10 SPORT SOCCER / CYCLING Sunday Independent 22 March 2015 Ronaldo out to swing Determined to the balance back his way See-sawing battle for supremacy with Messi be his own man comes to a head in Clasico, says Sid Lowe

CRISTIANO RONALDO laid down the Ballon d’Or on the plinth in front of him and began his acceptance speech, Sepp in the peloton Blatter to the left of him, Thierry Henry to the right. As he drew to a close, he thanked everyone and then paused. He leant in towards the microphone, clenched his fists and boomed out a long, deep “Si”. This was Ronaldo’s third Bal- lon d’Or but he was determined and off the bike it would not be his last. Only one player has won more and he was sitting in the front row, a runner-up: Lionel Messi. Before the presentation, the two footballers had met briefly. Ronaldo called Messi over to meet his son, telling the Argentinian that Ronaldo junior watched him on , his sister television, talked about him. He Christel and their mother also admitted that Messi’s success Lydia: ‘I always felt I was in helped to drive him. “I’m sure the the middle; when I was in competition between us motivates Ireland I was ‘the foreigner’, him too. It’s good for me, good for and when I was in I him and good for other players who was ‘the foreigner’, and I’m want to grow,” he said. meets attached to both sides, but For four years, Ronaldo had there’s a little thing that finished second to Messi but he had NICOLAS ROCHE makes me feel that bit more not given up. Instead, he took the Irish and I felt I had to cut’ trophy two years in a row. A year IX years ago, on the morn- before, his tears had shown what ing of the opening stage it meant to him. Maybe Ronaldo of the , I was right; maybe he does motivate Sstepped onto a busy train at Messi too. The Ballon d’Or ceremo- Beaulieu-sur-Mer and was hooked ny was on January 12. Real Madrid by the face of a beautiful woman in had just won the Club World Cup. the crowd. They were top of the league table Is that? . . . No, couldn’t be . . . and Ronaldo was the pichichi, La Yes it is . . . Liga’s top scorer. Messi was second, Lydia! 1 A SENSE OF IDENTITY but she’s a bit older than you.’ I PK: How big an influence was but he was 10 goals behind: 16 to 26. Was she with friends? I wasn’t said, ‘That’s my mum!’ (laughs) your dad in all this? You were three They had met just once, in October, sure. Should I say hello? Maybe I can see my mother standing just PK: I hope you told your mother. years old when he won the Tour and Madrid had won 3-1, the first not. There was bad blood between a few yards away. I stretch out NR: I did, yeah. She was pleased. but you wouldn’t remember too time they had defeated Barcelona her former husband, Stephen Ro- my arms, but I can’t get through PK: You’re 30 years old now? much about that. by more than one goal in six years. che and myself. She would know the throng of television cameras, NR: Yeah. NR: No. Ronaldo had scored, Messi had not. that. photographers and microphones to PK: How would you break that PK: When was the first time you Tonight, they meet again and A few minutes later we arrived reach her. She starts to cry, tears of down in terms of the time you’ve realised he was famous? everything has changed for the in and took different exits pride. As the TV crews push their spent in Ireland and France? NR: I’d say in the later years . . . players and the clubs. Messi is from the station. The streets were cameras closer to my face and the NR: The first four or five years I remember watching him in San now two goals in front, 32-30, and crowded with excited bike fans journalists stick an endless row of we were back and forth, not quite Sebastian and some of the post- Barcelona are top of the table. Win and I had just found my bearings microphones under my nose, I too six-months-Ireland, six-months- Tour (races) in the early 90s. I was at the Camp Nou and they will go and cut back towards the port begin to well up. But I’m not crying France, but close enough. on holiday in my French grandad’s four points clear. when I spotted her again, alone out of pride, I’m crying out of fear. PK: You’d come back to place in Ile d’Oleron when he Xavi Hernandez once described and seemingly lost. ‘Stephen! Stephen! Stephen! . . . ’ the with your father during off-season? won at La Bourboule (16th stage Real Madrid and Barcelona as be- We exchanged greetings and journalists call out. NR: Exactly. From the age of six of the 1992 Tour de France) and ing like two sides of a scales: there’s chatted for a moment. She had I turn to the man beside me. He to 11 I was in France, outside . remember watching the finish something in the symbiotic rela- travelled from her home in Antibes is dressed in yellow