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Brett Lancaster, Panaria-Navigare

14 August 2005 (interviewed: 13 July 2005)

From Velodrome to the Corsa Rosa

 

Brett Lancaster is only 25 years of age and is already a campione. He has achieved Olympic and World Championship gold medals on the track with his fast turn of speed. The Aussie's victories are not limited to the velodrome, just this last May he was wearing the maglia rosa as GC leader in the Giro d'Italia. BiciRace.com had the opportunity to speak with Brett between training and racing for his Italian team, Panaria-Navigare. Please have a read and learn more about Brett Lancaster.

Starting Off

BiciRace.com:  Ciao Brett
Brett Lancaster:  Ciao
BR:  Were you watching the Tour today [Tour de France, stage 11]?
BL:  Yes it is great.
BR:  It got blown apart yesterday [stage 10].
BR:  Who do you think is going to win overall?
BL:  Lance, for sure Lance again.
BR:  I heard Jens Voigt did not finish today, He missed the time cut.
BL:  Really, were others with him?
BR:  I think it was just him.
BR:  Do you have any bets for the green jersey?
BL:  I think it will be a close one. I think Stuart O'Grady, if he gets some more points it will be interesting.
BR:  Tell the BiciRace.com readers who got you started in cycling? Was it family members?
BL:  Yeah, it was a family member I guess. All the others were really good swimmers. I remember I borrowed a racing bike and took it for a really good spin. When I took it back he looked at the max speed and it said something like 55 and he said 'kid, you better start racing mate.' So I started to learn to ride on the track. On the track was the first race and I won that, it sort of went from there.
BR:  It all happened quick?
BL:  Yes, I got started in a space of a couple of weeks.
BR:  And you have other family members in sports or cycling?
BL:  Yeah, my brother plays Australian rules "footing". He is quite good at his sport.
BR:  You have a brother, and a sister?
BL:  Yeah, my brother who is 24 and my sister is 17.

In Italia, Living and Training

BR:  Are you normally based in Italy?
BL:  Yes, I live in Pistoia. But I have been up in Livigno training. I was up there for 11 days, a good little training period. It was nice and cool up there.
BR:  Are there lots of other Aussie's in Pistoia?
BL:  Just me and Graeme Brown.
BR:  A few years back there was Nathan O'Neill who used to live in Pistoia?
BL:  Yes, Nathan used to live here.
BR:  Who are you training with lately?
BL:  When I was up in Livigno it was pretty much Graeme Brown. Two or three riders with a couple other team members, Ryan Cox and Sean Sullivan were up there. And now down here on my own [Pistoia] training solo at the moment.
BR:  It sure has warmed up nicely.
BL:  Yeah, it has been quite nice here lately. It was cold a couple times, which was quite nice actually, it was refreshing.
BR:  What kind of rides were you doing up in Livigno?
BL:  A few days of nothing too hard, trying to keep the heart rate down. It is a bit different training at altitude. Then after that ... not doing much more than hills. There are lots of hills, and I did not get into it too hard. It was my first sort of decent training after the Giro I am still getting into it. Now I am sort of building up in the process. For me it was my first time in Livigno, and I will definitely be going back next year, I really enjoyed Livigno. I have done quite a lot of altitude training in the past. I went to Mexico three times, Colorado Springs four times, so I am no stranger to altitude training.
BR:  How was it in Colorado springs?
BL:  I have been with the national team about four times, it is a nice place.

