Rider Interview: It has been mentioned by many individuals that Michael Mørkøv is the perfect lead-out man within the peloton and if Mark Cavendish thinks so, then it have to be true. Michael is again at Cav’s aspect to assist him take his thirty fifth, historical past making Tour de France stage win. PEZ caught up with the flying Dane earlier than he flew to the Tour Colombia.
Time for a great chat with the World’s No.1 lead-out man – Michael Mørkøv
Earlier than we began the interview, Michael wished to know the way Ed Hood was after his stroke final yr. Michael and Ed go approach again, aside from the various interviews, Ed labored with Michael on the ‘6 Days’, working for him and doing all these jobs {that a} rider wants throughout these quick nights on the indoor boards.
Ed, Michael and the Tour KOM jersey
Ed Hood suffered a critical stroke final February. We don’t count on Ed will make it again into our bunch, so we’ve began a GoFundMe web page to assist Ed along with his future. Learn the complete submit right here – and please take into account donating.
** Click on this hyperlink to donate to the GoFundMe web page to assist Ed **
Michael Mørkøv: Ed is my superb good friend. And likewise, I did many interviews with PEZ biking previously, and that was at all times with Ed. He at all times did it with such such huge respect, he was at all times very well mannered in the direction of me. Nevertheless it was at all times a bit bizarre as a result of I labored actually shut with him within the six days, so for me he was actually a good friend, however as an alternative he saved knowledgeable distance when doing the interviews. After all I’m actually unhappy to know what has occurred to him and I’ll miss speaking with him as a result of he of all journalists, he’s in all probability the one who is aware of me the perfect, who is aware of my background.
Ed interviewing Michael
You’ll the Tour Columbia with ‘Cav’. What’s the reasoning?
To begin with is to arrange the season. So we go there with the thought of doing an altitude coaching camp, as a result of this ought to be a fairly good place to be at altitudes the place we’ve plenty of flat roads to coach on, which is vital for us. After which we additionally obtained the possibility to trip the Tour of Colombia, which I believe will hopefully be a pleasant race to get began with and hopefully we will take a stage win there and that’s just about why we go.
third place for Mark Cavendish on the Tour Colombia first stage
PEZ: I believe some levels are over 2,000 metres?
Sure, I believe one climb is over 3,000 metres excessive.
PEZ: In order that’s a bit like compelled coaching as nicely?
Yeah, however we’re there three weeks earlier than on a coaching camp, getting used to the altitude, it’s gonna set us up nicely for the race and particularly for the approaching months. Clearly after that, the UAE Tour is an important race for us, as a result of the UAE Tour is the place all of the sprinters are clashing yearly now. So, , these are very completely different races, however I’d say from my perspective, that’s the place you’ve gotten the perfect status races as a sprinter and as a dash staff.
There may be quite a lot of climbing in Colombia
PEZ: Are you able to inform me which races you’ll trip between the UAE Tour and the Tour de France?
The UAE Tour is essential, then we go to Tirreno and hopefully there might be some sprints there. After which we’ve a few of the flat Classics. We do Milano-Torino, Scheldeprijs, De Panne and that’s the spring, however primarily, it’s UAE and Tirreno which are essential to hopefully get some victories.
Scheldeprijs 2021
PEZ: What’s your final race earlier than the Tour?
We begin once more with the Tour of Hungary in Might, I believe it’s after which we go on altitude coaching camp once more, for 3 weeks.
Coaching with ‘Cav’
PEZ: The place would that be?
In Sierra Nevada. I believe in the intervening time we’re nonetheless ready for affirmation of the levels, however I believe we would go Swiss, however from yr to yr it modifications loads. Generally you’ve gotten Swiss with none sprints or similar with Dauphiné. So sprints are seldom lately. These days, there’s many races with none Dash’s, so due to that, as a dash staff, we’ve to pick our programme actually fastidiously.
PEZ: Whenever you’re establishing a dash, how does that every one work? Or how does the mechanics of a dash lead-out be just right for you?
Nicely, it at all times relies upon from race to race. Clearly, I count on Colombia to be like a bit decrease stage type of racing. So in all probability there we have to take higher accountability than we should do within the UAE Tour as a result of in UAE I count on there might be in all probability ten very robust dash groups. So then it’s extra about like having the tactic on the day which staff we need to observe, perhaps we need to take accountability ourselves, however that additionally relies on how Mark is feeling, like, how is the shape? Do we’ve the energy to actually take it from the entrance? Or ought to we keep a bit sheltered and are available from the again. So it’s like there’s 1000’s of techniques in a dash.
There’s 1000’s of techniques in a dash
PEZ: UAE Could be very windy and open.
Yeah, UAE is at all times a troublesome one as a result of we’d be specializing in a dash, on a dash stage, however you can’t simply sit again and look ahead to a dash since you by no means know due to the cross wind.
PEZ: There may be going to be quite a lot of sprinters within the Tour de France this yr, would you be watching anybody specifically within the ultimate kilometres?
