Borut Božič (Vacansoleil) Interview - What do you want to know?

[joe_papp]

Borut Božič (Vacansoleil) Interview - What do you want to know?

Hey there Cyclingnews.com Forum readers! I'm going to be interviewing a former competitor of mine, the Slovenian sprinter Borut Božič (Vacansoleil), and I wanted to give you the opportunity to suggest some of the questions I'll pose to the Vuelta stage-winner. If you have a question, leave it here as a reply to this post.

One caveat - while I can understand that there are those who'd like to know more about the Vacansoleil team itself, or who are interested in other riders on the squad, I would like to keep the questions focused on Borut and his career and experiences in the pro peloton.

Hope to hear from some of you!

 

[nvpacchi]

This sounds very interesting. considering Slovenia was part of the former Yugoslavia, did Bozic begin his cycling training in "athletic high schools" like many other communist regime countries offered?

 

[joe_papp]

This sounds very interesting. considering Slovenia was part of the former Yugoslavia, did Bozic begin his cycling training in "athletic high schools" like many other communist regime countries offered?

Great question. Although Bozic was only about 10 or so when Slovenia gained its independence (I think), I'll be sure to ask him 1) if Slovenia had a soviet-style sports school system and 2) if yes, did he spend any time in it.

 

[nvpacchi]

Great question. Although Bozic was only about 10 or so when Slovenia gained its independence (I think), I'll be sure to ask him 1) if Slovenia had a soviet-style sports school system and 2) if yes, did he spend any time in it.

Slovenia gained independence in 1995, and considering he was born in 1980 I guess there is still a chance he went through a Soviet Style Sports School (at least for a few years).

 

[Moondance]

Does he (Bozic) feel that riding for a team like Vacansoleil hold him back (in that he can't ride all the major races he might want to enter) or does it help his career riding for a smaller team, in a less pressured environment?

 

[joe_papp]

Slovenia gained independence in 1995, and considering he was born in 1980 I guess there is still a chance he went through a Soviet Style Sports School (at least for a few years).

I think we're both wrong:

"In 1990, Slovenia abandoned its socialist infrastructure, the first free and democratic elections were held, and the Democratic Opposition of Slovenia defeated the former Communist parties. The state reconstituted itself as the Republic of Slovenia. In December 1990, the overwhelming majority of Slovenian citizens voted for independence, which was declared on 25 June 1991. A Ten-Day War followed in which the Slovenians rejected Yugoslav military interference. After 1990, a stable democratic system evolved, with economic liberalization and gradual growth of prosperity. Slovenia joined NATO on 29 March 2004 and the European Union on 1 May 2004. Slovenia was the first post-Communist country to hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, for the first six months of 2008."

and

"The Slovene lands were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the latter's dissolution at the end of World War I. In 1918, the Slovenes joined the Serbs and Croats in forming a new multinational state, which was named Yugoslavia in 1929. After World War II, Slovenia became a republic of the renewed Yugoslavia, which though Communist, distanced itself from Moscow's rule. Dissatisfied with the exercise of power by the majority Serbs, the Slovenes succeeded in establishing their independence in 1991 after a short 10-day war. Historical ties to Western Europe, a strong economy, and a stable democracy have assisted in Slovenia's transformation to a modern state. Slovenia acceded to both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004."

 

[craig1985]

Hey Joe, these are my questions:

1/ What was it like to win a stage at the Vuelta? Did you pinch yourself to make sure you really won the stage?

2/ What sort of speeds where you doing in the final sprint at a GT?

3/ Aside from winning a stage at the Tour de France, what are your other main goals as a cyclist?

4/ What age did you begin cycling, and what attracted you do the sport? Did you have any brothers/sisters, fathers/uncles etc. who were cyclists? Did you do any other sports beforehand?

5/ When did you realise you could make it as a pro cyclist?

6/ How many KM do you do a week?

7/ How do you unwind outside of cycling, do you listen to music, watch a movie etc?

8/ Do you watch many bike races on TV when you get the chance?

9/ What is the hardest race you have ever done? Also, toughest climb you have done?

 

[joe_papp]

Hey Joe, these are my questions:

1/ What was it like to win a stage at the Vuelta? Did you pinch yourself to make sure you really won the stage?

2/ What sort of speeds where you doing in the final sprint at a GT?

3/ Aside from winning a stage at the Tour de France, what are your other main goals as a cyclist?

4/ What age did you begin cycling, and what attracted you do the sport? Did you have any brothers/sisters, fathers/uncles etc. who were cyclists? Did you do any other sports beforehand?

5/ When did you realise you could make it as a pro cyclist?

6/ How many KM do you do a week?

7/ How do you unwind outside of cycling, do you listen to music, watch a movie etc?

8/ Do you watch many bike races on TV when you get the chance?