and is carrying My parents separated and got back and realising there was something tionship between them that means to see Nicolas before the prologue. me, but his name’s not Stephen . . together, and decided to start over going on. they cannot both be up at the same “Do you know where you’re . It’s Daddy. My name is Nicolas again in Ireland, so we packed up PK: Was that a factor in your time, even if both are playing well. going?” I asked. Roche. I’m three years old and my and moved to Ireland and stayed decision to take up the sport? my dreams was to have a beauti- and starved myself. That has not always been true of “No,” she replied. daddy has just won the Tour de there until I was 15. Alexis was NR: I liked it. Every time I ful house in Tuscany on top of a PK: How hard was that? the two players who define them, “Do you have a pass?” France. actually born in Ireland, and the watched a race I’d get dressed up hill overlooking some vineyards NR: It was hard. I’m pretty sure but it is this time. “Going up, going “I never had a pass for any- Nicolas Roche year we came back Florian was and put on shorts and jerseys that and with a (driveway) lined with that if I had an extra bowl of pasta down,” ran the gleeful headline on thing,” she smiled. Inside the Peloton born here, in Nice. were lying around and race around cypress trees and a massive olive that night I would have been eight the cover of the Catalan sports daily We set off towards the port and PK: So you spent from ’96 to ’99 the house with imaginary oppo- tree.” She said “Well, you’ve got two or ninth in the Tour. El Mundo Deportivo last week, the Quai Antoine where the team Paul Kimmage: I was watching in Dublin? nents. Or create scenarios with choices, change your dream or you PK: Sure, but what I mean is, alongside pictures of the pair. buses were parked. It was a big you in Paris-Nice last week and you NR: Yeah. my sister; we’d pretend we had a change your girlfriend.” how hard is it to deprive yourself of “2015 has already begun and day for Nicolas, his first Tour de race with a small Irish tricolour on PK: You went to school in crash and roll over in the grass and PK: You were living with an food like that? Because the general there are more titles to be won,” France, and Lydia was excited but the sleeve of your jersey. Can we Blackrock? play ‘Tour de France’ in the back Italian girl, Chiara, in Varese? public have no idea about that side Ronaldo had said that night in mostly nervous. I left her at the start please with your identity and NR: Yeah, for one year in ’98. I garden. NR: Yeah, that finished two of the game and what it takes to Zurich. The year started badly for steps of the AG2R bus and wished that sense of Irishness? was 15. PK: So you always had that love years ago. perform at that level? Messi. He was left out as Barcelo- her well. It was the first time I’d Nicolas Roche: Well, I’m 100 per PK: What was that like? or desire for it? PK: And your fiancée? NR: I think it’s the hardest (part na were beaten at Real Sociedad, seen her in almost 12 years. I’d cent Irish since the last time we NR: It was a fantastic experi- NR: Yeah. NR: Deborah. We met before of it); it’s harder than training. The precipitating a crisis in which the never spoken to her son. met when I still had dual citizen- ence. I was in the French school PK: What about the burden of the Vuelta (Tour of Spain) in 2013. wife of a friend of mine is a model sporting director departed and the Two years later, in September ship, but I felt I needed to make a (Lycee Francais d’Irlande) in being ’s son? She was working for one of the for IMG and she posted a photo president called elections. 2011, we met for the first time at cut and went through the official Foxrock for the first two years NR: I’d say the time I suffered sponsors. on Instagram the other day of a Coach Luis Enrique denied he the Irish Book Awards. A week lat- legal procedure of giving my and the classes were small. There most was in my first year as a PK: You were 27 the last time I plate with a fork and a smiley face. had been handed an ultimatum er I travelled to Italy and his home French citizenship back in 2012. I were eight or nine of us I think, pro. When I was younger, people interviewed you. You said: “The It (the caption) said, ‘The easy bit but something was not right. Re- in Varese to interview him. was born in France and spent a lot or sometimes 12, because people assumed I’d have the best bike and next three years are so important is the hour I spent working out. ports emerged of a breakdown Nicolas Roche was easy to love. of time living in Paris and I have would come for six months, and better legs because I was the son of to me. I feel I am getting there but The hard bit is to keep my plate as in his relationship with Messi; He had his mother’s class and his nothing against my French side then I went to Blackrock and it Stephen Roche but that didn’t re- there is something missing that I empty as possible for the next 23.’ central defender Jeremy Mathieu father’s charm and if he played any but I wanted to make things really ally bother me. What bothered me have to find.” What was missing I said, “That’s like being a cyclist.’ later confirmed there had been a other sport we’d have got on like a clear. My parents made was the professional world. There and have you found it? And it’s true. Doing five-hour train- confrontation in training. But two house on fire. PK: It seems an odd thing to do. was a lot of pressure at (his NR: Well, not really because ing rides is something we work months on, things look different. But cycling was not any other Why was that important to you? fun of me: ‘The first pro team) because I think in- I stayed very similar. I thought towards since the age of 12, but the Messi looks different. The pres- sport. The genie was out of the NR: Because I always felt I itially they thought I was going to I could lose more weight; that I most difficult part is the food, the idential adviser Charly Rexach bottle, its secret had been exposed was in the middle; when I was in reason you like be the next superstar. A lot of the could train better and had a mar- quality and obviously the quantity. said Messi had eaten “too many and left some ugly and painful Ireland I was ‘the foreigner’, and staff had worked with my dad and gin for progression. I was hoping I PK: There wasn’t as much pizzas” last season and, last week, truths. I reminded him of Judge when I was in France I was ‘the rugby is that you I felt I could only disappoint them. could break into the top five in the emphasis on weight when you first El Mundo Deportivo reported that, Franca Olivia’s report into blood foreigner’, and I’m attached to both PK: And how is it now? You fin- Tour or make the podium in the turned pro. When did that change, with the aid of a new nutritionist, doping at the Carrera team in sides, but there’s a little thing that like to stay clean’ ished Paris-Nice yesterday, where it Vuelta but I didn’t make it. this need to be almost skeletal? he has shed 3.5 kg (8lb). 1993: “One cannot but arrive at makes me feel that bit more Irish all started for him. PK: You were 12th a year later in NR: I’d say 2009, 2010. I really Messi was not exactly playing the conclusion that Dr Grazzi and I felt I had to cut. NR: Yeah, I mean there’s always the Tour? started to pay attention in 2008. poorly before but there has been was effectively involved in the PK: You didn’t have to cut? was absolutely huge. I loved it but a link to what he did. People tweet NR: Yeah, I think physically I I had an ulcer that year and went an improvement in him and others. direct dispensing EPO to (Guido) NR: No, I wanted to cut. I wasn’t the best student. It was photographs of him to me but I was capable of much better but I down from 72 to 68/69 and just The first league game after that Bontempi, (Claudio) Chiappucci, PK: What did your mother say? a big change for me to go from just get on with it. I do my riding was obsessed with not putting on felt healthier than ever at 69 kilos. defeat to Sociedad was against (Mario) Chiesa, (Stephen) Roche NR: She was quite upset but it’s having all my classes in French to and I’m competitive and get weight and it caught up with me I did my first good performance Atletico and Messi was hyperactive and (Ralf) Sorensen.” all good now. We’ve had a proper doing everything in English and I results; some months I’m on form on the (11th) stage to La Toussuire; in the Vuelta (13th) and thought, in an impressive win. That was the Our pleasant evening was talk and I’ve said, “Listen, its noth- struggled, especially with maths. and some months I’m not on form I had a complete hunger flat, 6k ‘What if I was able to hold that start of a run in which Barcelona spoiled. ing against you. I just feel that little Two plus two was still four, but the but I always give my maximum for to the finish and dropped from weight all year long?’ But somehow have won 18 of 19 games, reaching We’ve gotten along pretty well bit more Irish than French and approach was completely different. the team. And if I’m not going to ninth to 13th. So that was the year my body just doesn’t allow me to the Copa del Rey final and the quar- since. He has been a fine ambas- need to cut.” But I think she took it And they told me I had to play win the Tour well, it doesn’t matter. I was physically the strongest in do that. ter-finals of the Champions League. sador for Ireland and continues to personal. rugby. There’s only a couple of riders who the Tour but I was weighing myself PK: You look pretty thin now. Messi has now scored 32 goals write a very engaging diary on his PK: It probably felt like, ‘I am PK: You had played soccer can win the Tour. five times a day and under-ate. I NR: I’m okay. and provided 14 assists in the life as a professional in the Irish divorced from his father and now before that? PK: So you’re your own man, knew (that stage) was going to be PK: What do you weigh? league. In total, he has 43 goals and Independent. Unfortunately, like he’s choosing sides’. NR: Yeah, for Park Celtic. I basically? ‘D-Day’ on the Tour and thought, NR: I’m 71. 21 assists. He has scored 20 goals most of his fellow pros, he rarely NR: Well, at the time my mother enjoyed that. NR: Yeah. ‘Tomorrow my body weight has to PK: What have you eaten today? in 2015 alone. has much to say when the spotlight didn’t see it that way but my PK: What position? PK: Nicolas Roche? be the lowest ever.’ And instead of NR: This morning I had toast Ronaldo, meanwhile, has nine. turns to doping. granddad did. NR: Centre forward. I wasn’t NR: Yeah. ‘carbo’ loading I did the opposite with a bit of butter with some He was sent off against Cordoba Two weeks ago, like most of PK: Her father? Ronaldo but I was a quick runner PK: We touched on nationality . for kicking and slapping Cordoba’s his fellow pros, he did a lot of NR: Yeah, he was more upset: and scored a few goals. Then I . . where do you see yourself living Edimar. There have been doubts whining when the UCI, cycling’s ‘Oh he’s choosing his father more went on to rugby and scored two when your career finishes? about his fitness and happiness. world governing body, published than his mother.’ Unfortunately he tries in my first game and just fell NR: I don’t know. It’s my big After Madrid were beaten 4-3 by the findings of the long awaited died a couple of months after that in love with it. My parents used to question. I have no idea whatsoev- Schalke, he announced he would Cycling Independent Reform Com- from cancer but he was quite alert make fun of me: “The only reason er. I’m getting married in October not talk for the rest of the season. mission. It was obvious from his still when it was going through and you like rugby is that you like to and my wife is from Madrid so He did not score in his last game column (he was riding Paris-Nice) I talked to him about it. For him, stay clean.” I tried to avoid the there’s a high probability she will against Levante, the night after that he hadn’t read the report and it was more of a symbolic change tackles and was always the clean- want to live in Spain and I’d be Messi had gone ahead of him for I sent him a barbed tweet: towards my mum rather than me est on the team at the end of every open to that for a few years. Or the first time this season. His frus- “Hey @nicholasroche try ‘I hav- preferring to represent Ireland. match. I really enjoyed it and have if there was a job opportunity I tration was clear when a shot of his en’t read the report yet, and won’t PK: Your Mum lives down here? often thought it was the one other wouldn’t mind coming back to was cleared off the line and Gareth make a fool of myself by comment- NR: She’s in Antibes with my sport I could have given a go. Ireland, but I don’t think I’ll be Bale turned the ball in. Supporters ing until I do.” two brothers. PK: You played two team sports staying in France or Monaco. even whistled him at one point, A few hours later, he sent me an PK: The last time I met your and did well but chose an individ- PK: The last time we spoke you to which he nodded his head and angry message: “I try to speak out mother was at the train station ual sport. told me your dream was to open a then muttered “foda-se”, effectively and you still knock me down. Hope when the Tour started here in NR: Yeah, there was always a restaurant — ‘L’Olivo’ — in Tusca- “fucking unbelievable”. the book you were doing on rugby 2009. She’s still a fantastically good frustration in relying on other ny. That’s gone, is it? This, after all, is the man who is going well. Regards.” looking woman. things. You could be having a great NR: (Laughs) My girlfriend is will leave Real Madrid as the club’s He was pissed. I was pleased. NR: Yeah, it’s funny, we went for day but still lose the game, or have allergic to olives. Last year, we all-time top scorer, the man who Angry was good. We arranged to dinner last year, just the two of us. a bad game and the team would spent two nights with one of my took the Ballon d’Or from Messi meet in Monaco, on the day after One of my friends has a pizzeria suffer and I didn’t like that. friends in Arrezo. He has a massive three times. the conclusion of Paris-Nice. in Antibes; I hadn’t seen him for a PK: You wanted to control your olive tree in the back garden and Observer few years and at the end he says, own destiny? she had a severe allergy. I said: * * * * * ‘Hey Nico your girlfriend is nice NR: Yeah. “Can I admit something? One of 22 March 2015 Sunday Independent CYCLING SPORT 11