Usually I’d by no means watch a sprinter specifically, I’d at all times watch his staff. These days, it’s not like there’s one sprinter who’s the person to beat, it’s extra just like the groups. We’ve seen previously, for a lot of races, like Alpecin they typically have a really robust line-up. Clearly when you’ve got Van der Poel there to lead-out Jasper Philipsen, you need to be very cautious about that as a result of he’s such a powerful rider. The identical with Jumbo-Visma (Visma | Lease a Bike), Okay, within the Tour it is perhaps completely different, but when they’ve guys like Van Aert, if he’s sprinting or if he’s main out Kooij or somebody, it’s a unique recreation. I count on DSM subsequent yr with Fabio may even do a correct practice. So it’s additionally like doing races, you’re studying the capability of every staff and the way they strategy the finishes. It’s an terrible lot of homework.
Wvelgem’20
PEZ: So do you suppose that as a result of there are much less dash levels/races and there appears to be extra sprinters than ever, however much less alternatives. So it’s harder now than it has ever been to win levels?
For positive. I may even say that these days there’s perhaps extra sprinters, however extra sprinters on the identical stage, extra sprinter’s groups on the identical stage. So let’s say within the Tour de France and particularly within the UAE Tour, there’s many groups who can do a very good lead-out, many sprinters who’ve extra lead-out guys. Lead out guys previously, let’s say 10 or 15 years in the past, generally there was one or two groups main out and different sprinters would type of observe and have a dash, however now there’s at all times quite a lot of groups who can actually take pictures and there are extra battles and far more can go improper and generally you’ll be able to simply be fully boxed in. Worse conditions, like in Paris-Good or the Tour de France the place the street could be blocked with 60K to go and for those who’re not in your place, you by no means make the arrival. Like we had that in a stage final yr within the Tour; mainly blocked within the final 30K’s and we by no means obtained to contest it.
Espresso time with ‘Cav’ and Michael
PEZ: The entire staff is for Cav?
Yeah, yeah positive. All for Cav. Sure, after all I believe for positive on the Tour, additionally we’ve Lutsenko who’s additionally going for levels and possibly a couple of different guys, however positively on the times for a Dash might be for Cav and I see him already having like good energy, I’m actually capable of see he has good condition at this second and I’ve enormous confidence in him. Like in him as a sprinter, we all know he’s in all probability the perfect dash on the market, regardless of his age and since he’s such an clever sprinter it’s like the important thing behind him. I’ll say the arrogance of being part of the tremendous robust staff round him, I’m very assured that we are going to line him up and ship him to victories.
PEZ: Sprinters are recognized to be… not fragile, however issues should be good for them.
The factor is, on this staff has carried out him quite a lot of good. As a result of this staff actually embraced him coming right here, they gave him the complete help with out being on his neck. So, , he and we’ve quite a lot of freedom simply to concentrate on what we’re finest at, and attempt to win races, which is such an important alternative, as a result of clearly, , in lots of different groups, you’ll have to struggle on your spot in opposition to different sprinters, perhaps even in opposition to the GC guys; like, what number of help riders can you’ve gotten within the Tour, what number of can that man have (GC or dash employees) and then you definitely the entire spring you need to show your self to get a great staff. So all of that’s not right here and I’m actually impressed concerning the ambiance within the staff.
Tour de France 2021 stage 4
PEZ: However the staff is a stable dash staff, it’s not like, you’ve obtained someone going for GC, or going for the KOM, it’s a sprinter’s staff, which there hasn’t actually been for years.
No, the factor is, particularly within the Tour de France there’s at all times a compromise. You’ll by no means go together with a full dash staff, okay, at Fast-Step we truly did it. However yeah, that’s additionally the benefit.
Mørkøv and Bennett 2020 Tour de France
PEZ: What concerning the ‘6 Days’? Are they completed? Other than Gent. It’s so unhappy.
I’d be the final one to name it off, as a result of I actually have such an enormous coronary heart for the six days and I actually miss it, . Particularly now, I’m sharing the room with Mark, some nights, we simply begin speaking concerning the six days previously and the way a lot we loved it. Him and I had been sitting there as novice riders watching the professionals, finally we turned professional ourself and the enjoyment to get a contract with the skilled six days. The entire recreation across the six days was simply superb. For me, it’s fairly nicely vanished, isn’t it? We all know we’ve nonetheless an important six days in Gent, Rotterdam remains to be holding up, they’re doing an important job. However , that entire World of six day racing, to return again to Ed, he was along with Angus, my soigneur for years, and so they had been like a part of the circus shifting round.
A little bit of enjoyable in Copenhagen 2018
As a rider, everytime you would be a part of a six day you’d be coming to individuals you knew, virtually like a monitor household. There was quite a lot of historical past in it. So now we’ve occasions, you’ll be able to name them six days, however , many of those conventional issues have gone. You don’t have the identical mechanic anymore, you don’t have that soigneur, it’s simply completely different. Now it has change into extra like simply racing, which can also be advantageous, I respect racing, however six days was simply one thing completely different, it was simply leisure. For me, and a pleasant aspect factor to the World Cups and one-day occasions and World Championships. Some locations do a 3 days, however that is additionally extra like simply racing, you don’t have that issue of the music and every part else. Ten-fifteen years in the past, you’d have that group of six day riders who had been shifting round, you could possibly say that perhaps these guys wouldn’t win World Championships, but it surely was such a distinct segment for them. So they’d be the perfect, like artists on a monitor. These days, while you put up a discipline for any race, you gained’t have these superb six day riders anymore, they may trip round with closed eyes, they don’t exist anymore. Now it’s extra like simply pure efficiency.