9/ What is the hardest race you have ever done? Also, toughest climb you have done?

Great questions! Keep 'em coming!

 

[nvpacchi]

I think we're both wrong:

"In 1990, Slovenia abandoned its socialist infrastructure, the first free and democratic elections were held, and the Democratic Opposition of Slovenia defeated the former Communist parties. The state reconstituted itself as the Republic of Slovenia. In December 1990, the overwhelming majority of Slovenian citizens voted for independence, which was declared on 25 June 1991. A Ten-Day War followed in which the Slovenians rejected Yugoslav military interference. After 1990, a stable democratic system evolved, with economic liberalization and gradual growth of prosperity. Slovenia joined NATO on 29 March 2004 and the European Union on 1 May 2004. Slovenia was the first post-Communist country to hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, for the first six months of 2008."

and

"The Slovene lands were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the latter's dissolution at the end of World War I. In 1918, the Slovenes joined the Serbs and Croats in forming a new multinational state, which was named Yugoslavia in 1929. After World War II, Slovenia became a republic of the renewed Yugoslavia, which though Communist, distanced itself from Moscow's rule. Dissatisfied with the exercise of power by the majority Serbs, the Slovenes succeeded in establishing their independence in 1991 after a short 10-day war. Historical ties to Western Europe, a strong economy, and a stable democracy have assisted in Slovenia's transformation to a modern state. Slovenia acceded to both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004."

Great thanks for clearing that up! Don't know how I got 1995 when I was looking directly at the wikipedia page. Also I'm curious to know how many languages he speaks, and did he learn Dutch upon joining Vacansoleil? How has his knowledge (or lack of knowledge) of Dutch helped or hindered him in assimilating with the squad?

 

[filipo]

What's it like to take massive amounts of drugs to make yourself more successful?

I'm sure Joe can answer this, but I'd like to hear it from Borut, who really made the big game.

 

[Bala Verde]

-What is his favorite training route (length, scenery, place)?

-What is his favorite/least favorite type of training/work out?

-What is his dream lead out train?

-What ability(ies) would he most like to/need to improve to become a better/more complete rider?

 

[Alpe d'Huez]

FFS filipo, if you have a problem or question for Joe, ask him in a PM, or through his website, If you have a valid and reasonable question about doping in the peloton, then ask it. Don't drag this useful conversation into the mud for your own entertainment purposes. Major uncool.

 

[joe_papp]

-What is his favorite training route (length, scenery, place)?

-What is his favorite/least favorite type of training/work out?

-What is his dream lead out train?

-What ability(ies) would he most like to/need to improve to become a better/more complete rider?

More great questions, guys! Thanks.

Vaconsoleil is psyched to have Borut profiled b/c they're committed to expanding the team's reach and raising their profile in the English-language media. With your help we'll make this a truly fascinating interview that delivers information that you all are interested in! THANKS!

 

[Michele]

Here's mine:

-Which one is the race you never did but would love to take part?
-How about the one you love the most?

 

[Ferdinand Artichoke]

How about:
'Do you think being interviewed by a drug cheat tarnishes your reputation?'

 

[Big_Blue_Dave]

During the off-season, what other forms of training does he complete?

 

[craig1985]

edited by mod

 

[luckyboy]

All the d**ing questions were edited out?

 

[joe_papp]

All the d**ing questions were edited out?

I'd hope that all the trolling questions would be edited-out, and the doping ones as well, since they belong in The Clinic.

 

[luckyboy]

Ah ok - just saw some posts that didn't make any sense..

 

[Zaschrona]

1. When does he go to bed in his season and off-season training period, when does he get up and when does he go out for training?
2. Does he listen to music when he is on bike? If yes, which music?
3. What he and computers - using he Facebook or Twitter or whatabout he and computer games, for example with cycling tematic?

 

[joe_papp]

1. When does he go to bed in his season and off-season training period, when does he get up and when does he go out for training?
2. Does he listen to music when he is on bike? If yes, which music?
3. What he and computers - using he Facebook or Twitter or whatabout he and computer games, for example with cycling tematic?

These are great questions! All of you are asking some really insightful stuff, and I'll do my best to convince Borut to answer as many as possible. If he flatters us w/ answers to all of them, I think there will be enough material to split the interview into two parts - so keep 'em coming!!

Thanks,

Joe

 

[halamala]

I'd like to know Bozic's max power (watts) and max VO2.

 

[joe_papp]

Thanks to everyone who submitted questions. At this point (though I can't do it) I'm going to consider the thread closed and proceed with next steps. When the interview is done and ready to be published, I'll let you all know.

Thanks!

Joe

 

[Susan Westemeyer]

At this point (though I can't do it) I'm going to consider the thread closed and proceed with next steps.

Happy to do it for you.

Susan