is not ticked.” NR: No. NR: I tick it. PK: And you weren’t with one PK: Are you surprised so many last time? don’t? NR: No. NR: I’m surprised it’s so high PK: How many TUEs have you but I’ve thought about it . . . Okay, had? so you agree to give your blood NR: In my career? I’d say two, (sample) but you’ve no idea where and one of them was for a problem it’s going or how long it will be with my foot in November 2009. sitting in a lab. And what if you are PK: This is a quote from the using something like L-Carnitine report: One doctor stated that it and they decide in 10 years’ time to was impossible to lose the weight put it on a (prohibited) list? that some riders achieve without PK: What’s L-Carnitine? assistance, and that the TUE is NR: It’s a food supplement that taken advantage of to enable this supposedly helps your body to practice. He stated that riders use burn fat before carbs. It’s nothing corticoids to “lean out”, ie to lose crazy. A lot of the women that do weight quickly, and keep it off, fitness buy it. without losing power. By way of PK: Do you take it? example he explained that to lose NR: I’ve taken it sometimes . . . 4kg in four weeks by using corti- in the winter. coids would provide a seven per PK: So there’s pressure. The cent power/weight improvement. sport demands you lose weight He added that when used in large and that opens the field of supple- quantities and in conjunction with ments? other substances, they supported NR: Yeah, but I could have said something like BCA which is It never made amino acids? PK: No, no, I’m not zoning in me dozy so I on the product. My point is that having one slice of toast with don’t know how ginger marmalade for breakfast is not enough. You have to look much these guys elsewhere? NR: Yeah, I’ve taken it some- are taking times during the winter; I don’t like taking it when it’s warm. PK: Weight loss is another performance gains. Another doctor area highlighted in the report: stated that some quite recent big Another area in which riders seek wins on the UCI WorldTour were as to improve their performance is a result, in part, of some members through reducing their weight of the team all using corticoids to in order to increase their power/ get their weight down to support weight ratio. Interviewees noted the individual who won (who also cases of dramatic weight loss in used the same weight-loss tech- certain riders, which they felt could nique). It was reported that this only be explained by use of perfor- had been a planned approach by mance enhancing products. The that group’s management. Commission heard that the desire NR: That’s pretty hard. to lose weight might also be leading PK: Is that a surprise to you? to an increase in eating disorders NR: That it was organised? Yes. amongst riders. PK: You wouldn’t have speculat- NR: I agree with the eating dis- ed on the identity of the team? Or orders; I have friends who say that had reservations it had happened all I talk about is weight and food. before I quoted that passage to We go to a restaurant and I’ll look you? at the menu and I’ll treat myself NR: No, I would have speculated obviously, but in a careful way. So that some riders did it, not that it it’s become, not an obsession, but was organised. an important subject in your day. PK: The abuse of cortisone PK: What about cases of dra- seems to be a real concern. matic weight loss? NR: For me, that’s the number NR: I think it’s a case-per-case one fight the UCI have to pick up thing; some riders are capable of on. losing it, some riders are not, and PK: What about the other stuff you suspect do it illegally. mentioned in the report: pills, PK: I’m thinking back to the tranquillisers, anti-depressants, 2013 Tour when we met before the Tramadol (a strong pain-killer). time trial. NR: Hmmm. NR: Yeah, we were in that mucky PK: We’re getting back to, ‘What place in (Embrun). is clean?’ PK: You told me you had been NR: Yeah. trying to lose a kilo before the Tour PK: Tramadol. and had actually put on weight? NR: Tramadol. NR: Yeah, when I go racing I PK: Have you used it? usually put on weight. NR: I’ve used it. PK: But some other guys had PK: And? shed five kilos since April? NR: It’s not magic. It’s definite- NR: I believe that if you have a ly not magic. There was a lot of proper (rigorous) diet you could talk last year that it was causing ginger marmalade. 