Interview with Rui Costa- Winner of the Portuguese individual time trial champs

A. This year I had the chance to have a time trial bike at home. So I could train more and this is essential to get a better position when you are pedalling. The time trial of the Portuguese championship was long, 40 kilometres, so it was a challenge to control the efforts to keep a good pace during the entire race.

Q. How does it feel to know you will be wearing the National Champions jersey of Portugal in the time trial at this year’s Tour de France?

A. I am proud because this victory gives you the chance to wear a different jersey so the fans can easily find you. There is no better place to have it on my shoulders for my first time than the start of the Tour de France.  

Q. With your win on the weekend and riding with such a big team, do more people recognise you in the street now?

A. Before my victory in the national championship and the stage of the Tour of Switzerland, people related to cycling knew me. Now I notice more interest in the media and the fans are cheering me up in the Internet with messages. I think this is good news for Portuguese cycling.

Q. How do you see your role in the Caisse d’Epargne team at this year’s Tour?

A. My first aim is trying to finish the race. There are two difficult stages in the first days with some parts of cobblestone and we will have to be careful and avoid the crashes. Last year I had to abandon due to this reason. Besides, I will try to help the team leader Luis Leon Sanchez to be with the best riders in the overall

Q.  Can you tell us what your training load is like and how you peak for a race such as the Tour?

A. At the beginning of the season, I was not supposed to take part in any of the races of three weeks and I was thinking more about other races like classics or the 4 days of Dunkirk. Later I knew I would have some chances for the line-up of the Tour de France if I was in good shape. Winning a stage in Switzerland gave more reasons to the team directors. Anyway I was not 100% fit there; otherwise I could not stand the peak for the Tour de France (laughs).    

Q. What is Portuguese cycling like from the Junior to the Pro level, and how did you make the jump? What inspired you to want to become a professional cyclist?

A. I had the atmosphere of cycling at home. My father was in his heydays an amateur so he transmitted me the feeling for this sport. I was also quite lucky because there was a cycling club near my home so I joined at the age of 11. At the beginning it was only leisure and after I became more involved in it and so on.

Q. Was there ever a point growing up where you knew you had what it takes to turn professional?

A. I left a Portuguese team to join Caisse d´Epargne when I was only 21. Many thought it was too soon, but life is short for a sportsman and you have to take profit of the chances. I wanted to be part of a big team and It was a good decision. I hope that the young cyclists have the same support as me to show their progress.

Q. Do you ever get to ride your bike for fun, and if so, can you tell us where your favourite place to ride is?

A: Sometimes I go for a slow ride. I am lucky because I live in Povoa Do Varzim, in Porto Region. I have the beach nearby my home so it is always relaxing to pedal and to stare at the sea.

And finally...

Q. If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?