Thanks to a great hook-up from Jeff King, I was able to get an interview with my now favorite Euro Pro, Christian Vande Velde. This is the transcript.

Schmalz: As background, how do you know Jeff King? @##=#<1,R>@##=#

Vande Velde: Jeff King and I became friends in Boulder Colorado. We both had too much time on our hands (OK maybe I had more than him) and we would hang out up on the hill with some friends that we had in common.

Schmalz: You just had your CSC survival training camp, is it true you guys turned to cannibalism on this trip? If so, which teammate of yours was eaten?

Vande Velde: Hey man, if you would’ve seen the rations of food that they gave us…..We hunted down the neo pro Kasper in the middle of night two. He had no idea that we were seriously thinking of eating him. He was a bit tough for the most part but the Flank was really good. A product of feeding him enough Danish Schnapps the night before, seasoned him perfectly. What the hell am I doing? I choked down all the Rations that they gave me, I mean all of them. I ate every time we slowed down for a second, as if we weren’t going to eat for the next week. The Danish dog food in a can really went well with the dried mashed potatoes and tomato soup all mixed together. I am serious about this now.

Schmalz: That’s funny, I would’ve thought that neo-pro would taste “gamey”. Dog food – really?

Schmalz: You’ve now had experience with three of the biggest teams and three very well known directors. How do their organizations and styles differ? Do you still hear Saiz’s voice in your sleep going “Venga, venga, venga?”

Vande Velde: I was asked the same question the other day, and it is an easy one to answer. Having worked for all three directors, all of them being famous in there own right they have a few similar characteristics. First and most importantly they all have some serious passion for the sport. They are constantly thinking of ways to better the team and squeeze a little more out of the riders. They have ownership in the team and if you own a restaurant you’re not going to shit in the soup now are you? All of them have never been scared to do things their own way. This goes a long far way when you are dealing with a sport that is very old school and sometimes a bit behind the times of modern professional sport. All of these guys keep expanding there horizons….well, Manolo might not be in this category any more, but he was the first one who had all the buses and treated the riders better….he had many firsts but now is taking a back seat in the thought process. But Bjarne now is in the forefront. It takes a lot of energy and passion to do what he does, who knows how long his fire will last. Johan has the test of all tests this year, the first year in which he has to go out into the woods, without Lance.

Schmalz: That’s interesting, do you think that teams from countries that have less of a cycling tradition (like Discovery and CSC) may have an edge because they aren’t as bound by cycling tradition?

Vande Velde: Actually that is interesting that you say that. I think that having a team based in a “non-cycling” hot bed could help because everything they do doesn’t get analyzed from the press and the sponsor. The Sponsor being the big issue here. Both CSC and Discovery are American sponsors who couldn’t care less who wins the Three Days of De Panne. However they want to be in the forefront come the Tour and they want to entertain their clients with an international clientele and the team is a great vehicle for this.

Schmalz: Have you ever used the group shower at Paris Roubaix? Cycling has to be the only sport where participants take a shower together after a competition. Who’s the biggest towel snapper in the peloton?

Vande Velde: I have never used the group shower in Paris Roubaix. I am waiting for a prison-like fight to break out there someday. Flecha takes the soap and puts it in a towel and starts batting Boonen with it. No – but really, I have never made it past the first feed zone. I used to ride P-R just for the first half then stop. I would protect George and drive him around the pack and say good luck. It was a great job got to be in the race and then have a great seat in the Velodrome for the finish.

Schmalz: Stuart O’Grady seems like a great addition the CSC squad; did he bring his Robbie McEwen dartboard to the camp?

Vande Velde: Stuey will be awesome this year. He is going to have one of the best years of his career this year and the team will right behind him for it. There will some others who will definitely step it up a notch this year also, so I think that Stuey, Cancelarra, Kroon, Questa…all these guys will push the other riders another notch.

Schmalz: Since you’re from Chicago – where do you stand – Old Style or Leinenkugel’s?

Vande Velde: I am going home on Friday and I will be drinking Old Style, Dog Style what ever you want to call it, as usual.

Schmalz: Not really an Old Style (mold pile) guy, it’s kind of like canned laxative for me. I’ll take a Point when I can find one.

Schmalz: You’re in the Girona hit squad, right? Do you guys play any head games when you go out to train, or is it pretty mellow?

Vande Velde: No. But I think guys who really need to go head to head for the win in an upcoming race might avoid one another a little. But no, we usually have each other’s back if anything.

Schmalz: At the start line of a big race like Paris Roubaix or the tour, do you ever think to yourself “Damn, this is cool!”

Vande Velde: Once in a while, but not at the start line, usually at the finish.

Schmalz: Dude, where’s the Vandedrome?

Vande Velde: Good question.

Schmalz: I’m not sure we’re allowed to talk about this, but Basso’s sister – whoa!

Vande Velde: No, I don’t go there. Miss Basso that is.

Schmalz: Aren’t you going more for stage races this year? If so, which ones?

Vande Velde: I am starting with the tour of California, Paris Nice, Tour of Georgia. And then the Giro. And then making it back for the third time of the year for the Philly races. It is going to be a packed spring with a lot of frequent flier miles.

Vande Velde: How long is this going to go on? Wouldn’t it be easier to call me? I know it would be for me. I will even call you.

Schmalz: Ugh, well, I don’t have a recorder, so the chance of me mis-quoting is very big, considering I’m a half-idiot.

Schmalz: What do you think about Philly no longer being the USPro championship

site?

Vande Velde: Philly, I hope will still be Philly without the jersey. It is a great race with a ton of history, CSC will be bringing a good team there with hopes of keeping the race on a good level. If it is anything near what it has been in the past it will be a success.

Schmalz: From my view on my TV, Salvatore Commesso seems like a true character/goofball, who’s the most fun guy to hang with in a race?

Vande Velde: Dave Z has to be the funniest guy that I know. He is one that will let out a battle cry just to scare the stiffs. Commesso is fat and greasy but not that funny. Jens has to be up there also, just because he is always talking, big time nervous energy, so there usually is something novel coming out of his mouth at a time when most people can’t breathe – let alone talk. Sorry I haven’t gotten back to you sooner. It has been hectic lately. I am now on the plane from Paris to sweet home Chicago.

Schmalz: It’s funny you say that about Commesso; he does seem to have a “stocky” build for a bike racer. And it seems like when he gets up to a move or a break, everyone looks disappointed that they have to tow his tubby ass.

Vande Velde: Yeah, they are disappointed to have his Jell-O ass in the break because when he is in form he will kick your ass in a sprint and he will stay with you on most climbs before the sprint. I first raced with Toto in the 96′ World Championships, where he was the “worst” guy on the Squadra Azzura, so he was sent off the front from the gun. And he stayed there by himself for half the race. He still ended up getting top ten I think.

Schmalz: Sounds like you’re in for a classic Chicago winter visit, it’s been balls cold from what I hear. I grew up in Dubuque, IA. People from Chicago usually remember us for our hot dogs and sausages…

Vande Velde: Chicago was awesome, and now riding when it is “cold” here in Spain is actually quite warm.

Schmalz: I think Dave Z showed a lot of restraint in his Tour interviews which showed good thinking, the French aren’t so good at irony. I still would’ve like to see him pop off a line or two, granted he was probably cross-eyed tired after every stage.

Vande Velde: Dave Z. is the interview king. He always has the media in stitches and that is quite an odd thing in Pro Cycling. If we could all take a page out of Dave’s book, life would be a much more colorful place but I think that 90% percent of the all the interviews being said sarcastically would be hard to comprehend for the French.

Schmalz: I think I agree that life in a Dave Z. world would be more fun.