2 DANGEROUS LIAISONS PK: What about the question of reading all this pre-wedding prepa- PK: And quite damning? lose a kilo a week, more than that I crashes. They said if you took a lot PK: One slice of toast? your responsibility to the sport and ration stuff with the local priest NR: Yeah. don’t know. I think to lose three or of it, it would make you dozy. The NR: Yeah, and a cappuccino. Bjarne leaned back in his chair. the risk to your reputation? People (laughs) . . . No, I don’t think I’ll PK: As a rider, how important four kilos in a month is possible. few times I took it never made me PK: That’s it? Took a sip of wine. always ask: ‘What about Nicolas?’ read all of it but I’ll read some of it, is it for you that the rules are PK: Really? dozy so I don’t know how much NR: Yeah. “Have you ever tried a transfusion, And I was always prepared to give and pay attention to it, because if I applied? And applied to everyone NR: Yeah. these guys are taking. For sure, if PK: And that was before you Tyler?” you the benefit of the doubt until want to criticise or move forward in the same way? PK: But you can’t do it? you take one, it’s not magic. went for a ride? I shook my head. Bjarne’s blue eyes you joined that team. on it, I have to know what’s in it. NR: It is important, obviously. NR: No, but everyone is different PK: Why did you take it? When NR: Yeah, I did two hours. lit up. NR: I understand that, but look PK: This is what you said about PK: And is that not fundamen- and metabolism plays a big part. did you take it? PK: You didn’t eat during the “Oh, you need to do it. You will like at all of the teams — there’s not it last week in your Irish Independ- tally important to the sport going But as the report says, I’m also sus- NR: For some time trials. spin? it.” many that have not had a problem. ent diary: “To be honest I was ex- forward? picious of dramatic weight loss. PK: As a performance enhanc- NR: Actually, I did. I stopped for Okay, I said. Sounds good. PK: You signed for more money? pecting more names to be named NR: I think, in a way, that’s why PK: What about the manipu- ing drug? a coffee and it came with a little , NR: The same. and more sanctions to he handed he wasn’t elected. I think that was lation of the blood passport? It NR: No, it’s a . . . biscotti. The Secret Race PK: Did you get more going to out, something that would be of the consequence of what he had was heralded as the great tool in PK: Otherwise you wouldn’t PK: And nothing since? Sky? use in the fight against doping, done. the anti-doping fight but it is now take it . . . But it’s not on the list so NR: No, but I’m not hungry. I PK: You changed team in 2013. NR: Roughly the same, twenty rather than the useless rehashing PK: His son, Andrew, is your being abused. How aware are you that’s okay? had a good meal last night. NR: Yeah. grand I think. of stories we’ve all heard before.” agent. Did that influence what you about the micro-dosing of EPO? NR: Yeah, it’s not on the list. PK: What’s a good meal? PK: What were the reasons? PK: So the money was not a NR: Yeah. said about him on Primetime? NR: I’ve heard about it and read PK: But you weren’t in pain, NR: It was a dinner with Richie NR: I wanted to go into a big factor? PK: But there are names: Pat NR: No, it was an honest lack of about it and it seems riders are still you were doing it to enhance your (Porte) and Geraint Thomas and international structure. I had spent NR: No. McQuaid and , knowledge. There’s two things: I doing it. performance. some of the lads who live around eight years with French teams and PK: You say you went to Riis two former UCI presidents, are have a good relationship with An- PK: Roman Kreuzinger (a NR: Yeah, but at that point even here. We had tuna tartar and a bit had loads of friends who had made to better yourself but you spent criticised by the report. Is that not drew, he is one of my best friends former team-mate at Saxo Bank) a paracetamol would be . . . of salad. the move and said how much they two years riding for Contador in important? and whatever his dad did, or didn’t was flagged for a blood passport PK: I’ll take a paracetamol if I PK: Any alcohol? had learnt. Nick Gates (a former NR: It is important obviously, do, has nothing to do with him. anomaly? have a headache; I won’t take one NR: We had a bottle of red wine. rider and manager at the Saxo I’ve realised that I but that’s the old governing body PK: Sure NR: Yeah, from his time at if I don’t have a headache. Alcohol, unfortunately, is the worst Bank team) used to live in Monaco and things we’ve already discussed. Astana. NR: No, I get you. fat. You can’t burn it. It’s worse and I was out with him on a