INTERVIEWS

CYCLINGTIME.com Exclusive Interview: Tjarco Cuppens

Fuji-CYCLINGTIME.com’s former Amateur World Champion chats to CYCLINGTIME.com

Published: 05/10/11 05:33

Tjarco Cuppens (Netherlands, Fuji-CyclingTime.com) © photo: tjarcocuppens.nl

Tjarco Cuppens is a Dutch rider with the UCI Continental team Fuji-CYCLINGTIME.com, racing this season in Europe and Asia. At 35 years of age, Tjarco has been racing bikes for many years, the highlight of which was winning the Amateur World Championships in 2006.

In 2001 he turned professional with the Flanders-Prefetex team, and was selected for such high-profile races as Omloop Het Volk, E3-Prijs, Gent-Wevelgem, Grote Scheldeprijs and Paris-Brussels.

Here he talks about his career and what he’s learnt from so many years in the saddle.

CYCLINGTIME.com: How did you get into cycling?

Tjarco Cuppens: The moment I got excited about cycling was when Hennie Kuiper won Milano-San Remo in 1985. Then together with my dad I went to watch a lot of races. In 1992 I went to watch the regional MTB Championships and there was also a youth race. My dad’s friend said why don’t you participate? So, unprepared, I did and gained a 3rd place. The year after I applied for my first license as a Junior and started doing road races

CT: Do you remember your first bike?

TC: It was my dad’s bike, an aluminum Alan.

CT: First race?

TC: I got dropped after 3 laps and continued until the finish with 2 other riders.

But one year later I gained a 3rd place in the same race.

CT: You’ve been cycling for many years - what have you learnt?

TC: When you are young you make mistakes too easily or miscalculations, because you’re too emotional or too excited. When you are older you stay calmer, and you can read the race better. A lot of people think cycling is an individual sport, and yes you have to do it yourself, but you also need teammates to get good results. If you work for another rider to help him get a good result, he will help you the next time. It’s all about give and take.

CT: You plan to retire next season. What are you going to do after that?

TC: First I will spend much more time with my family. I was very often away for races and also training. Next to that I hope I can become a Sports Director, for example, with my current team and try to help them, so I am still a little bit involved with cycling.

CT: You were World Champion - tell us about that day.

TC: Well it was the Amateur World Championship in 2006, in St.Johann (Austria). I was in the early break away and noticed I was very strong, maybe the strongest in the break. So for me it was important to stay away. But unfortunately with 20km to go the bunch caught us. Then I thought my chances were over. 10km before the finish 10 riders broke away and I was the only rider who went across. Then with 3km to go two riders attacked and took 15 sec. With 500m to go we started to sprint for the 3rd place, because the leaders still had 10 sec. But my sprint was so fast I passed the two leaders 100m before the finish!

CT: And you’re not the only World Champion in the family...

TC: That’s true, my wife also became World Champion, Cyclo-Cross Amateur-Women in 2000 in Belgium. Indeed, very special!

CT: Why did you decide to join a team based in Taiwan?

TC: Since 2007 I have known Chris Lintaman, who was my teammate in Europe, and he lives now in Taiwan and is the team organizer. Since then I raced several times with him in Asia, races like Tour de Taiwan, Tour de Korea , Tour de Okinawa and Tour of China. I love Asia and I was looking for a new adventure. So in the OCBC race in Singapore I talked with Chris and we agreed right away. I am very happy with my new team at the moment.

CT: If you weren’t a cyclist you would be a....?

TC: I really don’t know……………I think a Technical Artist, I studied for that. To design buildings etc.

CT: What keeps you motivated to keep riding and racing?

TC: I start every race to win, that’s my biggest motivation. It’s a lifestyle. Also I know these are my last 2 years of cycling, so I try to do everything for it, because I know soon my career ends. After that it’s time to relax.

CT: Can you tell us about a typical training week for you at this time of year?

TC: Well on Monday I always go 4-5 hours, doesn’t matter if I raced the weekend. Tuesday I will have a rest day, Wednesday 4-5 hours again, Thursday 3 hours, but with some sprints. Friday easy training 2 hours and Saturday 1 hour, Sunday I race.

CT: Favorite post-race meal?

TC: Normally I like pasta, but sometimes its just fast food, because after the race I deserve it!

CT: If you could win one race, any in the world, it would be....?

TC: Unrealistic: The World Championship, against the professionals, it’s just great to wear that jersey all year.

More realistic: a stage in the Tour of China.

CT: You race in Asia quite a lot - what is the difference between racing in Asia and in Europe?

TC: In the UCI races, not that much difference. The level in Asia has improved very quickly. Only weather conditions are much different! In Asia most of the time it is much warmer.

CT: We have Arashiro and Beppu doing well now in Europe. Is there greater respect now for Asian riders than maybe there was before?

TC: With the pro’s there is more respect for Asian riders, because they know the Asian level. Cycling is becoming a worldwide sport more and more with every passing year, with Pro Tour races in Australia and now also in Asia with the Tour of Beijing. Anyone who raced in Asia before will have respect for the Asian riders, because they also are strong. The only real difference is that in Europe cycling is a bigger sport!

CT: What is your favorite ride and why?

TC: My favorite ride is any easy, long ride with my friend Stefan Cohnen, we have no fixed ride, we always go somewhere different. But we always have a coffee stop during our training.

CT: Any idea why the cycling culture is so strong in Holland and Belgium?

TC: In Holland its pretty big but in Belgium its huge! I don’t know why that is, but I think it’s because of the heroic races, with cobblestones etc. In Belgium it’s the number one sport. They also have a lot of clubs and during the summer you can basically race every day.

CT: If you didn’t live in Holland, where would you like to live?

TC: Probably Asia, at the moment.

CT: Thanks!

TC: Also thanks to you!