Bruyneel relishes Armstrong return
Johan Bruyneel expressed optimism about the return of Lance Armstrong and promised that the powerful Astana team would ride for the strongest rider.
In a lengthy interview in the Belgian daily, La Dernière Heure, the Astana sport director said Armstrong’s imminent return would help him rediscover the thrill of directing a professional team.
“To win races doesn’t excite me anymore, like I felt during the Vuelta (a España) that Contador won. It was very good, but that spark wasn’t there like before. With Armstrong, it’s there again,” Bruyneel said. “I shared all of (Armstrong’s) years in the midst of stress and dispute, and now I miss it, because when something comes too easily, there’s no real excitement.”
Bruyneel – who was in his native Belgium to promote his autobiography (“You Might as Well Win”) – said he thought Armstrong “was crazy” when he initially announced his comeback, but said any resistance from some quarters will only motivate Armstrong.
“Lance has always drawn motivation from anger and resentment,” he said. “And I must say, while winning is fun, there’s nothing more satisfying than winning when everyone wants you to lose.”
Bruyneel didn’t hold back taking a shot at certain French officials who haven’t exactly warmed to the idea of Armstrong’s return, saying the only resistance to the Texan’s imminent comeback comes from the “island of France.”
“Australia, California, Italy and Belgium, all these countries show the same enthusiasm of the return of Armstrong,” he said. “(Christian) Prudhomme said that Armstrong is welcome back provided the follows the same rules as everyone else. That comment is already superfluous, a threat. Why would he not follow the same rules as everyone else? What is he talking about?”
Bruyneel, 44, has already confirmed he will be in the lead car as sport director in the “most important races” that are on Armstrong’s schedule. So far, Armstrong is confirmed to race the Tour Down Under, Tour of California and the Giro d’Italia.
Bruyneel said further details of Armstrong’s racing schedule would be fleshed out in the coming weeks. A start at the Tour of Flanders is likely, but Bruyneel said Armstrong wouldn’t be racing all the spring classics minus Roubaix as widely reported last week.
“He’ll be at the Tour of Flanders, that’s it,” he said. “He won’t be able to be competitive at the Giro if he does more.”
Astana is scheduled to have its first team meeting ahead of the 2009 season next month in Spain’s Canary Islands. The team will also hold a training camp in January ahead of Armstrong’s official return at the Tour Down Under, Jan. 18-25.
Concerning the leadership of the team, Bruyneel said nothing is written in stone. With Armstrong, 2007 Tour champ Alberto Contador and Tour podium finishers Andreas Kloden and Levi Leipheimer all riding on the same team, Bruyneel said the team will follow its own rules.
“Don’t forget the principle of this team – we always ride for the strongest rider,” he said.
To see the original version of the interview: http://www.dhnet.be/sports/cyclisme/article/231495/johan-bruyneel-a-livre-ouvert.html
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