the tour de France.

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but I have to say, I wasn't pushing

too much to to go this year again

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also because, it's not finishing in the

in Paris this year.

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So, that makes it,

that makes the pill a bit,

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less bitter to to swallow.

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Very well put, very well put.

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So you guys are out there

training at altitude, living like monks.

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Are you

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actually planning your training hours

so you can get back and watch the tour?

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Are you watching the tour at all?

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You paying attention to it?

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For sure.

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that's why I started cycling, because I.

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I really love the sport, and, I still do.

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It's, it's getting a bit different

when you're when you're into this world

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yourself, but, yeah, I try to, to watch,

the bigger races, especially the tour de

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France and, yeah,

they finish always quite,

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a nice, hour in the day for us.

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so mostly we, we leave around ten

if we have a really long day.

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It's, 930, but we are always making time

to, to watch the finish, which is,

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super nice.

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And, when you describe

us, your day on the Champs Elysee.

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You mentioned your 56 chainring.

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I have been the first nine days

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on the motorbike

for Eurosport at the tour.

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And 55-56 is the new normal.

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Why do you think is that it does.

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Do the sprints go faster and faster

or is it.

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You don't have to push the 11.

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You can maybe do a 56, 57, 12

for a better chain line.

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Or is it so fast?

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You need all the gears you can get?

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Yeah, I,

I wish it was, just off the faster

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chain line, but, all of the sprints

I did were on the 11, in the tour.

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So the pace is just so high.

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I think it's, Yeah, we we all have the,

the most aerodynamic

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bikes, the fastest suits, the,

the fastest helmets.

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So, yeah, the speed is just so high that,

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you run out of, out of meters.

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Let's say if you use a smaller chainring.

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Well, you just

mentioned that you're a fan of the sport.

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The tour de France is one of the races

that got you into it.

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You're watching.

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Let me tell you, 16 years into retirement,

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I get up every morning

and I'm watching every stage of the tour.

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So I'm a super fan, even though I've been

in the sport a very, very long time.

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And part of being a super fan and part

of getting up so early in the morning

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was to see

if Cav could win his 35th stage.

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And I know this is a podcast about you,

but I'm very, very curious to hear

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what you think of sir Mark

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Cavendish breaking Eddie Merckx's record.

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you being Belgian?

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what

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what do you think about what happened

on the on the fifth stage this year

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in the tour?

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Yeah, I think, I

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speak for for all of the, the sport fans

in the world, all of the cycling fans

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in the world that it's just,

really unique that he actually did it.

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I think the last two years, three years

of his career was only with one goal.

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that was winning this, 35th stage.

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And, in the tour and,

yeah, let's say he,

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he could win all the other races

if he didn't win his stage in the tour.

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It was for nothing.

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Let's say,

so it's it's really crazy that he did it.

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And, I think,

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we can only have a lot of respect for,

for the commitment he is still putting in.

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And,

I was together with him in Tour de Suisse.

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that was also with the goal

to prepare the tour.

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And, I saw him struggling there every day

in the group,

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the same as the other guys

that were there.

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But, you know, for him, it was

it was super special

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because,

he also knows that it is last year.

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And, then to actually win

a stage in the tour, he's 35th already.

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to win one is already super hard.

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And then to think that he won 35.

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This is really crazy actually.

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So, Jordi, when are we going to see you

back Racing with a number on your back.

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What is the second half of the year

look for you like?

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Is the Vuelta on your program

or different races somewhere in between.

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Some one day classics.

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The Vuelta was on my program, but,

together with the team,

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we decided to skip it.

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there's probably only 2 to 3 sprint.

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stages in this year's Vuelta

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which is, not optimal,

for, for me personally.

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So we decided to, to start again

in, Tour de Wallonie,

383

:

going to Poland, tour of Germany,

and then some one day races in Belgium

384

:

to to try to really, optimize the,

the sprints and,

385

:

go for, for wins.

386

:

And what do you believe

387

:

a sprinter can achieve training

at altitude up there

388

:

in Trepalle Livigno doing all the Italian

climbs down the other side.

389

:

what is the name of the pass

390

:

that goes the other way towards Italy?

391

:

Not towards the Gavia but,

392

:

it begins with an F.

393

:

I think the Forcola is.

