Both Tom Stamsnijder and the author allowed me to post and share this exclusive interview for www.cyclingcompetition.com here on Podium Café.
Tom Stamsnijder has been very kind to answer a short Q & A through Email. With the help of some Dutch forum visitors, I posed twelve questions which he answered and elaborated on. You'll find the questions on the flip, directly followed by Tom's answer. Again, I'd like to thank Tom for his cooperation and the forum members for their input on possible questions.
Enjoy!
1) Before the new season starts winter is upon us. How do you manage to get through winter, being a professional road cyclist? Do you train outdoors, or only indoors? And how often do you train during the week?
Tom Stamsnijder: I am a real outdoors person, if there's anything I can't stand it's training indoors on the rollers. I'd rather train in bad weather than use the rollers anyway. I have a cyclocross bike which I use to train hours on end in the forest nearby. I really like riding in the forest because it's an altogether different approach to cycling. A nice extra is that training in the forest is harder than training on the road. The nearby Holterberg provides sufficient tracks to train on, I can go 3 hours without riding the same track, which also comes in handy when the weather is bad in the spring!
2) Your father, Hennie Stamsnijder, was a well known cyclocross racer. Some professional road cyclists also opt to race a few crosses during wintertime, Philippe Gilbert being one example. Is that an option for you also, do you even like the mud and sand crosses? Did you have to choose, early on in your career, between road, cross and track?
Tom: I've always had an infatuation with crossracing but when I was a junior, my national coach chose to leave me at home because he had the opinion that I rode too few races. The actual reason for me not riding all available crosses was that I had to study, my education had priority over cycling at that time. I used to ride a cross two weeks prior to the national championships to gain the right to start there. That year I was 4th, but still they left me at home! That was the time I decided on a career on the road, even when I still participated lateron in the national's with a basic shape.
I'll probably pick up my cyclocrossing lateron, but after my career on the road! The way Adrie van der Poel built his career really appeals to me; first a career on the road and specialising in the cross discipline afterwards.
3) The switch from Rabobank CT [the continental team] to Gerolsteiner means that you're the only Dutch rider within that big Pro Tour team. Did you like the switch? Do you learn a lot from riders like Schumacher and Rebellin? Which rider can you be found in company with the most and do you still keep in touch with your former teammates?
Tom: Going to a foreign Pro Tour team is a big step indeed. Not just the language, but also the handling of things is different. The first time I came into the team they really made me feel welcome. This is a team that really knows how to help young riders making their next step(s) in their careers. You can also learn a lot from the older riders, although their individual methods differ. For instance: Davide [Rebellin] doesn't speak much, but there's a lot to be learned from the way he lives for the sport. Schumacher and Kopp are guys that make you aware of mistakes during a race. The brothers Zberg and Rich advise me on how to handle a training schedule and rest periods wisely, while Christian Henn helps out with the tactics during the race. That's the beauty with Gerolsteiner, everyone uses their expertise to help the young guys getting better.
Of course I keep in contact with my old teammates, I see them quite often anyway as most of them have become pros as well.
4) Gerolsteiner is often descibed as 'a real family team', with a familial atmosphere. Why is it that Gerolsteiner has that image and do you feel that same way?
Tom: I do experience that 'family-feeling' within the team, yes. I think maybe it's because of the many young guys on the one hand, the older guys nearing the end of their careers on the other. Both 'sides' complement each others shortcomings.
5) You rode nearly all classics before the Giro in 2007. On the other hand you did the Vuelta a España. By way of these races we got quite a good impression of Tom Stamsnijder, the rider. Yet, how do you see yourself as a rider, what are your strongpoints and what do you need to improve upon? Anything you'd like to specialise in?
Tom: I would like to specialise in the classics, but if you want to play a decisive part in the future you need to be a little older and toughen up more. That's why I try to ride as many tough races as possible to make sure I can play a part in those spring classics as early as possible. My main weakness would be the high mountains, my physique prevents me from going up with the best anyway.
6) You were in the team that rode the Amstel Gold Race and Flèche Wallonne. You won both races with different riders. That must have been a great experience as a neo-pro: your work rewarded and leading to a team victory. Is there a difference in the way Rebellin and Schumacher celebrate their respective victories? Is that victory celebrated as an individual or as a team-win?
Tom: That was such a beautiful experience to witness! Especially when you consider the fact that Gerolsteiner is expected to be scoring in those classics. Both celebrate differently, but both thank their teammates extensively for the efforts being put into the race.
7) This year [2007] you rode your first Grand Tour, the Vuelta. You came quite close to a stage win as well. Besides that, it's quite an achievement to also finish a Grand Tour in your first year. Did you like riding a three week Grand Tour in your first professional season? Will you again ride a Grand Tour next year?
Tom: Right from the start I said to the team leaders that they shouldn't spare me when I'm riding well because I'm only 22 years of age. That first talk led to a consencus about a tough and well balanced schedule that both the DS's (worried that I would ride too much) and me could live with. One of my demands was riding the Vuelta which was really tough to see through to the end, but I feel it has helped me immensely in my growth as a tougher rider, so I don't regret my decision. That's why there is another Grand Tour on my programme for next year, which one remains to be seen!
8) Do you know anything about your schedule and goals for 2008?
Tom: That will be discussed at our next team meeting on the 28th of november.
9) At this time there is no clarity about the competition formula in 2008 due to the separation between ASO / RCS / Unipublic on the one, and the UCI on the other hand. Do you notice that same separation between favoring parties within the peloton? Should, according to you, the Pro Tour remain in its current form?
Tom: The Pro Tour as such is a good idea, but we need to stick together! Only then the teams can make a stand! I have to say that you don't hear much about the new competition formula but I imagine we'll see some changes, like the Tour Down Under which has become a Pro Tour race now. I now don't know much more about it.
10) With Boogerd leaving the peloton, a Dutch cycling icon quit the sport. Yet, with you, Boom, Gesink, Clement and Dekker a new golden generation is emerging. Will you feel extra 'national' pressure next season due to Boogerd having quit?
Tom: I think the young Rabobank guys will feel more pressure than the Dutch riders abroad. That doesn't mean that I won't try my hardest to have the fans see a Dutchman up front in a race.
11) Gerolsteiner will stop sponsoring the cyclingteam after 2008. Do you notice more tension within the team yet? Does it put more pressure on the riders? Do you expect to remain with Holczer and team when they find a new sponsor?
Tom: I'm really enjoying my time with the Holczer team and when he finds a new sponsor I estimate my chances of staying with the team quite large. Extra tension is something I haven't noticed yet, but Holczer still has quite some time to find a new sponsor.
12) ProTourcompetitie.nl [cyclingcompetition.com] is a website where participants make predictions for all stages and one day races in the Pro Tour, completed by many race-specials and a well filled database with results. Have you ever played in such a prognostic game like that, perhaps during the Tour? Do you think you'd like participating in such a game?
Tom: I've never played that type of game before, but wouldn't mind trying it at one time.
Interview by: Nescio
Translation by: DZI
