With my friend Nico we had the chance before this Tour de France to wish "good luck" to Peter Velits for his first Tour. This one we had responded to "enjoy the show" and "fingers crossed for him". This has been done and the east Slovak them very well. It also gives us an exclusive interview to team-milram.wifeo.com: His career, his Tour de France, his team, everything is mentioned in this interview. I will want to thank him again for his kindness and his availability.
THE TOUR DE FRANCE
1- Xavier : Firstly Peter, what is your feeling after your first Tour de France where you finished in 58th rank ?
Peter : I feel really good. Very satisfied with the first Tour. I didnt want to go for general classement but with my place I am happy.
2- Xavier : Imagined you to take part in the Tour de France for your first year in Milram ?
Peter : I was very happy that my team nominated me for Tour. It was great feeling. But lately I got a bit of stress.
3- Xavier : In spite your title of World Champion, you said after the stage of L'Alpe d'Huez that “It was the best day of your cycling life”. In what fact to cross a day in front of the peloton on the Tour is it more extremely than your champion title of the world ?
Peter : It was different. Wining title was great feeling. Leading the bunch on Tour is different feeling. But I dont know which one is better.
4- Xavier : A word about your friend John Lee Augustyn. As you talked with him about his impressive fall in the Col de la Bonnette? How this arrived ?
Peter : We know each other with John Lee for a very long time. We rode together in small team Konica Minolta for two years. We are very good friends. He had a bad luck in downhill but luckily nothing serious happend.
Peter in The Team
5- Xavier : The presence of Martin, your brother, in the Team is important for you ?
Peter : Its very good to ride with my brother together. We share a lot of experience.
6- Xavier : Your compatriot Matej Jurco was already in the Team before your arrival. his presence has it been decisive in your decision ?
Peter : No it didn't help us to make decision . But we were happy to join Matej in team.
7- Nicolas : The presence of experienced riders as Erik Zabel or Marco Velo did it beneficial for you ?
Peter : Of course. Velo and Zabel are very experienced riders. I learned a lot during this three weeks.
8- Nicolas : Let us speak about your country, Is the Slovakia interested in your results ?
Peter : Yes. The people here are really interested. After the Tour I made a lot of interviews. They enjoyed the Tour and were cheering for me.
9- Nicolas : Cycling is it followed in your country ?
Peter : I think now it is much more followed as it was few years back. When people know that on Tour is also one Slovak they watch it.
10- Nicolas : Your ambition is it to follow your career under these colors or to discover another thing ?
Peter : Cant say now. It depends how it will go latter in my career.
11- Xavier : Peter, we saw that was not selected for Jo, contrary to Matej Jurco. Is it a disappointment for you?
Peter : It was a bit dissapointed but now I am focused for rest of the season.
12- Xavier : What are your objectives and your program for the season's end ?
Peter : I will do Tour of Germany what is going to be very important for the team. Than my another goal its going to be Worldchampionchips.
Quick Questions :
13- Nicolas : What is the race where you will dream to win ?
Peter : I dont have some dream race. It can be really nice to win some Classic or stage on Tour.
14- Xavier : Who is your idol ?
Peter : I dont have any idol.
15- Xavier : What rider gave you desire to make this job?
Peter : Our whole family is sport possitive so it came from family. Our dad was also professional rider.
You will understand, Peter Velits is a man filled after his first Tour de France and especially his epic, which describes itself as "just awesome". I therefore wishes good luck for the Tour of Germany and the end of the season.
Again thank you for your availability and your kindness.
French version
