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The Odessa Files

A chat with Fred Rodriguez

Odessa Gunn

Well, I've been out of the cycling scene for a couple weeks now but I'm back just in time for the action. The Tour de France begins in just one week and in light of Jan Ullrich's win at the German National Championships, I would say we are in for quite a show.

Earlier this season I had the chance to sit down with Fred Rodriguez to talk about his goals for the season, one of whichwas to defend his title as the US Pro champion. He did not only this but he also won the overall race in Philadelphia on June 10. His plan had been to go home to California, rest for a bit and then train well in preparation for the Pro Championships. I caught up with Fred recently and this is what he had to say.

OG: Well your plan certainly worked. What kind of training did you do?

FR: I took a week really easy in Spain although it wasn't really rest since I was taking care of a lot of business. When I got home to California I took three days really easy to rest and then I built up in the first week. three hours up to five hours just easy comfortable riding. The second week I did a five hour daily average just easy and then I took a two day break followed by a five day block of an average of four hours a day. It was all basic mileage, no intensity. I'd hammered intensity all year so far and I needed to just ride. I hadn't done one ride like that all year.

 

Bio: Fred Rodriguez Captaim America. Photo: Tim Maloney/Cyclingnews Born: March 9, 1973, Bogotá, Colombia Nationality: American Team: Domo Pro Since: 1996 Career Teams 1996: Saturn   1997: Saturn   1998: Saturn 1999: Mapei 2000: Mapei  2001: Domo Victories Riding in the First Union series. Photo: ©Jonathan Devich 1996: 2 stages G.P. Cycliste de Beauce; Fresca International Classic + 2 stages; Chevron Bay Trials; stage Tour of China 1997: stage Redlands Classic; stage Niederosterreich Rundfahrt; stage Fresca International Classic; Red River Classic + 2 stages 1998: 2 stages Tour of Langkawi; stage Niedersachsen Rundfahrt 1999: stage Tour of Langkawi Schaal Sels; stage Trans Canada Tour 2000: 2 stages Niedersachsen Rundfahrt; stage Quatre Jours de Dunkerque; stage Uniqa Classic, First Union Classic; stage Tour de Suisse 2001: First Union US Pro Championship Major Honours 1996: 3rd US Pro Championship; 4th Killington Stage race 1997: 2nd First Union G.P.; 18th US Pro Championship; 10th G.P. Cycliste de Beauce; 4th Fresca International Classic; 6th Regio Tour 1998: 7th Tour of Langkawi; 2nd Atlanta G.P.; 9th Fyn Rundt 1999: 24th Tour of Langkawi; 19th Guldensporentweedaagse; 5th Volta ao Algarve; 4th G.P. Portugal Telecom; 8th Memorial Cecchi Gori; 30th Dwars door Belgie; 29th Christiana Care Cup; 20th First Union Invitational; 13th First Union Classic; 6th US Pro Championship; 7th Trans Canada Tour 2000: 2nd Niedersachsen Rundfahrt; 21st G.P. Kanton Aargau; 10th Quatre Jours de Dunkerque; 3rd Uniqa Classic; 3rd First Invitational Classic; 10th First Union Wilmington Classic; 2nd First Union US Pro Championship; 4th G.P. de Fourmies; 25th Rheinland-Pfalz Rundfahrt 2001: 23rd Trofeo Palma de Mallorca (Vuelta a Mallorca); 8th Guldensporentweedaagse Palmares courtesy www.cyclingteams.com

OG: Did you go there feeling 100 per cent confident in your form?

FR: I did not know how I was going to feel. I had a lot more racing going into Philadelphia the year before. My training this year was all for the Tour really. Being good for Philly without jeopardizing my form for July. The two races in the week before Philly were important preparation for Sunday.

OG: Why did you jump with one kilometre to go?

FR: (He laughs) No idea!

A couple reasons I guess. There were a lot of attacks at that point and they were thinking of setting up for the sprint. Slowing it down fills your legs and it's not the way I like to go into a sprint. I like it to be fast. I wanted to drift right and keep the speed up. Trent and George were drifting left and back and slowing down. By the time we got to the turn I had two or three seconds. They thought I was bluffing. Neither one of them wanted to waste energy chasing me and the Europeans were leaving it to the Americans. Trent had just attacked and George did not want to sacrifice anything for the sprint. Everyone was looking at everyone and I was gone. I was still set on a sprint but I kept looking behind and they weren't chasing so I went.

OG: With the Tour de France just one week away, what are you doing now in order to prepare?

FR: Resting.

OG: Will Domo give you the chance to go for your own stage win?

FR: Yes. This tour is about the whole team.

OG: After studying the course profile for the Tour, where do you see your best chances for a stage win?

FR: I haven't studied the course profile.

OG: What are your plans after the Tour?

FR: Rest.

OG: Who do you think will win the Tour?

FR: It's up to two guys really, Lance and Ullrich.I would say Lance since he has proven himself. Maybe Casagrande has a chance at top three. I don't know, Ullrich won the German National Championships today and he is on so he has a good chance of winning also.

We will see. Be sure to tune into the Tour coverage where ever you may be to cheer on Fred and witness the battle of the year.

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