The ‘6 Days’ household in Copenhagen
PEZ: Do you suppose it’s too specialised?
I don’t know. I believe that’s what I see within the sport. the extent, the overall stage, is simply greater and better, which makes it extra particular, we’ve to go for particular occasion, no matter your capability is.
PEZ: Will you go to the Olympic Video games this yr?
Certain. The Olympics are an enormous objective of mine and I’m Olympic champion, so after all, I wouldn’t simply go away that behind. That was an important level for me, coming to Astana. First time I spoke with Vino (Alexandr Vinokurov, Astana sports activities supervisor), I mentioned to him: “what are the probabilities for me to take part on the monitor on the Olympics?” He mentioned “we’re gonna help you 100%.” In order that was a part of my bundle.
PEZ: How lengthy after the Tour de France are the monitor occasion on the Olympics?
It’s three weeks, in order that’s all proper. I’m actually blissful that the staff embraced it and provides me the liberty. I believe that additionally reveals quite a lot of what the staff is about. Many groups would simply saying no, simply because they’ll’t deal with various things. However right here, they’re actually relaxed and so they additionally know what do they get from me. If I get my likelihood to do my Olympics, I’ve additionally to sacrifice myself for the staff earlier than after which after I’ve my very own possibilities.
Again to the Olympic Video games
PEZ: Do you suppose that’s perhaps greater than trendy approach although? Since you’ve obtained guys driving mountain bike, cyclo-cross, street and monitor.
I don’t suppose that’s a contemporary factor, it comes very a lot right down to the riders. I believe it’s as a result of if I’ve the capability or the talents to di monitor biking I’ll do it, and the identical for Van der Poel and these guys, they prefer it and so they can do it.
PEZ: Yeah, there was at all times some guys, like Roger de Vlaeminck and monitor riders who had been street sprinters, however there are riders now who speak about driving gravel through the season.
Yeah, now there’s a higher flexibility. With monitor biking, I used to be at all times fortunate. Okay, I used to be also called a monitor rider after I signed for groups, however I at all times had fairly good help. I additionally know many riders who by no means obtained to help to do monitor. So it’s a bit break up, it’s generally additionally you’re fortunate perhaps to have a sponsor, who would push so that you can do gravel, monitor or mountain bike.
Nationwide champions with Deceuninck
PEZ: How do you are feeling when individuals like Kittel and Cavendish say you’re the perfect lead-out man within the World?
After all, I’m at all times flattered to get constructive response and I get pleasure from my place, however to be trustworthy, I additionally know that you just’re by no means higher than your final dash, the arrogance is tremendous vital. The explanation why I got here right here is as a result of I do know Mark has nice confidence in me, trusts me. We’ve seen that previously that him and I labored rather well collectively. So it may very well be that I’m not the perfect lead-out man on the day, however I imagine that for him, I’m the perfect lead-out man, as a result of we’ve an excellent relationship and that’s essential.
PEZ: On the Tour de France would you share rooms with Cav?
Yeah, I at all times desire to share a room with my sprinter as a result of that provides you one other dimension or one other software to work shut collectively. Generally it’s a bit bizarre in case you are separated out of your sprinter and you need to focus on issues over breakfast or dinner.
Mørkøv and Cavendish on the 2008 Worlds podium
PEZ: What number of extra years will you race? You’re 38 now?
Yeah, that’s a great query. I’m 38, I’ll be 39 in April 2024, so getting nearer, I gained’t be doing 5 extra years. However in the intervening time, I get pleasure from having the liberty to take it yr by yr, so this may very well be my final yr. If there’s one thing fascinating developing for 2025, let’s say a younger sprinter, a brand new undertaking, why not? I’m not settled, , however after all there must be challenged up the street.
PEZ: You turned professional in 2009, you’ve seen quite a lot of modifications since then, particularly not too long ago, in the previous couple of years. The younger guys developing are completely different from while you had been a younger professional, it’s like a unique recreation.
A 100% it’s completely different. Yeah, however it’s approach past biking, I believe it’s the trendy World. So what you see with the younger guys coming now, they arrive with enormous confidence and so they know every part beforehand, they arrive with with much less respect for the fellows who’s already right here earlier than, however I believe that is what you see in all society. So in each group, younger individuals will enter with this nice confidence. Once I was a professional, after I began I used to be virtually afraid that someone would say to me that I had entered the improper room, however now the fellows come like they know every part, the biking is right here for them. It’s completely different. However think about how a lot info they’ll get now, after I was a child there wasn’t a lot.
A younger Michael Mørkøv with companion Alex Rasmussen profitable the ‘Gent 6’ of 2009
# An enormous because of Michael for his time and Vitalii Abramov of the Astana Qazaqstan staff for arranging the interview. #
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