394

:

So the only place where you can ride flat

395

:

is basically back and down on the lake,

396

:

basically underneath the altitude

or the avalanche shelter.

397

:

Right? Yeah.

398

:

So what what sort of training do you do

399

:

and what do you sprinters

hope to accomplish?

400

:

at altitude camps?

401

:

I'm just curious.

402

:

yeah, I, I know that some sprinters

don't like, the altitude camps.

403

:

they feel that, they lose

a little bit of, explosiveness for me.

404

:

I don't see myself as, a pure sprinter.

405

:

I know, I,

I need to be fresh in the final

406

:

to really be up there in the sprints.

407

:

so, yeah, the goal is just to

408

:

to arrive fresher in the finals and,

Yeah.

409

:

Then, of course, it's important to

to don't lose the speed in the legs, but,

410

:

yeah, this period, it's, it's

just about getting the hours done.

411

:

use some

412

:

intensity to to sharp the

the shape a little bit.

413

:

I know I need a couple of,

motor paced sessions when I get home,

414

:

but I always react quite, quite

well on altitude. So.

415

:

Yeah, the the goal is basically

416

:

just to get the general shape up

and then work on the sprints.

417

:

when I'm back at home in Belgium,

418

:

would it be an option for you?

419

:

You already to

to do some weightlifting in the gym,

420

:

like just a short session, like ten,

20 minutes, just like high weights

421

:

and like, whatever, three times five reps,

you know, was

422

:

was high weights

to keep the explosive power alive.

423

:

And you do weight

training during the winter?

424

:

Yes. I do quite a lot of weight training

during the winter.

425

:

once the races get started,

it's a little bit difficult

426

:

because you get so much,

muscle inflammation

427

:

already in the races that you basically

want to recover in between.

428

:

But in moments like this,

when I don't have a lot of races

429

:

and it's a longer training period,

then I definitely go to the gym.

430

:

not really to build the explosive

431

:

power again,

but really to, to maintain it.

432

:

that's also what I'm doing now.

433

:

And if you

434

:

don't mind, what sort of exercises do

sprinters do at altitude camps

435

:

when they're just trying

to maintain their strength?

436

:

in the gym?

437

:

I'm basically just doing,

squats and, step ups.

438

:

but like I said,

it's, it's not to really to build up.

439

:

So the sessions are really short,

but just to get yeah.

440

:

The muscles, that they get used to the,

441

:

to the intensity again

and to maintain it, the, the building up

442

:

phase is more in the winter where I do, 3

to 4 times, weight sessions.

443

:

now it's more, 1 to 2.

444

:

so yeah, then on the bike,

it's, it's also just getting the,

445

:

the fast

muscle fibers, activated with some via

446

:

to, feel two efforts

and some short accelerations.

447

:

So, you are there with the team, right?

448

:

You got a coach there, you got a massage

therapist and mechanics and everything.

449

:

Like the entire setup?

450

:

no, this is a personal camp.

451

:

so it's, own investment.

452

:

hopefully I get some return on it,

but, no, I, I like to be here.

453

:

I have my girlfriend here.

454

:

my parents are coming with the camper

for a couple of days,

455

:

so it's also a small holidays for them.

456

:

And, Yeah, I know, I know a masseur

457

:

here, cleaning

the bike is a job I do myself

458

:

after training, but,

Yeah, it's it's nice, I like it.

459

:

I always, it's good for the morale

here in Livigno I like it here.

460

:

I always return with a good shape.

461

:

So, I like to do it.

462

:

Yeah.

463

:

Is beautiful. Is the weather

okay up there right now?

464

:

Is because it's always kind of this

go from time to time in June.

465

:

Yeah, exactly.

one day is not the other here.

466

:

for example, two days ago,

it was raining all day, and today,

467

:

up here, it's it's 19, 20 degrees.

468

:

And in the valley, it's up to 30.

469

:

So, yeah, we have to take it day by day.

470

:

Overall,

I think, it was here two years ago.

471

:

then the weather was a little bit better.

472

:

But, yeah, we can complain today.

473

:

we did almost a six on the

all of our rides.

474

:

got quite the sunburn.

475

:

So, was a good day.

476

:

Yes. So.

477

:

I don't want to get you in trouble here,

but you are Belgian.

478

:

let's say on one of those rainy days

479

:

where you have a day off the next day,

480

:

during the off season or.

