NashvilleCyclist.com recently caught up with local cycling phenom Zach Bolian while he was back home in Nashville. Below is the second part of a two part Q & A session with Zach.
View The Zach
Bolian Interview: Part 1 here.
10 Mar 2005
NC.com - You have raced countless
times across Tennessee, the US and in Europe. What are your favorite
races in each of those areas, locally, nationally, and internationally?
ZB - I don't really know about countless times. I've raced a good
bit in Tennessee, but as far as nationally and internationally go I feel
like I'm really just getting my toes wet. Races in Tennessee that
I like in particular are Raccoon Mountain and McMinnville. Nationally
and internationally I've really only raced on the junior scene so it's
kind of hard to say really.
NC.com - You have grown up in the culture of cycling that includes
drug abuse committed by a few. As someone racing at the highest levels
how has this affected you personally, and how do you battle against it?
ZB - It's really unfortunate what has happened to cycling and sports in
general over the last several decades. For me personally it leaves
me gambling with my future a little. I mean it's a big enough
gamble wither you even make it trough the amateur ranks to be a pro, but
then the additional risk of getting there and finding out that you need
this test tube to win would be devastating. Unfortunately it's
something I'm going to have to deal with, and I think the best way to
deal with it is keep my head down and take the sport as far as I can
with honesty, integrity and respect despite what others may be doing.
NC.com - Discuss your European experiences. Compare the Euro
cycling culture and contrast that with the cycling culture in the US.
ZB - Basically Europe has a much deeper history in the sport and because
of that a much more wide spread interest. For example, the guy I
was living with in Italy would tell me about how when he was little and
there were no TV's that all there was to listen to on the radio was
World Cup Soccer and the Giro d'Italia. And of course on occasion
they got a chance to see it pass their front porch! So in Europe
cycling seems to be a lot more about history and about passion for the
sport, whereas here it is more about getting a good workout.
NC.com - In 2004 you were automatically selected to represent the
US at the UCI Junior Worlds Championship in Verona, Italy. Your Hot
Tubes teammate Zach Taylor also took part, and the U-23 team included
names like Tyler Farrar, and Saul Raisin. Your peers are the elite of
the up-and-coming stars of US cycling. Besides yourself of course, who
do you see developing into a top Euro-pro in the future?
ZB - Well, somebody that has seen generations come through the ranks
could probably tell you better than me, but Tyler and Saul are
definitely huge talents and if they can play their cards right, they can
be big. Mike Creed also seems to be another guy with the talent
and the mentality that it takes (or at least what I think it takes) to
be a top pro. As for our present batch of U-23 guys it's harder
for me to say because most of the guys are closer to my age so I don't
look up to them as much. All I can say is we do have a lot of
talent on the way.
NC.com - Currently there are juniors in Tennessee who are looking
up to Zach Bolian. As a role model to other kids and someone who has
lived it, what advice do you have that will benefit them most?
ZB - That's hard to answer briefly, because there are so many things I
feel I've messed up in my 6 years of racing that I could steer younger
guys away from, but really the big three I would say would be listen to
your body, hang in there, and have fun. As we touched on before
I've had some major knee problem in my past that could have been avoided
had I simply listened to my body. Hanging in there is important
because you can't win if you aren't there. And although I may
sound like a church league basketball coach it is important to maintain
that passion for the sport that made you do it in the first place.
So having fun is really important, especially at a young age.
NC.com - In 2005 you are racing for the regionally based Krystal
team. What are your objectives with them and how will you juggle your
time between Krystal and the US National team?
ZB - Yeah, I'm really happy to be a part of Krystal this year, and I
hope we can make the most of it. Basically we are going to start
off with a mainly regional calendar, but later in the year when more of
our guys have more free time we are going to be traveling a bit to try
and establish ourselves on the national scene. So I really want to
help them establish themselves as the leading amateur team in America
this summer. That being said I will be racing some with that
National Team in Europe and they have been very understanding that my
personal priorities lay there.
NC.com - You've won state championships, a national championship,
and competed at Junior Worlds Championships in Europe. Describe that
progression in terms of difficulty, and what do you hope to achieve
beyond those accomplishments?
ZB - One of Greg LeMond's great quotes that has stuck with me since I
was 14 was, "It never gets easier, only faster," and I don't think this
could be truer. Really all of those races were just as difficult
for me as each other at their respective times, as they should be.
To win a championship among your peers you are going to have to hurt
yourself, and give it everything you have at whichever level you are
competing.
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