coffee don’t have the PK: But we haven’t really 3 WHAT IS CLEAN? PK: Lloyd Mondory (another PK: That’s the nature of the than chocolate theoretically. spin with some of the F1 drivers discussed it. I asked you about former team-mate) tested positive sport, isn’t it? There’s a reference PK: Trying to annoy me now, and he said, “Did you ever consider physical capability in October 2011 There is a considerable amount for EPO last week? to it in the report — racing is hard. are you? coming to us? I think you would fit and whether you believed he had of spin around what being clean NR: Yeah. It hurts. NR: (Smiles) No, I love a glass in.” And that’s how it started. to be the leader ever doped and you said it was “a means to riders and teams. It can PK: How do you explain that? NR: (Smiles) Yeah, I agree with of wine, it’s one of my treats. I PK: You know what the next complicated case”. be used today in the same way that Things are supposed to be better that. wouldn’t drink every day of course question is. the whole year NR: Yeah, because at the time the phrase, “I have never tested pos- now? We’re being told all the time PK: This is how the report con- but I’d have three or four glasses NR: Well, it’s going to be about there was only the accusations and itive” was sometimes used in the that it’s possible to win clean? cludes: Cycling has the potential to a week. Bjarne (Riis) or Alberto (Conta- nothing was official. past to suggest that a doping rider NR: I think . . . not everyone has become a sport with integrity, eth- PK: How many pros live here? dor), one or the other. Or both. the Tour, and you’ve spent the last PK: A year later, after he had had never doped. For the public, the that mentality. It’s getting smaller ics, and accountability, but it can NR: About 40. (Smiles). week riding for Richie Porte and been busted by USADA, you were presumption that a rider is clean but there are still riders cheating. only become so if all participants PK: Tax reasons? PK: Right. Geraint Thomas. What’s happened interviewed on Primetime. You has been eroded by the scandals I’m happy they are getting caught, are prepared to contribute. NR: I think essentially for tax NR: Well, at that time Bjarne to your ambition? said, “Hopefully people will under- over the years. and I hope more riders will get NR: I agree. And hopefully reasons but it’s great for training. wasn’t (involved) in that Danish NR: My ambition is still there stand that this situation and this 1.2.1 Cycling Independent caught and that the clean mentali- there’s a high majority of (other The advantage of Monaco is that thing. but I’ve realised that I don’t story — that is on the way to being Reform Commission ty spreads but there’s always going riders) who will back that up. you go out the door and you’re PK: The investigation? have the physical capability to closed now — is something that to be guys who are ready to do PK: And you’ve made a signifi- climbing. It’s 12/13 degrees in win- NR: Yeah. be the leader the whole year. It happened 10 years ago.” PK: Are you clean? anything. cant contribution this morning, so ter and you can do 15k climbs. Plus PK: But you knew he had doped doesn’t matter what I do in the NR: I remember that. NR: Yes. PK: There are still doctors with I applaud you for that. it’s close to Nice airport. because he had admitted it. And winter, March and April are not PK: And the presenter, Claire PK: What does that mean? bad reputations being handsomely NR: Thanks. PK: And your team, Sky, have a you knew he had helped (Ivan) my months so it’s better to help Byrne, reminded you that your NR: It means that I’m a rider paid by teams. Do you work with PK: Now, keep it going. Read base here? Basso and (Tyler) Hamilton to someone else and be ready in the team-mate, , who has never taken anything that a doctor? the report, educate yourself, be NR: Yeah, they have an office on dope. And it was incomprehen- second part of the year to do my had just been stripped of the Tour is illegitimate or can be sanctioned NR: No. an advocate for change and write the moyenne corniche. sible to me that you would align own thing. The big one obviously de France. She then asked if you in the sport. PK: No doctor? about it in your columns. PK: This is your 11th season as a yourself with someone with that is the Tour. I’ve had three proper thought Verbruggen and McQuaid PK: You have not used products NR: The team doctor when we NR: I got an email this week professional? reputation. goes at it and finished 12th, 14th should leave the UCI. Do you that are on the WADA list? need to, or the local doctor here if I from Geoff Liffey at Cycling NR: Yeah. NR: I saw it another way. In and 22nd, so why not play a part remember what