481

:

Hey, after you won the stage in, in Paris

482

:

last year,

what is your favorite Belgian beer?

483

:

I have to say, I like, Leffe

484

:

I actually, I, I'm

485

:

quite of, dessert guy,

so I like the more sweeter things.

486

:

So if I drink one, it's mostly a dark one,

a brown one, which, are quite heavy,

487

:

so I don't drink a lot of them, but,

Yeah, a

488

:

dark left is always nice

489

:

for our viewers to explain.

490

:

A dark Leffe for some of them,

they go up to 12%.

491

:

That is a percentage

492

:

like a glass of wine has just that

the Leffe you drink in a high litre glass.

493

:

So it is it is strong beer

and it's absolutely fantastic.

494

:

It's a good choice.

495

:

You already I had a few of them myself.

496

:

That is a good choice.

497

:

Jordi and this year's tour de France.

498

:

touch wood.

499

:

We haven't seen too many crashes.

500

:

Only four riders are forced to abandon.

501

:

Why do you think is it

that at this tour de France?

502

:

We see.

503

:

Fortunately, not the big mass crashes.

504

:

Is everybody getting smarter?

505

:

Is it just pure luck or you think

the organisers organised the race,

506

:

the finish lines a little better.

507

:

phwoa it.

508

:

That's quite hard to say.

509

:

for sure.

510

:

Everyone, is 100% focused in the tour.

511

:

Like always, the stress is super high.

512

:

But I think also,

we cannot underestimate,

513

:

how hard the first few days were.

514

:

I mean, when it was almost 40 degrees,

quite hilly.

515

:

yeah.

516

:

The, the gaps in the bunch

are getting a little bit bigger.

517

:

I think that

518

:

that could be one of the reasons

why there are a little bit less crashes.

519

:

But still, if you look at the television

images, it's still super tight.

520

:

And, yeah, it's

hard to say what the exact reason is.

521

:

I saw a few crashes already.

522

:

luckily, not so bad.

523

:

I hope it stays like this.

524

:

but what the real reason is

525

:

because, why there weren't

too many must crashes this year.

526

:

it's really hard to say.

527

:

I think.

528

:

Bobby can I have a follow up

question here already.

529

:

If you'll be a course designer

or race director tomorrow,

530

:

how would the perfect last five kilometers

of a sprint that day look for you?

531

:

If you had the freedom

to decide the last five, maybe

532

:

10 or 5km of a sprint that day

what would you do?

533

:

How would it look like

in a way that you think that's actually

534

:

a good circuit or a good finish for us?

535

:

I think it would prefer to be quite flat.

536

:

so that's good.

537

:

Definitely not, downhill,

538

:

because then the speeds are so high

and everyone, still wants to move up.

539

:

It's also easier to move up if you come

from the back out of the slipstream.

540

:

so I think it should be flat

and it could be a small,

541

:

small few bumps inside that, the guys with

542

:

the legs are in front,

and we don't have these, kamikazes.

543

:

Who who are there just to to be there

because, they they want to take risks.

544

:

and then

for me, I think it's not bad to have a few

545

:

wide corners inside that the bunch

gets a little bit stretched out

546

:

because we've seen quite a lot already

that, the last

547

:

seven ks are straight

on the four lane road.

548

:

And that makes it actually super dangerous

because everyone wants to come

549

:

in the last moments.

550

:

so let's say a couple of corners and then,

yeah, the last, let's say

551

:

7 to 800m, in a straight line,

552

:

let's say preferably, 2 to 3 lane road.

553

:

Well, back when I was racing,

Jens raced a little bit longer,

554

:

so maybe it's a little bit

different from him.

555

:

We only had the 1km rule.

556

:

Then they moved it out to the 3km rule.

557

:

And now it's like between the 4km

and 5km rule.

558

:

I remember being up there

559

:

bouncing around

right before the last kilometer

560

:

and a, a sprinter friend of ours,

561

:

Robin McEwen, looked at me and said,

562

:

it's about time

to get you the heck out of the way.

563

:

And I was just as soon as we hit

that 1km to go kite.

564

:

I was like,

yes, Robbie, you're absolutely right.

565

:

And, just a little funny side story here.

