Tweet

'translated by Miffy Galloway'

Q. David, congratulations on your fantastic win at the Tour Mediterraneen. Can you tell us about your attack & solo win that got you the overall win in the Tour?

Félicitation pour votre victoire au Tour du Méditerranéen. Pouvez-vous nous parler de votre attaque et victoire solo qui vous avez rendu gagnant du Tour?

A. C’est une montée que je connais très bien, j’ai vu Péraud attaqué au pied, et je me suis lancé à sa poursuite à 3 kms du sommet, j’ai refais mon retard peu à peu et je suis rentré sur lui à 500m du sommet, j’ai ensuite accéléré à 300m de l’arrivée pour finir seul

A. It’s a climb I know well, I saw Peraud attack at the bottom and I started chasing 3km from the summit. I closed the gap slowly and caught him with 500m to go then I accelerated with 300m to go to cross the finish line solo.

 

Q. Does a win in a big event such as this give you confidence for the rest of 2011?

Es-ce que cette victoire vous donne confiance pour ce qui reste de la longue saison ?

A. oui, c’est toujours bon pour le moral de gagner en début de saison, ça met un peu moins de pression pour le reste de l’année

A. Yes, it’s always good for the moral to get a win early in the season. It takes a bit of pressure off me for the rest of the year.

Q. Speaking of 2011, are there any specific races you’re targeting and will we see you representing Cofidis in the Grand Tours?

En parlant de la saison 2011, es-ce qu’il y a des courses en particuliers que vous visez ? Et es-ce qu’on vous verrez dans les couleurs Cofidis aux Grand Tours ?

A. J’aimerais faire un bon Dauphiné et surtout un bon Tour de France.

A. I’d like to go well at the Dauphine and definitely at the Tour de France

Q. You signed with Cofidis in 1997 and have raced with them ever since, which is a very rare thing in the world of cycling. What does it mean to you to race with one of the most famous teams in professional cycling?

Vous avez signé avec Cofidis en 1997 et continue de porter ses couleurs jusqu’à présent – ce qui est rare dans le Monde cyclisme. Qu’est-ce que ça signifie pour vous, d’avez la chance d’être partie d’un des plus fameux équipes en sport cyclisme pour cette duration?

A. Oui cela fait quinze ans que je suis dans cette équipe et je n’ai jamais eu le souhait de tenter l’aventure ailleurs, j’ai progressé dans cette équipe, je connais tout le monde et je m’y sens bien.

A. Yes, I have been in the team for 15 years and have never wanted to be anywhere else. I have progressed in this team, I know everyone and I am comfortable here.

Q. Let’s go back to the 2004 Tour de France and stage 11 to Figeac. Can you describe the emotion as you crossed the line for your first ever Tour stage win?

Retournons-nous au Tour de France 2004 et en particulier, Stage 11 à Figeac. Pouvez-vous décrire l’émotion sentie quand vous avez obtenu votre première victoire au Tour ?

A. C’est mon plus beau souvenir sur le vélo, le Tour de France était un rêve quand j’étais jeune, de plus l’arrivée se situait à 50kms de chez moi dans mon département, alors imaginez la joie de pouvoir s’imposer. C’est une sorte de consécration, c’était un des objectifs de ma carrière que de gagner une étape du Tour de France.

A. It is my best memory on the bike; the Tour de France was always a dream when I was younger. The finish was 50km from my house in my hometown, so you can imagine how happy it made me. It was a sort of consecration; it was always a goal of mine in my career to win a stage in the Tour de France.

Q. How did this compare with winning stage 12 of the 2005 Tour from Briançon to Digne-les-Bains as a Frenchman, on Bastille Day?

Comment trouvez-vous cette victoire par rapport à la victoire du 2005 Tour de Briançon à Digne-les-Bains ? Particulièrement en étant Français et Stage 12 était le 14 Juillet, le fête national du prise de la Bastille ?

A. Ca reste aussi forcément un grand souvenir, peut-être moins important que ma première victoire sur le Tour l’année précédente , mais ça encore plus marqué le public, après cette victoire, j’étais devenu le vainqueur du 14 juillet et on m’en parle encore car je suis le dernier vainqueur français le 14 juillet.

A. It is obviously also a great memory, maybe less important than my first win in the Tour the year before, but it meant a lot to the public, after this win, I was the winner of the 14^th of July and people still talk about it because I was the last Frenchman to win on the 14^th July.

Q. In stage races we often see you either way off the front in a breakaway, or towards the back of the peloton. Can you explain to us the workings of the peloton and why you like to race this way?

Dans les courses, on peut vous voire soit à la tête du peloton, souvent dans les échappes, soit à l’arrière du groupe. Pouvez-vous décrire comment ça marche le peloton et pourquoi vous préférer courir de cette manière ?

A. Effectivement je suis soit échappé soit derrière jamais au milieu du peloton, tout simplement parce que je n’aime dépenser mon énergie à frotter.Et je me sens pas trop à l’aise à l’intérieur du peloton.

A. Definitely, I am either off the front or at the back but never in the middle of the peloton, simply because I don’t like to spend my energy moving around in the bunch. And I don’t really feel comfortable in the middle of the peloton.

Q. People often describe you as being very relaxed and a rider who simply loves riding his bike. Do you think these qualities are what make you such a successful rider?

