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Phil Zajicek, Navigators

2 October 2005

World Championships Review from BiciRace.com Headquarters

Phil Zajicek Amongst Cyclists At Worlds, photo: Raisin

Phil Zajicek is one of the hippest guys in the peloton, which was a good thing when he came to spend some time at BiciRace.com headquarters in Italy. Most of the time prepping for the interview was spent drinking cappuccinos and sampling Prosecco. We could have spent the time leading up to the interview talking about his recent romp in the Tour of Britain, after his comeback from injury, or his World Championship adventures with international stars. However, we just relaxed and had fun in Italy, raiding the local panificos and pasticcerias. Later we got down to business: the second BiciRace.com interview with an incredible rider.

Amaro, Bresaola and Catching Up

Phil Ready to Turn the Screws for Freddie, photo: Raisin

BiciRace.com:  When we first had our interview in March BiciRace.com invited you to visit, we didn't think you actually would!
[Laughs]
BR:  So now you are here at BiciRace.com headquarters and you are forcing us to drink this Amaro! Why?
Phil Zajicek:  You are Italian now... you have to learn to drink like an Italian.
BR:  What is your favorite Amaro? [Amaro is a dark licorice (low-alcohol) liquor.]
PZ:  Amaro d'Abruzzo, from the Abruzzo region.
BR:  I thought it was Amaro Montenegro?
PZ:  No, that is my least favorite.
BR:  Why were you asking us to try it?
PZ:  Because it is widely available.
BR:  What are we drinking now?
PZ:  Amaro Ramazzotti from Milano.
[Everyone samples the good Amaro.]
BR:  We mentioned the Bresaola in the first interview, and now you have tried it?
PZ:  Yes, with the olive oil and pepper that you made. That was nice. Yes, it is the winter time, time to get a little fat.
BR:  Are you completely through with riding this year?
PZ:  No not quite, now I am taking a little ten day break after the Worlds [see World Championships]. Then going back to home for a month and start to train quite a bit. After, I will be going to do the Tour of Okinawa in Japan ... November 13th. I will do that with the US national team.
BR:  Who else will be there?
PZ:  Mostly the U23 national team riders. I think I will be the elder statesmen, which is actually kind of scary. The race is one day, 200K. I have heard quite a lot of good things about it. All with in Okinawa. Then, afterwards I will have four to five days in Tokyo to visit.

Boonen and the World Championships

Phil and Audrey, photo: Zajicek

BR:  So what kind of training were you doing prior to the Worlds?
PZ:  Three weeks before Worlds I did the Tour of Britain, a six day stage race. I had a good ride and that is what got me on the Worlds team.
BR:  Was there bumping of elbows with Luca Paolini?
PZ:  No, not with him. I had a few run-ins with the Japanese riders on Bridgestone-Anchor. But it was a great race. Then I went back to Arizona for a few weeks, and then came back to Europe for Worlds. I did not have any racing between Britain and Worlds, which was a little difficult.
BR:  Was there lots of good training in AZ?
PZ:  Yes, really good training, but it was super-hot. I spent the summer in Bolder Colorado and I thought I had timed it perfectly. I came back to Tucson when summer was over, but it was still over 100°F. It kind of limits your time out training ... after 10:30AM you are losing form by being outside.
BR:  How many days did you arrive before Sunday's Worlds RR?
PZ:  Three days before.
BR:  Right when you got there you hooked up with Tom Boonen, who showed you the ropes?
PZ:  Yes, ha ha.
BR:  Seriously, what is your relationship with Boonen?
PZ:  Well, in 2000 we road together on Kortrijk Groening Spurters in Kortrijk, Belgium. The team road on Litespeed bicycles and that was my relationship. I was sort of the token American on the team, the liaison for the American frame company. It was a very good squad ... Gorik Gardeyn who rides for MrBookmaker, who won Classic Haribo this year. Bert De Waele, who rides for Landbouwkrediet-Colnago. Christoph Roodhooft who rides for MrBookmaker. Quite a few amateurs who then went on to be good professionals.
BR:  So you are in with the Belgians?
PZ:  Yes, I am pretty tight with the Belgium crew. I learned a bit of Flemish. No, it was neat getting into races like U23 Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and some big stage races in Spain. Now it's always neat coming back and running into the Belgians.
BR:  So did Tom Boonen give you any advice for Worlds?
PZ:  Yes, he said try to follow him if I could ... It would be a good wheel.
[Laughs.]
BR:  So how did the Worlds go for you and the USA team?
PZ:  I did not have a fantastic day. But we were all basically riding for Fred Rodriguez, doing everything we could to help him out, making sure he was taken care of. Unfortunately, he missed out on the last split. He was watching Alessandro Petacchi and Robbie McEwen. They all missed out on the split, and just had bad position on the last lap when it all broke up.
BR:  Instead they should have been watching your old friend, Boonen?
PZ:  Yes, which was definitely the wheel to be on!

