Kiwis on Tour de France

BY KELVIN GOODCHILD

For the first time, two New Zealanders will be competing in the three-week odyssey that is the Tour de France. So, what are the prospects of Julian Dean and Hayden Roulston?

GUTS, GLORY AND A LEADING MAN

Like all supreme challenges to the human body climbing Mt Everest, trekking to the North Pole, or diving to ludicrous depths the Tour de France is given the respect it deserves the world over.

It lasts three weeks and, in the words of New Zealand cyclist Julian Dean, is all about "just getting on with it".

"The tour is ridiculously demanding both physically and mentally and if you are not prepared to suffer, then the race will chew you up and spit you out," Dean says from Monaco, the launch pad for the 2009 tour.

"The gravity and gradient of the hills, endless attacks and counter attacks, toughness of the competition, length of the stages, length of the entire race they are all huge factors."

This is Dean's fifth crack at the world's most prestigious tour, a record for a New Zealander.

In 2004, 2006 and 2007 he rode for the now disbanded Credit Agricole team and switched to his current team, Garmin-Slipstream, in 2008.

Garmin-Slipstream are in only their second year in the event, but Dean says they have built strong foundations.

"The team has a great mix of experience and youth, not to mention an abundance of talent. We are extremely focused."

Dean's performances in his previous tour appearances have been high quality. Last year he recorded six-top 10 stage finishes with a best performance of fourth in stage 14.

"My role this year will be as leadout sprinter for our star of the future, Tyler Farrar, so I will not have the freedom I have enjoyed in past years, but I will try and look for my own chances in some of the more selective sprints," the Waihi-born rider says.

"One thing you have to remember is that although it is hard, it is hard for everybody. There are no free rides in this tour, and you are not riding for yourself but for eight other team members who are busting a gut just as much as you.

"After the first week the stages all start rolling into one big stage and each day is filled with the same routines early rising, breakfast, racing, back to the hotel or coach, then recovery, massage and food."

Names such as Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Miguel Indurain, Greg LeMond and Lance Armstrong are synonymous with Le Tour and have helped fashion the high profile it enjoys today.

New Zealand's most celebrated cyclist understands what an honour it is to be part of such a enormous event.

"For the European guys, the Tour de France is certainly what they grew up desiring to be a part of and is their No1 priority," Dean says.

"It's possible that we riders from the rest of the world see the Olympics as the big goal, but there is no doubt that anyone completing Le Tour will never forget the experience of riding down the Champs-Elysees on the last day."

AT A GLANCE

Name: Julian Dean Age: 34 Home town: Waihi Height/weight: 1.78m, 72kg Turned pro: 1996 Current team: Garmin-Slipstream Tour de France rides: 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008 Best stage finish: 4th, stage 14, 2008

PACE, POWER AND A SUPPORTING ROLE

If head space counts for anything, Hayden Roulston is in for a cracking Tour de France.

The man from Ashburton, with two Olympic Games track cycling medals behind him, has never been happier and is relishing the opportunity to support his Cervelo team's bids for the yellow and sprint jerseys.

Roulston's job is to support team-mate Carlos Sastre in his bid to win a second title and assist Thor Hushovd in the sprint competition.

"It's been a great year to date and there is a really good vibe among the team," Roulston says.

"I am happy to be working with such great leaders in Thor and Carlos. They are both laidback and easygoing guys who always give 100 per cent.

"If they don't win, they are still appreciative of the effort you have put in. When they win they stay humble. I like champions like that."

Roulston has many qualities that would make him a huge asset to any professional team. In the end it was impossible for Cervelo to leave him out of their nine-strong tour squad.

Roulston's impressive mix of skills - superb leadout performances (evident in the Tour of California early this year), aggressive hill climbs, extensive breakaways and his well-known explosive power from his track career - will see him act as a leadout rider and overall support rider for Cervelo.

"There are a few different ways I can help out the team and this is why I'll be employed to work for both of our leaders [Hushovd and Sastre]," he says.

"The past few days we have been fine-tuning preparations, training and tactics.

"We have carried out reconnaissance missions on various parts of the route, participated in the drug-testing and on the last day will chill out and concentrate our minds on the 21 days ahead."

The 96th edition of the tour begins on Sunday with a 15.5km time trial around Monaco. This is longer than Roulston would have preferred for a time trial but he is keen to put everything into it.

"I'm going to go out there and give it my best. If I have that magical day and win the yellow jersey, of course the team would be over the moon.

"I'm probably the happiest I've ever been in terms of team-mates and team morale.

"This is a prolific time in my life and I am looking to put my foot down, get a good contract for the years coming and cement my future in the sport.

"I feel I'm in really good shape and have prepared well, that's for sure."

AT A GLANCE

Name: Hayden Roulston Age: 29 Home town: Ashburton Height/weight: 1.86m, 82kg Turned pro: 2002 Current team: Cervelo Test Team Tour de France rides: None

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