I believe this is the translated version, so usual disclaimers
"It's human to break under the great pressure. Also in cycling"
The patron of the peloton gives his sharp take on cycling each week.
"For six of our seven Olympians, the adventure in Tokyo is already over. Without any medals of honour. Our biggest medal hopes have yet to start. Michael Morkov rides the team pursuit Madison on the track, a discipline in which he became world champion last year. Afterwards he gave me a rainbow jersey with the inscription: Thank you Patrick, to make my dream come true. It's in my desk. I don't much love cycling at the Games, but give my riders the chance for personal prestige. We also have a mechanic in Japan. It's fine with me, but they shouldn't come and say they are tired in the next two months - like footballers dared to say that to their employers after the European Championships."
"The most talked about moment of the Games so far is Simone Biles' dip. I don't know her background sufficiently, but it's human to break under great pressure. Also in cycling. We know the story of Johan Museeuw. The week before he became world champion in Lugano, Johan sat in my car for three hours crying on the way home from Tours. Without saying a word, except that he would stop racing. Johan was one of the strongest personalities I have worked with, but everyone has their breaking point. Although I have my doubts about one rider. I don't know what has to happen to unbalance Rigoberto Uran. An atomic bomb may fall next to him, he will still keep smiling. A man without worries."
"There have been others. Patrick Sinkewitz was a fool and Marcel Kittel tended to get into mental dips quickly, that's why he doesn't race anymore. Those who watched the road race should remember three names: Carapaz, Van Aert and Jan Tratnik, who rode 150 kilometers at the head of the peloton. Ten years ago Tratnik rode with me. A difficult case. One month he was super sharp, the next time five kilograms too fat. He was looking for an outlet, and that was eating. On the verge of bulimia, but what do you say to a 21-year-old boy like that?"
"With first Jef Brouwers and now Michael Verschaeve, a mental coach has been part of our medical staff for years. The first to ask for a psychologist was Frank Vandenbroucke. Then Wouter Weylandt - a great guy, but he sometimes struggled with his self-image. When I suggested he go to Jef, he said: Patrick, I am not sick. When I explained to him that it would give him an insight into his thinking pattern and I would pay for his first session, he went anyway. It helped."
"I never had any unstable people in my team, but I did have some "special" people. In the current team you have Rémi Cavagna. He is certainly not a nervous type, because his hobby is fishing, but he sometimes suffers from stress. Some say Remco Evenepoel can't ride a bike, but Rémi at the beginning didn't even dare to accept a water bottle or put his hands up when he won. It's all in his head. Tim Declercq is a super smart guy, but he cramps up when he can ride for his own success. Last but not least, there is Sam Bennett. For me the epitome of mental weakness. Leaving Bora-Hansgrohe and telling everyone that he was bullied there and thus almost depressed and bankrupt, but fourteen months later he simply returns. It's the same as women returning home after domestic violence."
"As CEO of a racing team I also experience pressure, but I don't need mental help. It might surprise you, but I am actually a boring guy: never euphoria, never a dip. I don't feel the need to vent to anyone. Not even at home. After work, I swap my shoes for my savannahs, put on my sweatpants or pyjamas, pour an apéritif and that's it. That is how I will follow the rest of the Games. I give Simone Biles the best.