566

:

When we'd be getting ready for a climb

and he'd be up boxing for position

567

:

in the front,

568

:

I got him back and I turned around

and I said,

569

:

hey, Robbie, it's time for you

to get the heck out of here. But.

570

:

So what do you think of this

571

:

elongation of the

from the 3km rule to the 5km rule?

572

:

do you think it makes sense?

573

:

Do you think it makes it safer?

And do you think it.

574

:

Maybe that's one of the reasons

why we're not seeing as many crashes.

575

:

Yeah, for me, it's a good thing.

576

:

I mean, they have to see it,

case by case.

577

:

For me, it doesn't make sense to

to make the three rule, three k rule.

578

:

Now, if by definition A5K rule,

579

:

it also depends on the course, but

that makes no sense to, to make the trick.

580

:

A rule in inside of a 90 degree corner.

581

:

Very strict case.

582

:

So there I think it's good to,

to make it a little bit earlier

583

:

or sometimes a little bit later maybe.

584

:

I know they, they will not make it

closer than the 3km rule. No.

585

:

But I think it's really good

for safeness.

586

:

you guys have been in the bunch

long enough to,

587

:

to know that, the

the climbers just missed

588

:

a little bit of explosiveness

to be really short on the wheel or,

589

:

or sometimes the sprinters don't like it

when, when they're there.

590

:

So, yeah, I think it's good

to, to see it case by case.

591

:

And it definitely,

will improve the safety us

592

:

why we talk about rules.

593

:

There's a few measures the UCI is trying

to implement and trying to test.

594

:

One of them would be

the yellow card system.

595

:

So if let's say a sprinter

or some rider early in the race

596

:

misbehaves, it's a yellow card.

597

:

And I don't know

if these three yellow cards is a red card.

598

:

And you get relegated or something,

or you have to stay home for five days.

599

:

I don't know why what it will be.

600

:

Do you think that's a good idea?

601

:

Or you go and,

602

:

we only catch you people de caught on TV

and we don't catch the wants.

603

:

Do you push in the peloton without the TV?

604

:

You think it would help to make riding

safer and riders

605

:

would give more respect to each other

because you afraid of the yellow card?

606

:

I think it could, definitely help. Yes.

607

:

but it's a really hard task to,

608

:

to make the,

let's say the border where it's, time

609

:

to give a yellow card or or a, let's say

it's just below, for sure.

610

:

If you get the yellow card,

you will have, immediately.

611

:

Then the situations where you say, okay,

but then this guy also should have one.

612

:

So it's really hard.

613

:

But I definitely think that it,

it makes sense to get,

614

:

some kind of rule like this.

615

:

but yeah, then

616

:

you also know if,

if it's, three, three yellow card rule

617

:

and you don't have one yet that you can

you can actually do something

618

:

that is a little bit over the limit.

619

:

So yeah, maybe it's also better to,

to make it right or make it wrong.

620

:

So you only have two options and not to

to make it halfway and get a yellow card.

621

:

So it's definitely

something to think about.

622

:

Yeah I never thought of it like that.

623

:

That makes perfect sense.

624

:

But you already listen.

625

:

I know nothing about sprinting.

626

:

I was never even close

to winning a sprint in my life.

627

:

But, you know, due to the drone,

628

:

the TV coverage, the motorcycle coverage

and the armchair

629

:

quarterbacks up out there,

it seems like we're having

630

:

a lot more controversial

finishes in sprints.

631

:

And do you guys actually even have time

because you're up there

632

:

getting a lead out?

633

:

It's 200m to go, 150m to go.

634

:

You guys are maximum

heart rate glycogen empty

635

:

glucose down in the in the basement.

636

:

You're not really thinking straight.

637

:

And you have to make split

second decisions.

638

:

That could be the difference between

winning and losing.

639

:

how aware are you guys of all these rules

640

:

they've put in and all their critique

that some sprinters are getting recently?

641

:

Is it it just you're going on instinct

at that time

642

:

and it's happening at real time

instead of being slowed down

643

:

frame by frame, like what

what what are you thinking about

644

:

when you're in that that mix about ready

to launch your sprint?

645

:

Yeah, it's it's

basically a roller coaster you're in.

646

:

it's true.

647

:

Sometimes you

you get a reaction out of instinct.

648

:

most of the times

you have kind of a feeling,

649

:

if it was over the limit or not.