you said? NR: Never. have a sore throat. Ireland saying they had been con- PK: And you still my mind Bjarne was the (master) and try and win it with someone? NR: No. PK: And that’s your definition PK: Another concern highlight- tacted by the UCI . . . I’ll read it to love it? tactician and technician. He was I loved the Tour, it was different PK: “I don’t know all of the of clean? ed in the report is the abuse of you: “I don’t know if you’ve heard NR: Even more. great about diet and training and working for Contador but it was details.” And now all the details are NR: Yeah. cortisone and TUEs (therapeutic about the UCI’s plan to form a new PK: How do you when I spoke to him on the phone also quite exciting because we in the CIRC report but you haven’t PK: Because that’s one of the use exemptions). athletes’ commission — please see explain that? it was all about how he was going were there to win. read them yet? more interesting aspects of the NR: Well, that’s something I can the link above. NR: Well, it’s not to make me a better rider. We were I had a few opportunities last NR: I’ve read some of them . . . report: there are some guys who give out about. As a result, they have asked the that I love it more I going to spend the winter working year (to win a stage) but it’s not the stuff about the believe that clean is taking prod- PK: Go on. federations to nominate athletes just . . . love being on on my time trial position; we were easy; it’s not a PlayStation game and the authorisation for Arm- ucts on the list that aren’t detecta- NR: I do think that’s one of the across the various disciplines the bike. I could have going to go to the track in Brescia where you say, ‘Alright, I feel good, strong to ride early. ble. Or that it’s okay to experiment problems to be solved — the abuse and we thought you would be a just done an hour this and the wind tunnel in Milan. And I’m going to go for it today.’ PK: Did you read what Travis with products on the list. Or okay of TUEs. I find it very unusual that very good candidate given your morning but I love I agree with you, there was that PK: Okay let’s talk about the Tygart (the USADA CEO) said if you stop taking them before an a rider can have a sore knee three experience and your respect in that feeling of being shadow of Hamilton and Basso but CIRC report. You haven’t read it? about McQuaid? event. days before a main classic at the the professional peloton. Let me out early in the fresh he had also helped to create (an an- NR: No. NR: No. NR: That’s quite disturbing. same time every year. There has to know if you would be happy to be air. Racing is the mo- ti-doping programme with a Dan- PK: Are you going to read it? PK: “During USADA’s case PK: Yes, it is. Another thing they be a clearer line on how the TUEs nominated.” tivation to go out but ish physician, Rasmus Damsgaard) NR: I don’t know. I should. I’ve against Armstrong in 2012, and noted was that “hardly any riders are given and when they are given PK: Did you reply? I enjoy the fun part and there was a dietician on the read parts of it. under the direction of former UCI in the peloton today are willing and on the consequences for the NR: Yeah, I told him I’d be hap- and the travelling team and a kitchen truck and all PK: You say you should. Why president Pat McQuaid, the UCI in- to allow their samples to be used event. For example, with the MPCC py with that. and all that. A lot of of these things. I thought, ‘Alright don’t you? Why won’t you? tentionally adopted an inaccurate anonymously for research purpos- (a union of 11 of the top teams) it’s PK: Would you like to play a riders have said your he doped, but my choice is not to NR: I didn’t say I won’t, I’ll prob- position on its own anti-doping es into developing new methods of two weeks (without competition if more progressive role now and try perspectives change dope and he’s not going to change ably read some of the chapters but rules in order to derail USADA’s drug detection. you need a TUE), the other is two to move things forward? when you start having my point of view.’ it’s a long book. case against Armstrong and his A box on doping control forms days. That can’t be right. It has to NR: It’s easy to sit at home and kids, but I haven’t PK: So the plusses outweighed PK: But I know you read books? co-conspirators.” today can be ticked to enable such be the same law for everyone. criticise but I wouldn’t mind hav- arrived at that point the negatives? NR: I read books, yeah. At the NR: (Smiles) That’s quite de- testing. The Commission was told PK: You’re not with an MPCC ing a voice and trying to change it. yet. NR: Yeah. moment I’m in the middle of tailed. that over 95 per cent of the time, it team? PK: Good.