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NRC column July 5

LET US DREAM..

As from my first year as a professional in 1980, the Tours the Frances of 1980, 1985 and 1990 passed to me. And that of this year. This means that I went through France 25 times 3 weeks, largely a year and a half of my 51 years on this planet. In each Tour I was faced with pain and stress, but also many moments of invincibility, triumph, euphoria, friendship, solidarity.
Many books I am able to fill with all experiences from the past; one book I could  dedicate to the events of previous year around Michael Rasmussen. Meanwhile he has been suspended for 2 years by the Cycling Federation from Monaco and the cantonal judge in Utrecht has judged that his dismissal was correct but that it should not have been done on the basis of summary termination at that moment. The first reactions of both Rabobank and Rasmussen are `positive’, Rabobank was allowed to fire him, Rasmussen must get his Tour bonus.
Initially, the affair has been for me personally extremely difficult. A strong home front and my mental strength dragged my through, as well as the many encouraging reactions from the most unexpected angles. I am convinced that in the end I have kept control,  both in the Tour and afterwards with regard to my own position. And that I can live with and account for everything I have done.
I hope that as from this moment on for all people concerned a quieter period will begin, in which everyone can go on with his (cycling) life.
Because everything will just continue. At this moment I am giving another interpretation to my life, with counselling activities, athletes’ management, lectures and organising clinics and trips, for example to the Tour. I am completely under control and on top of it.
All previous years I was caught in the hectic period previous to the Tour. As a rider with the stress of being selected, with the performance pressure and the question if the preparation and form is good enough. And as a manager/team leader also with the performance pressure, team composition, regulating a-thousand-and-one things around the Tour. And the last years with the continuously increasing discussions and meetings concerning `ethics’, efforts as a governing board member of several team interest groups to keep the teams united and to encourage them to follow their own line amidst the fights between ASO and UCI. Far too much valuable energy has been spilled in a meaningless manner. At this moment the degeneration is still in full pace: UCI and ASO are following their own course, the teams are still hardly organised, cooperation between the teams, mutual respect, and appreciation has decreased to the absolute minimum. It certainly has not been improving since mine leaving.. Involuntarily I have been condemned to some weeks of house arrest because of fractures of my right hip and collarbone, caused by a ‘simple’ fall during a bicycle trip. By the way, the rehabilitation is developing extremely well, thank you. I am following the Tour in an extremely relaxed way, at a comfortable distance I will observe the events with great interest. Only when the pleasure and the mutual appreciation will return at all levels, cycling will regain the real respect of the many loyal fans. I will follow the action in the coming weeks with much pleasure. Cycling is too dear to me, with too many beautiful memories, not to do so.

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