650

:

But then you, you realize

after the moment happened,

651

:

so, yeah, it's really hard.

652

:

And also, it's also a hard rule

to stay on your line in the last 200m,

653

:

because if you're a sprinter

654

:

that always wants to come really late

out of the slipstream,

655

:

you basically have to stay in

in the wheel of the guy in front of you.

656

:

So yeah, it's always really hard.

You don't.

657

:

You don't have eyes on your back

so you don't know who is who's behind you.

658

:

If it's on the left side of your real,

the right side of your real.

659

:

So it's super easy if you have the

660

:

like the helicopter images

and it's, definitely way harder.

661

:

if you're on the bike, there yourself

662

:

actually, Jordi,

663

:

I'm supposed to say hi to you

from one of his sport

664

:

directors, Bernie Eisel who was my expert

colleague here at Germany.

665

:

We working together all day

long. It's the.

666

:

Oh, say hi to Jordi And, Bernie

actually had an interesting explanation

667

:

about the sprinters earlier today.

668

:

He said the bike riders are all different

people

669

:

like Bobby, You and me were people

like in the sailing plane

670

:

without the engine, you know, like

just tranquilo floating in the air.

671

:

And sprinters are like jet fighter pilots.

672

:

Do you have a higher

situational awareness?

673

:

And I think he can absorb

he can process information at least

674

:

in the last kilometer quicker

than actually us could.

675

:

Would that be true? You think?

676

:

you are a

677

:

little bit of a of a cooler head

in the final ten,

678

:

like, as if whatever Bobby or me

would get involved in to a sprint.

679

:

I always feel the sprinters have much

more control and much more awareness.

680

:

Okay, he's coming there.

681

:

I see his wheel underneath my arm.

682

:

I can feel the shadow of this rider

coming up.

683

:

Is it true or is it just my idea?

684

:

I think one part of his. It's true.

685

:

But, for me, it's

also a matter of experience.

686

:

If, Bobby and yourself

were in the situation of a sprint,

687

:

or at least contesting for a sprint win,

688

:

let's say 150 times,

you you get the feeling.

689

:

And, the more sprints you do,

the more experienced you get, the more

690

:

the more action reaction you can do.

691

:

let's call it,

every sprint is different,

692

:

but from this high speeds,

you know, for example.

693

:

yeah.

694

:

If one goes,

695

:

if one guy goes on the right side

and the wind is coming

696

:

from, left in the front,

you most likely will get blocked.

697

:

So if you still have a lot of legs left,

you most likely will take the left side.

698

:

And, don't try to get the slipstream

with the risk of getting closed.

699

:

so for sure, I think sprinters are really,

700

:

really sharp

in these last couple of kilometers.

701

:

yeah, you have it or you don't have it,

702

:

but I think you can also learn it

to a certain, to a certain level.

703

:

And you have to have the, the power

to do it.

704

:

Like the reason why if I was there

150 times, no matter how much experience

705

:

I got, I'd still get lost in

the sprint was because my max,

706

:

my maximum power was probably,

don't know, at my best, maybe:

707

:

Like, let's let's put it that way.

708

:

Jordi has more power in his right

arm than we had on our legs.

709

:

so, so I mean, you know,

it's kind of embarrassing.

710

:

Especially the older you get.

711

:

Like, if you see 1000W for one second,

you're like, oh, man,

712

:

you know, I still got it,

but what is your p max like?

713

:

What is what is the biggest number

you've seen?

714

:

for that one

to, you know, two second sort of, power.

715

:

I guess it's a couple of, months ago.

716

:

I'm, I'm not on on the same sprint level

now because also of the hard,

717

:

the classics and everything,

but I know I was, aiming for:

718

:

I didn't quite make it, so I was,

719

:

I was 1780 something ish.

720

:

but close to 1800.

721

:

Yeah.

722

:

so eight, 1800.

723

:

You would have been happy 1780 ish.

724

:

You're like, man,

I could do a little bit better.

725

:

I'm happy to go over 1000W.

726

:

I was still happy, but,

I'm always trying to go for the next goal.

727

:

So when I.

728

:

When I was hitting 16,

I thought, okay, 17 would be nice.

729

:

And then I was first going to 1650,

then I was hitting 17.

730

:

And then I thought,

let's try to go to 18.