On dit que vous êtes très insouciante et un coureur qui aime simplement faire du vélo. Es-ce que vous pensez que ces grandes qualités contribuent à votre succès sur le vélo ?

A.  Le cyclisme est avant tout une passion, je prends plaisir à m’entrainer et à courir mais je ne recherche pas forcément la gloire. Aprés c’est sur c’est un métier et on me demande des résultats mais j’essaie d’être le plus détendu possible, ce n’est que du sport.

A. Cycling is foremost a passion, I take pleasure in training and racing but I don’t necessarily chase glory. Although it is a job and I am expected to get results, I try to be as laid back as possible, after all it is only sport.

Q. You have an excellent reputation as a clean rider, how does it make you feel when you see the drama unfolding with cases such as Contador & Ricco?

Vous avez une excellente réputation d’un coureur ‘propre’, comment ça vous faites ressentir quand vous voyez des drames se dérouler comme celles avec Contador et Ricco ?

A. Cela donne toujours une mauvaise image du cyclisme et c’est dur de s’en débarrasser , on espère que le public ne met tout les coureurs dans le même sac.

A. Stuff like this always gives cycling a bad reputation and it’s hard to get rid of it, we just hope that the spectators don’t put all the riders in the same bag.

And finally...

Q. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? And why!!??

Et finalement, si vous pouvez manger une seule nourriture pour le reste de votre vie, ce sera quoi ? Et pourquoi ?

A. Pizzas j’aime beaucoup

A. I really like Pizza.

 

Q. Shane, congratulations on your gold medal in the sprint at the Commonwealth Games! What does it mean to you to win gold for your country?

A. After crossing the line a very happy feeling, and when standing on the podium watching the Aussie flag go up and the National Anthem playing, a very humbling feeling and proud moment.

Q. How much confidence does this win give you going into the track season in Australia, and further ahead, London 2012?


A. Well as they say you are only as good as your last race, so from that for the coming season and London there is still a lot to work on to improve. Of course getting a lot more confidence just from racing at a high level leading into the season coming off the Commonwealth Games.

Q. After your unfortunate relegation from the Kieran final, you broke the Games record in your first qualifying heat for the sprint. Were you tearing up the boards in anger, or just had great form going into it?

A. I am very proud of the way I turned things around into a great performance to take the Record and Gold medal in the sprint after disappointment in the Keirin on the same day and only hours later. I can honestly say their was no anger involved in my performance only motivation and enjoying the competition.

 
Q. Given the events in the Kieran, are you happy with how your Commonwealth Games finished, or do you still feel like there’s some unfinished business?

A. I am very happy with my games with gold in the Sprint and Games record, especially winning the Blue Ribbon event!!

Q. Back home, the media & general public seemed to be right behind you and felt you were harshly treated. Did you have any idea of the support you were receiving from back home while you were competing?

A. I was not aware that I had so much support after the Keirin. Since being home though every one has been fantastic and very supportive and I am very appreciative for this from Australia.

Q. With all the reports about the Games village and facilities putting the organisers into the spotlight, can you give us an insight into what it was like to be there competing, and how you found your whole Games experience?

A. The games experience was fantastic, I have to say that India did a fantastic job to make us all feel comfortable with their short time limit to have the village finished. The people in India were lovely and I felt my games experience will be one I will remember forever in a very happy and positive way!

 
Q. Prior to the Games you spent some time racing kieran’s in Japan. We hear stories all the time about how intense the track racing is over there, can you tell us what it’s really like?

A. Yes intense is a pritty solid word and sums it up well. I guess it's kind of like tennis where you travel from competition to competition just in Japan we get locked down in the Track for 4-5 days without internet or cell phones because of all the betting. It is a very fun experience and I really enjoyed living in Japan and learning their culture. I look forward to going back their again one day.

Q. With all the travelling you do and time spent away from your family, how do you deal with these pressures? And what’s your phone bill like!?

A. Phone bill is gigantic!!!! I wonder if Vodafone might be interested in a sponsorship (that would help out heaps ;-) It does get very tough being away from my wife and 2 year old. My wife is very understanding and supportive of me doing my sport and understands the whole having to travel and to make teams and keep improving, also financially! I wouldn't be able to do what I do and also keep improving without my wife and son's support!

Q. Looking ahead, we have big events like the Track World Cup and Austral Wheelrace being held on your home tracks. Have you targeted any races in particular this summer?

A. This summer I am looking forward to the Melbourne World Cup being my last race for the year and hopefully finishing with a good result. I am also looking forward to the break post World Cup Melbourne as I haven't had one for almost 3 years!! From January 2011 I will be doing the Australian Titles in mid Feb (that is if our Baby doesn't come during that time as my wife is due around that time) then going onto the World Championships in late March.

 
Q. How do you train for these big events, and more specifically, how do you practice the sprints?

A. Many hours in the gym, on the track, ergo and road bike. All of my training is based on sprinting of course but through out the year the combinations of track, gym, ergo, road change depending on what racing is coming up etc.

And finally...

Q. If you could be any Sesame Street character for a day, who would you be and why!??

A. My son loves Eelmo so i'll go with him, he is a pretty cool character!

 

To keep up to date with Shane's racing this Summer, visit his website & Twitter