An interview with Sylvain Chavanel, March 9, 2005

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Chavanel prepares for the prologue at Paris-Nice(Image credit: Régis Garnier)

"Paris-Nice: A Mini Tour de France"

Sylvain Chavanel is enjoying life at Cofidis - his new team for 2005 - after breaking ties with long-time team manager Jean-Rene Bernaudeau. According to Chavanel, he needed a change of scenery and 2005 was just the right time for that change. Stephanie Langlais caught up with Sylvain and found out that he's enjoying his racing and looks forward to being co-leader of a well-respected team. Translated by Chris Henry

I don't want to do too much too soon or expose myself to too much pressure. Plus, I've just come off a very bad week. I prepared very well for the Vuelta a Valenciana but it rained for four days there and I think I caught a virus. Wednesday I had a bad cold and that cut off my legs. Now I feel better, and at the end of the week I felt good again in training, so that's a good sign! Besides, you don't lose all of your condition in one week.

SC: Yes, when it comes from their hearts. Often, people encourage you just because you're doing well. When you're not winning anymore, they let you know it. The media behaves the same way. I want people to appreciate me for who I am and not treat me differently depending on whether or not I'm riding better or worse. That makes no sense. What remains most important for me is support from my family.

SC: Great (big smile)! The team is very well structured, very professional. Now, as far as training goes, I pay more attention to quality over quantity. I have more rest periods, whereas before I would keep riding even when I was running on empty. I've learned to better evaluate my condition. That's more important than just piling up the days in competition, around 80 to 90 each year. I'm present from the beginning to the end of the season.

SC: I've been racing for six years with Jean-Rene Bernaudeau (as a junior with Vende U, then professionally with Bonjour and then Brioches La Boulangere - Ed.). You start to get a bit bored… I wanted a change of pace; I was afraid of falling into a rut. I decided to take a step and challenge myself a bit. I want to see what I'm capable of in this new environment. Either way, it'll be good for me. It's great to be around new people. My entry into the team has really gone well, I very quickly became part of the group. Simply put, I'm in my element here!

SC: It's an objective, of course, but it's different. What will change relative to 2004 will be my approach to the Tour de France. I'm going to have a long break beforehand, around four or five weeks, to go on vacation with my family and build up my morale. Then I'll go to the Vuelta a Catalunya to work on my climbing, then to the Dauphiné, which I've only ridden once (and even then I was asked to abandon because of illness).