731

:

But, yeah, at one moment

you also reach your maximum.

732

:

And then, since the matter

of maintaining it over a longer time, what

733

:

I guess standing still means moving back

because everybody else is moving up.

734

:

Right?

735

:

So it's a good thing that you always push

for more, better and higher.

736

:

Hey, Jordi.

maybe it's a difficult question.

737

:

What do you think is more difficult?

738

:

You have absolutely golden legs

and feel unbeatable,

739

:

but your team messes up

the sprint lead out

740

:

to forgive them or the other way around.

741

:

The team delivers you

in the perfect position and you don't win.

742

:

And they have to like.

743

:

Or you have to like talk to them.

744

:

What is more difficult to forgive them

for messing up the lead out?

745

:

Or to tell them,

oh, I'm sorry I messed it up.

746

:

You guys were great, but I messed it up.

747

:

I think it's easier to.

748

:

Yeah, it's really hard question.

749

:

I know, I know, yeah.

750

:

Depends if you if you're really

the top favorite and you don't deliver,

751

:

it's always a it's really.

752

:

Yeah.

753

:

Really sad feeling, let's say, because,

not only your teammates

754

:

but also the whole staff, the whole sport

755

:

director group, the sponsors,

they're there for you.

756

:

So it's really a lot of pressure.

757

:

I think it I think it's easier

758

:

to, forgive the team,

759

:

if they were not there than to.

760

:

Yeah, than to have to live with, with

the fact that you were not ready or not.

761

:

Not fast enough. Not good enough

762

:

simply

because just just of the fact that you

763

:

you still have the feeling and the morale,

the that you would have

764

:

definitely won if you have got the legs,

while if you're there getting beaten it,

765

:

it can be quite hard mentally

for for a sprinter especially, I think.

766

:

Yeah, the

767

:

mentality

of you sprinters is just an unbelievable.

768

:

But a little side story.

769

:

You know, I was a a worker

when I was on a certain team.

770

:

and I will not name the sprinter

that I was working for, but I would ride

771

:

or we would ride for 200km on the front

and he'd get second.

772

:

And he would

he would blame us, like you guys.

773

:

You guys rode too hard at the start.

774

:

I'm like, well,

we were out there for 200 K.

775

:

You could have told us to to slow up.

776

:

And I'm trying to think

maybe we didn't have radios back then.

777

:

It was maybe a little bit too early,

but this same guy, when we would ride

778

:

200m on the front and he'd win,

we were like his best friend.

779

:

And, man,

there was something that I'm like,

780

:

I know the risk that you guys take

and the commitment

781

:

that the team puts forth to make sure

that you're in, in, in the front.

782

:

And hey, man, if you win, that's great.

783

:

But like, if you get second or third, hey,

you know, you tried your best.

784

:

But that was

that was frustrating to me of, you know,

785

:

sacrificing myself and most

786

:

of the team and having that happen

and basically pulling for 200m

787

:

and having them win

788

:

and act like he was, you know, that

we were the best teammates on the planet.

789

:

So, you know, it's just it's just crazy

how that mentality of the sprinter,

790

:

you know, an inch a millimeter

and you win or lose.

791

:

And we've seen so many close

finishes as of late.

792

:

But you know today we had a rider, Jasper

Phillipson,

793

:

who has been getting second a lot

been getting in trouble a lot.

794

:

And then he wins.

795

:

Is there that little switch

796

:

that once you're struggling

and you get that win, that all of a sudden

797

:

like things get a little bit easier,

at least mentally from

798

:

from a sprinter standpoint.

799

:

Yeah for sure.

800

:

With sprinters you see a lot if they're

if they have the right momentum.

801

:

in the stage race that yeah,

most of the times

802

:

when one when gets two, two gets three.

803

:

so it's definitely the first one

is definitely the hardest one.

804

:

especially for Jasper.

805

:

he's a close friend of mine.

806

:

We live pretty close together

in winter time, so we're both at home.

807

:

We we basically train on, days together.

808

:

so, yeah,

809

:

he came into the tour

with a lot of pressure,

810

:

then to to finish second

811

:

a couple of times, was pretty hard

mentally for him, I think after last year.

812

:

Tour de France so winning

four stages in the green jersey.

