Interview - Jesus Hernandez (Team Saxo Bank)

Sitting in the grass in one of the spectators tent watching the Women’s Road Race, not an eye on him. Alberto Contador’s best friend, team mate and right hand in the mountains Jesus Hernandez seems to be able to walk around completely unnoticed. Somehow I guess it would be very different if Alberto was here. With a flat course like the one we have in Copenhagen, naturally Jesus has not been picked for the Spanish team, which is why the reason for his presence has to be found in the Women’s Road Race, where his girlfriend Anna Sanchis is participating.

Anyway, as some of you might already know, Jesus Hernandez has always been one of my favorite riders, but despite of that I never had the chance to talk with him until today.

About the World Champions:

Jesus, how do you see the course? Is it a good one for the Spanish team?
Yes, I think so. I have just talked with the Spanish coach and he told me that Freire is very, very motivated and really wants this win.

Sounds good. And who is your favorite for tomorrow? A lot of good riders…
Yes indeed. There are many riders to chose between and I don’t see one super favorite. The thing is that the course is not flat, but not very hard either. Freire could win it on a good day, but also Hushovd, Cavendish and of course Gilbert who is looking very strong. The question is who is going to control the race. It’s going to be a very nervous race with so many riders in the peloton, especially in the corners and you have to be careful not to crash.

Yesterday [Friday] both of the road races ended in a bunch sprint. If we say that won’t happen tomorrow, who is your favorite then?
Well Gilbert, no doubt about that. He has had an incredible year so far and with a finish going uphill like that, he is the best man in the world.

And what about Rojas?
Rojas could be a rider for the podium, but he has nothing on Gilbert. Maybe the only riders who can beat Gilbert is Freire on a good day, Hushovd on a good day and maybe Cavendish. It’s hard to say anything about Cavendish because he has never been in the final in the World Champions, but if he is there in the end of course he is good bet. Still I will say it’s a better course for riders like Hushovd and Gilbert.

About Giro-Tour double, Team Saxo Bank & the future:

Okay. Let’s talk about next year. What is going on right now. The whole situation with Alberto must be very frustrating?
Well, as it is now Alberto is still a rider with Team Saxo Bank for the next season. I think the first hearing is in November but right now we just think about the Tour next year. We can’t really do anything else. What happens, happens. If it’s good, great if not, then we take it from there. But right now we take it easy as always and only think about winning the Tour.

Winning the Tour. Something that many thought Alberto would do this year as well. Was the Giro-Tour double too much?
It’s important to know that when we planned this year, we didn’t even think about going to the Tour and therefore we only focused on preparing the Giro in the best way possible. The Tour was not on the menu since we didn’t know what would happen with Alberto in July. So because of that we just did everything for the Giro and then in May we got the word that Alberto could do the Tour and then, well…we were a little bit too tired after such a hard Giro.

And next year? Only the Tour?
Yes, next year the plan is only to do the Tour and then after that we will see about the Vuelta. If Alberto wins the Tour and still feels good, well of course we will go the Vuelta as well, but if Alberto wins the Tour and feels tired afterward or there are any problems then we won’t.

Looking at the team as it is right now. Is it strong enough?
I think that we have a very strong team. Still I think that we need one very, very strong rider who can stay with Alberto to the end in the mountains. We have a lot strong guys who all work very hard, but I really think we need that one last rider who can be with Alberto in the end.

And who would you like to have, if you could pick.
Puff…[laughing] I don’t know. They all seem to have contracts now. We just got Paulinho who is very good rider in all aspects; time trialing, on the flat, in the mountains and he moves around very well in the peloton. He is very clever and definitely a good rider for our team, especially since Richie Porte leaves us for Team Sky. We have good riders to work, but as I said we really need a rider who can be with Alberto in end.

Team Saxo Bank has always had a very strong team spirit, every rider had their chance. Now with Alberto it seems like the whole team is focused on him, like Mercatone Uno did with Pantani.
Well yes, that’s true. But in the team we don’t have any other riders at Alberto's level. Nobody has that. So I think it’s only normal. I mean look at how it was with Lance and Indurain, who had the whole team build up around them. Right now the idea at our team is to support Alberto and with all his wins I think it’s only to be expected. If he someday stops winning, well, then we will work for somebody else [laughing].

How about your own ambitions for the next year?
My primary goal is to come to the Tour with Alberto in the best shape possible. Later in the Vuelta, if Alberto is ready I will help him again, but if he is not there, I will have the chance to fight for a stage win the mountains.

And you will ‘only’ be in races where Alberto participates?
Right now I don’t know, but normally yes. For example in the Tour, it’s very important for us that we know each other very well, so it will probably be like that all year. And hey, that suits me perfect. To be riding with my best friend and roommate well…great!

Last one. You have one more year left on your contract with Bjarne Riis and the team. What are your plans?
Well as you know, I’m staying with Alberto so if he goes so do I, but I can say that right now Alberto is very, very happy with Riis, and I am with the team, so if nothing happens we will stay here many, many years.