Maglia Rosa and Olympic Gold

BR:  Your Giro d'Italia prologue winning time of 1'20" was quick [over 1,150 meters]. With such a short distance resulting in a huge victory. How does that short time compare to other victories?
BL:  Ah, the crowds in Reggio Calabria were massive all along the street. It was special with my track background, getting the pink jersey is something special. Especially on an Italian team, Panaria. To get the pink jersey ... it was what the whole team had been gunning for.
BR:  That really made the race for your team?
BL:  Yes, that got us off to a really good start.
BR:  We know you were not on a single speed bike, did you ever change gears?
BL:  Yes, I think I started in a 53 x 16. I spun that right out. I think at the end I was in a 13, or maybe a 12. I kept a high revolution and a high rate. I know that Stuart O'Grady rode a fixed wheel, and he said to me afterwards that it felt great. It would have been nice to have a fixed wheel, but at the end of the day it didn't matter.
BR:  Did Mario Cipollini steal any of your podium time? Or did he make it all the better!?
BL:  I think he made it nicer. You know, being the first stage you get to go up on the podium about three times. Sort of on the third time, when I was up there with him, I had a bottle of champagne to shake up and spray in his face. No it was cool to get up there with Cipollini. To be presented with the pink jersey by him it was a thrill, you know. I watched him for so many years, and got to race with him last year.
BR:  It was a short time that you had the Maglia Rosa. How did you enjoy it?
BL:  It was a special day. All the Italians were coming up to me, they are all so passionate about it. It was huge, everybody knowing your name. Then the next day I tried to keep it but did not have the legs to go with Bettini.
BR:  Yeah, no one seemed to be able to go with Bettini that day. Did you sleep well the night before?
BL:  No, not really. After the drug controls, press, I did not get home until late anyhow. And it it was a night stage, so I did not get to bed until 2 or 3 in the morning. Then it was cool, because the next day I had the pink jersey on my back!
BR:  How would you compare the maglia rosa to the Olympic gold? One has it's meaning on the road? And one on the track?
BL:  Yeah, the jersey is right up there, I compare it the same. You know they are completely different things, the road and the track. I can't compare the Olympic gold with anything. But winning in a grand tour stage is a special feeling as well. They are both right up there on par with each other, but you can't really compare them.
BR:  Yes, they are both great. Where do you keep the gold medal, is it on display?
BL:  No it is not on display, it is in a bank, back at home in Australia. I think a lot of other people do that too. It is safer that way because it is so precious.
BR:  So coming up for the rest of the summer and fall what are the races planned?
BL:  I have the Brixia Tour next week. Then after that the next goal is the Tour of Denmark. I have been sort of off racing since the Giro. I did do a race last weekend.
BR:  What about other ProTour races for your team? Is the Giro di Lombardia a possibility?
BL:  Yes, maybe. The Giro d'Italia was a big deal for the team, and me especially. Being able to help out my teammate [Paride] Grillo in the sprints, that is what I consider myself best at. Like a lead-out man, that is really where I want to go in the future.
BR:  What about next year, do you want to switch teams? And will your Giro win help that?
BL:  Yes, it will definitely will help for the future. My goal is the Tour de France. To do the big sprints and be a lead out man. I still have a contract with Panaria, so we will just have to wait and see. I am still relatively young, so I will just keep at it. I will see what happens in the future.

The California Roll

BR:  BiciRace.com has heard that you enjoy Sushi, what is your favorite type?
BL:  I love all types of Japanese food. Can't really get much sushi here in Italy. So I really look forward to getting back to Aussie and having some every year.
BR:  Do you have a favorite Sushi restaurant back in Australia?
BL:  No, nothing particular. I am just a big fan of Sushi. I like the California roll. It is nice because it is a healthy dish too.
BR:  How do you like the Italian food?
BL:  I absolutely love Italian food. This year I sort of have to cut back a bit because of my fiance has celiac disease. She can't have gluten and food like that. So I had to cut back on pasta, so it is probably a good thing as well.
BR:  What is your favorite Italian dish?
BL:  Pizza!
BR:  Do you have favorite "bad" food that you get to enjoy in the off season.
BL:  [Has to think a lot.] Kabab
BR:  What about the cafe's and bars there in Pistoia? Do you have any favorites or do you just take your caffè at home?
BL:  We usually just drink coffee at the bars. There is a place close by called Cappuccino King, and it is by far the best I have had in Italy, a lot of pro bike riders stop there.
BR:  What about gelato, you like the Italian ice cream?
BL:  Yeah! Gelati! Haahha. Yeah, it is nice, when it is hot out, especially.
BR:  Do you have a favorite flavor?
BL:  Yes, Nutella. There all good.

For the Ears

BR:  What are some of the groups you are listing to lately?
BL:  I love The Red Hot Chili Peppers. I saw them in concert. I listen to all sorts of type of music.
BR:  Yes, it is a good beat most the time.
BL:  Also, I am reading the auto-biography by Anthony Kiedis right now. It is a good read. You can get into it pretty easy.
BR:  Any other bands?
BL:  Ah, Jamiroquai and I like the Dutch DJ, Tiësto. It is good for warming up for a time trial or something like that.

Nice Italian Bike

BR:  Your Colnago bike, how is it?
BL:  I changed bikes in the last week. Colnago handed me a new bike in the last week of the Giro d'Italia. I went from a C50 to an Extreme-C, it is a little bit lighter. I like it, a nice bike.
BR:  You are riding the Extreme-C around now?
BL:  Yes, and for a training bike I use the standard Dream. I put my SRM back on there, I hadn't used it for a while.
BR:  Well, thanks Brett for taking the time to talk with BiciRace.com. We appreciate your time.
BL:  No problems, take care.