813

:

So yeah, always

814

:

when you're on that

815

:

level you think it's your standard level,

but then when you look back on it

816

:

or when you're just a few percent off,

817

:

you think, I should have enjoyed it more.

818

:

so I'm really happy for him

that he won again.

819

:

And also on the on the sprinting side,

820

:

he does quite some tricky moves,

but I can assure you that, yeah.

821

:

It's just out of his reflexes

and, by heart, he's a super good guy.

822

:

Yeah.

823

:

And he's definitely not the to flick

someone.

824

:

He's just,

Yeah, that's just the way he is.

825

:

he's a super nice guy, but sometimes,

Yeah, he's he's just such a pure sprinter

826

:

that he he just sees he's on his own line,

let's say.

827

:

And, he, he forgets the,

the environment, the little bit, I think.

828

:

Well, in

829

:

his defense, from what I have seen,

I can back up.

830

:

What what you said he is not mean

or on purpose trying to crush somebody.

831

:

He might be wavering around a little bit,

but it's never.

832

:

Clearly, that's a red card. You out.

833

:

It is obvious.

834

:

It's.

835

:

It's just okay, but.

836

:

Wow. But it's still okay.

837

:

but you already. You already.

838

:

An easier question now,

839

:

from all the stressing and sprinting,

what do you do to relax?

840

:

You do Netflix, you read books,

or you listen to music or take a walk?

841

:

around the league?

842

:

what do you do to relax and, to ease

843

:

your mind a little bit?

844

:

yes. I watch quite some Netflix.

845

:

or just some, some Flemish, series.

846

:

it's always nice when you're a long time

away from home, in a different country.

847

:

Also, when I'm with the team,

when it's all, it's all English.

848

:

speaking, we do.

849

:

It's nice to to go to the room and,

listen to the,

850

:

to the, the,

mother tongue, let's say, on series.

851

:

So that's something I like to do.

852

:

And actually,

I bought the drone when I arrived here.

853

:

so I'm making some very nice videos

in the mountains here.

854

:

so basically, I've been flying

855

:

all day for, every day

for a couple of minutes.

856

:

so that's also something,

I like to do with this moment

857

:

and with the drone.

858

:

Are you looking at a monitor

or do you have, like, those goggles

859

:

that kind of, come down over your eyes?

860

:

No, I saw them.

861

:

maybe I will, get them also, but so far,

862

:

I just have a controller

with, with a small screen in it.

863

:

and it it surprises me how well it works.

864

:

I have one more question, because you

you kind of

865

:

alluded it to it with with your team.

866

:

You know,

the team has recently got a new sponsor.

867

:

We all know what Red bull was.

Red bull is.

868

:

But to our U.S based

listeners and viewers,

869

:

what is Bora and Hansgrohe?

870

:

What is Bora-Hansgrohe? Well,

871

:

as a sponsor, Bora they,

they started with,

872

:

how to say

in English, in the, in the kitchen.

873

:

You always have the,

steam from the cooking.

874

:

They started with, with the extraction

875

:

inside of the, the cooking, plate.

876

:

Let's say.

877

:

So you don't really have this, this,

air sucking thing above,

878

:

which makes the aesthetic the aesthetic of

your kitchen, way nicer and way cooler.

879

:

over the years, they, they have developed

to, more kitchen product.

880

:

they have an oven now.

881

:

They have, yeah.

882

:

Some teppanyaki

plates in their, assortment,

883

:

and hansgrohe, they,

884

:

they have basically all of the things,

for in your bathroom.

885

:

So, yeah water tubes?

886

:

all of these things.

887

:

The Bora is actually is pretty cool.

888

:

It sucks the steam from cooking down,

and it disappears downwards.

889

:

It's pretty cool, actually. How?

890

:

How it works.

891

:

I have seen a few commercial videos

of that.

892

:

It's pretty cool, isn't it?

893

:

And now, Jordi put the hand to your heart.

894

:

You have a Bora piece at home.

895

:

you don't have to answer.

896

:

I would like to have one.

897

:

Not yet, but, for sure it will come.

898

:

I'm not really a fan of the products.

899

:

Every year we have the, the photo shoots,

and yeah, it just works, super.

900

:

Well, I don't say these

because I have to say it,

901

:

but it's really nice, and it's,

definitely, yeah.

902

:

A plus for for your kitchen.

903

:

Jensie,

904

:

do you remember when we had a sub sponsor?