Stars and Watercarriers

Dynamic Duo - Phil and Saul, photo: Raisin

BR:  But you were busting tail all day, back and forth through the peloton, being a big helper for Fred?
PZ:  Yes. Getting Bottles, and getting food for Freddie. Which was tough.
BR:  Can you tell the BiciRace.com readers how that actually happens?
PZ:  It was tough, cause it was a fast and really twisty course. So grabbing bottles in the feed zone would put you at the back of the pack. It was a bottleneck in the feed zone and that made it difficult. It was a tight course, with a lot of it single file, so it would take 3/4 a lap to get back up to Freddie. Freddie was sitting about 20th wheel but he would drift back on the 2nd climb. So you get up to him, give him the bottle and then bring him back up to up to the front. And then start the whole process over again. So you are essentially doing intervals. You are going a lot faster, and putting out a lot more effort than the guys who are able to just following the wheels.
BR:  That was really an impressive race: Doing 10 of 13 laps, in the Madrid heat and competing with guys you don't normally race with.
PZ:  Yes, I was happy to be there, it was a great experience for my first pro World Championships.
BR:  So did you get to meet up with Saul Raisin, who writes a little bit on BiciRace.com.
PZ:  Yes, we were roommates, which was neat because we had the same coach, Jim Lehman from CTS. He has been my coach for over five years now, and Saul's for a long time.
BR:  Was it the team's goal to a have go in the early break?
PZ:  It was not necessarily the goal, but it was encouraged. It was good for Saul, it was good press, and it really showed how strong he is.
BR:  What did you think of the new national kits this year? Did you find them better than the old kits?
PZ:  I thought it was good, the old ones were around for far too long. I like them. I think it will be the only race where the new kit was used. Next year we are going to see a whole new kit.
BR:  So what happened to Christian Vande Velde?
PZ:  Christian and Michael Barry finished the Vuelta a España and went out for a nice dinner on that Sunday night to celebrate. They were out with their wives and they all had a bad meal, so everyone was sick for the whole week. Christian was supposed to do the time trial, but could not do it. Then he was hoping to do the road race, but was still unable to make it. Same for Michael.
BR:  Did you have time to hang out with the 'American' Guido Trenti?
PZ:  Yes, we had a few words. But the 'American' Guido does not speak too much English, and my Italian is lacking. He seemed like a great guy. He was working hard for Freddie as well.
BR:  Exactly how quick was the transition from professional cycling to professional relaxation?
PZ:  My plan was to be a bit of a tourist for 11 days after my last big race of the year [Worlds]. Immediately after the race, I went back to the hotel, had a little meal and packed up the bags. I had two nights in Madrid and saw the city, as much as you can in a day and a half. Then I was up to Amsterdam, and now on to Italy.

Travel, Tifosi and 2006

Phil Trains In Holland, photo: Zajicek

BR:  And since the Worlds it has been cheese, cheese and more cheese?
PZ:  A little cheese and a little drinking. A lot of fun.
BR:  OK, and where is the bicycle at this point?
PZ:  Since it is 10°C and raining I am glad I don't have my bike. No, a little break is nice.
BR:  Now that you come from Holland to Italy, how do you find this place?
PZ:  I love Italy, I think it is my favorite country in Europe. Last time I was here in Coppi e Bartali.
BR:  Are you having good caffè's [espresso] here?
PZ:  Yes, from BiciRace.com. Very good caffè's!
BR:  What will you do before you start training again?
PZ:  A few more days in Italy. I will be going down near Bologna, and the coast. Then up to Milan for one day. Tour a few cities and museums.
BR:  Next year what is the plan?
PZ:  Head into the season with really good form. I am really looking forward to the Tour of California at the end of February. It is a big goal for me, so the aim is not to lose too much form over the winter.
BR:  Have you signed again with Navigators for 2006?
PZ:  Yes, I have signed for one more year.
BR:  Bikes are still the cool Colnagos? Is there any other team that has such a cool set up?
PZ:  Yes, the same cool C-50's with Campagnolo Record. There is probably not any other team in the whole world with such a great set-up. We are riding on some great stuff for next year ... It is as good as it gets.
BR:  How many bikes were at your disposal in 2005?
PZ:  I used about four. My TT bike, racing bike and two training bikes. Training on the half-carbon and aluminum Dream, which is great. Then racing on the C-50's, which are even nicer. We are lucky.
BR:  What spring classics will you look forward too next year?
PZ:  In 2005 we did Het-Volk, we had an opportunity to come back for Paris-Tours [9 October], but unfortunately were not able to make it back. The 2006 schedule is a little up in the air at this point. I think we will have a little bit more of a presence in America, sending a full team to the Tour of California and then Redlands. I think we will choose a few of the races in Europe that we want to do well in, and just come over to Europe and do those, then coming right back. Versus what we have done in the past, which was come over for a few months in the spring. That can be difficult.
BR:  Where will the training camp be for the new season?
PZ:  I think it will be in the beginning of December. I hope not in New Jersey, where we had it last year. I am pushing for Tucson.
BR:  The final question is about your fan club. You have a new fan club based in China that everyone seems to be joining. Can you find info on this club on your website? Is there a link?
PZ:  [laughs] In China last year, at the Tour of QingHai Lake, there were a few girls that were big fans. They would come to the hotel every day ... They were very enthusiastic. They were bummed that I did not come to the race this last year.
BR:  Have you kept in correspondence with the fan club?
PZ:  I did not make it to the race this year, but they did give my DS a few photos and a letter for me. [more laughs]
BR:  Thanks for stopping by the BiciRace.com headquarters here in Italy. We appreciate your time.
PZ:  No problem. Thanks for the caffè's, Amaro and the Italian fun.

Thanks for reading and please check out Phil Zajicek's website.