Break on through to the other side

Image 1 of 8

Team manager Paul Brosnan(Image credit: Anthony Tan)

Tales from the peloton Down Under, January 20, 2005

Broso was in fact a former top rider himself with the Australian Institute of Sport (A.I.S.), a contemporary of riders like Discovery's Matt White and Davitamon-Lotto's Nick Gates. Showing you how difficult it still is to turn pro, Broso stopped racing quite young at 24 years-old in 1997, and began working in various capacities in sports administration before landing a role as A.I.S. scholarship coach in 2004. Now 32, he took up his current position at the T.I.S. in May last year. (Paul was too modest to add his extremely promising career was cut short by a terrible accident in South Africa. Ed.)

Broso: Yeah, I think that's true, but you have to put it into perspective. It's true - he's something special - but if you've got everyone telling him that, and there is that expectation... you know, it's not a given that he's going to crack it in the top end. It would take a tragedy for it not to happen - everything indicates that it will - but at the same time, you've got to play it down a bit, keep him level headed, and also be realistic and remind yourself that he is still a kid.

PB: Oh.. no, that's all great - it's similar to how Lance Armstrong praises Michael Rogers' abilities. Lance has come out and said Michael Rogers is going to be the next Tour de France star; he still has to live up to the expectation - he's already super successful - but it's still only an opinion, as great as it is. You've still got to do the hard yards and get the runs on the board. He's not the sort of guy to blow out on the remarks of Robbie McEwen, but also, you've got to remind him when he does ride well.

Bloody hell it's hot - they reckon it's going to be at least 41 today. I find some shade on a sandstone verandah, taking a few pics, including one of my colleague Les Clarke getting some pre-race quotes from Robbie McEwen (see photo), and write down a few more questions I want to ask Broso once we get going again. Willy Walker's stretching his hammies in preparation for a fast start to the 154 kilometre stage. A question I often ask myself is: "How can blokes that little pump out so much power?" Both Will and Robbie epitomise the term 'Pocket Rocket'.

PB: My dealing with Will, I would say he's nothing but a gentleman and a worthy ambassador for the sport. In time, he'll shape into a different athlete, and learn to shape himself. You've got to have that air... it's not arrogance, but you have to have that air of confidence - that's what makes him special as well. I wouldn't support those comments... it's someone's opinion, and all I can say is that my dealings with him have been quite the opposite.

PB: It's funny... you see successful athletes, not just cyclists, where they may not be talking to the right people or say things at appropriate times, but at the end of the day, they're human - they can be nervous and shy, they may not be someone that really flourishes in pressure situations in front of the media as well. Like you say, it's a development process and it's just another feather he needs to put in his cap, dealing with the media.

Having said that, today is really an opportunity for the likes of Liberty to really put themselves back in the bike race - it's easy to follow wheels, but I think they need to be on the front foot to secure the tour and they won't leave an opportunity unturned. At the moment, Ag2r are controlling the Tour well, but Liberty have come here in form - Sanchez is in great form and it won't surprise me at all if they really try to get a few seconds back today.

PB: We lost two guys on the first stage [Richard Moffatt and Sam Lee], so we're down on a couple of numbers, but having said that, these guys, they don't need to be forcing the pace - they need to be putting themselves in good position and putting themselves in the bike race, so they can have an opportunity of winning a stage but obviously protecting Willy's overall position. Come crunch time, when the GC is decided, he needs to be in the right place.

11:49 Nangkita
Race radio: "Rider number 86 has been dropped from the break. Time gap is 3 minutes 33 after 32 kilometres." That's Navigators rider Hilton Clarke, who rode for Team Cyclingnews in 2004 before getting picked up by the American Pro Continental team. He's shown good early season form by winning the overall title at the Bay Series Criteriums, but with the quality of the field, race distance and heat, the Jacob's Creek Tour Down Under is another level above that.

"Oh look, the highest-placed in the break is at 12 minutes, so Ag2R won't allow it to go out further than half that time, maybe six minutes or so," explains Brosnan. "When there's a crosswind section at the 60k mark, the bigger teams will try and break it up there, so we just need to make sure our guys are riding good position and looking after Will, to ensure he does make that split if it does come about."

As searing temperatures melt the road to a thick tar in Yankalilla, I thank Broso for his time and comments, and begin to understand just how all-encompassing the role of team manager is, particularly with a young crew. On the way back home, I sit in the back next to their young gun and Australian cycling's next big thing, Will Walker, where he graciously allowed me time for what turned out to be an intriguing interview.