905

:

I think it was Italian called Nibali.

906

:

and it was also kind of like faucets,

handles all this stuff

907

:

and, I think it was Ivan Basso

who was building a house at that time,

908

:

and he had that.

909

:

Do you remember the name of it was

it wasn't

910

:

Nibali like the rider,

but it was kind of Nobili, Nobili, Nobili.

911

:

Yeah I say Nobili, Nobili

almost probably the same kind of company.

912

:

Correct. Yeah.

913

:

So like you just kind of assume

like I would assume

914

:

that you have a giant freezer

of a refrigerator full of Red bull now.

915

:

Right?

916

:

Like they sent you

a big refrigerator filled with Red bull.

917

:

Right. Jordi?

918

:

yeah.

919

:

We actually,

we had already in the team bus

920

:

quite some,

some Red bull since, two years.

921

:

from the moment

that the team signed, Anton

922

:

Palzer was already, with

923

:

he was one of the guys that he was riding

with a Red bull helmet in the bunch.

924

:

So since then, yeah,

we were already a little bit more familiar

925

:

with, the Red bull cans

and, busses, but, yeah.

926

:

Now, when we we want something at home,

I think it's it's not a problem.

927

:

Hey, Jordi.

928

:

something I noticed immediately

when you came on onto camera.

929

:

The something on your head?

930

:

question one.

931

:

What is it, girlfriend?

932

:

See to that. And question two.

933

:

How do you explain that to people

you meet on the street?

934

:

Let's say you go and want to buy

some baguettes in the morning in a bakery.

935

:

how do you explain that

to the people in line with you?

936

:

Actually, not one of them,

937

:

asked me how where does it come from?

938

:

sometimes I see people,

looking a little bit strange,

939

:

because also in my neck,

I have the, the thing

940

:

for tightening the helmet,

which you see quite obvious.

941

:

so sometimes I might see them,

watching me,

942

:

and I see at their faces that they think

it's quite, funny or strange,

943

:

but, actually,

no one is asking me so far, and, Yeah,

944

:

my girlfriend isn't the biggest fan of it,

I think.

945

:

But, Yeah.

946

:

When when we

947

:

go for a coffee in the afternoon,

I try to to get them a little bit more.

948

:

So you don't see

it that, that much anymore.

949

:

That's funny.

950

:

That's funny.

951

:

Well, Jordi, thank you so much for,

sharing a little bit of your off

952

:

time up there in Livigno

We really appreciate talking to you.

953

:

And we can't wait to watch

954

:

how that altitude training works

for you in the races that you mentioned.

955

:

good luck for the rest of the season.

956

:

And thanks again

for coming on the odd tandem.

957

:

No worries guys, thanks for inviting.

958

:

Was, it was a pleasure being in.

959

:

And, we stay in touch.

960

:

Well, that's everything for this week.

961

:

Now, remember,

please to follow us at Odd tandem

962

:

on TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook

and wherever you get your podcast.

963

:

Thanks to Jordi Meeus for being our guest.

964

:

And remember, if you want to see

the video version of this podcast,

965

:

it's up on our YouTube channel right now

966

:

youtube.com/@OddTandem.

967

:

And if you want the full uninterrupted

968

:

version of this podcast and you name it,

the Titans, just head to our Patreon

969

:

where you can sign up for $5 a month

and keep this podcast going.

970

:

That's patreon.com/@Oddtandem.

971

:

And thanks to our Patreon members Scott,

972

:

Steven Kimbrough, Marie Teixeira, Jeff

973

:

Kralik, Brian Colon and Chris Merritt

who have done just that.

974

:

And remember, if you want your question

in our next mailbag episode,

975

:

make sure you keep sending us your

questions to OddTandem@Shockedgiraffe.com

976

:

or any of our odd tandem

social media channels.

977

:

And please

remember to keep sharing the podcast

978

:

and keep leaving your reviews

wherever you're listening.

979

:

It really helps us to build our audience.

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About the Podcast

The Odd Tandem Cycling Podcast with Bobby Julich and Jens Voigt
Bobby Julich and Jens Voigt on all things cycling
Bobby Julich and Jens Voigt are back with a brand new cycling podcast. Speaking to the biggest names in the professional peloton and sharing their wisdom from their own careers.