|
|
RBA FEATURES: EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: NATIONAL CHAMPION TIM JOHNSON TALKS CYCLOCROSS, LANDIS AND LANCE
Philip Booth
December 19, 2008
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Tim Johnson has been a dominating force on the domestic road and
cyclocross scene for the last decade. In 2007 he won his second
cyclocross national championship and has been a prolific winner in
2008. When not racing cyclocross for the cyclocrossworld.com/Cannondale
team Johnson is co-captain of the OUCH presented by Maxxis professional
road team. As the season comes to a close we wanted to get his take on
the cyclocross season, the addition of Floyd Landis to his road team
and the return of Armstrong. Road Bike Action sat down with Johnson
a week before cyclocross nationals and just hours before he clinched
the overall series title at Crank Brothers US Gran Prix of Cyclocross.
Johnson out sprints Ryan Trebon to win his first cyclcross race of the season
Road Bike Action: Going into the final USGP race and with cyclocross nationals only a week away how are feeling about your season so far?
Tim Johnson:
Overall its been a great success, anytime I come into the cross season
from the road, I don’t know how its going to go. I shocked myself by
winning in Seattle in only my second cyclocross race of the season and
from there it just got better and better. I had some really good
results in Louisville and Boulder, and of course here yesterday. At the
same time I had some really bad results like day one in Louisville
where I was sixth–that was a big disappointment. Then getting injured,
so while it has been a great season it has also had its ups and downs.
RBA: You mentioned your injury, what exactly happened?
TJ:
In the middle of the race on Saturday in New Jersey I was coming around
one of the muddy corners, riding some of the outside lines to find
firmer ground and I got into the course tape. The tape got stuck in my
handlebars. I ended up falling onto a wooden stake that was on the side
of the course. I hit it at speed and the only thing that hit was my
knee cap. I just smashed it really hard. I was able to keep going. I
had a small puncture wound but it wasn’t really a big deal until later
that night when it swelled up and I couldn’t use it. The next day it
was still swollen and ended up being swollen for seven days. I ended up
taking ten days off the bike, went home and did some physical therapy.
No permanent damage, just a bone bruise.
Johnson came back from injury to win round five of the USGP
RBA: You won yesterday, so the time off doesn’t appear to have affected you?
TJ:
I don’t know about that, the first half was pretty brutal. I wasn’t
exactly comfortable [Johnson is laughing as he recounts yesterday’s
effort] It’s hard getting into a race when you are so rusty and have
not put in that kind of effort.
In the final round of the USGP Johnson finished third to take the overall series title
RBA: What do you think your chances are for taking the overall series title today?
TJ: I
don’t know. If I have a strong race today I should be able to keep it.
I have been in this position before and I have never won it. I have
started the final day wearing the jersey a few times and lost it so I
am certainly not taking it for granted that I have it won.
RBA:
Today is your last race in the national championship jersey. Coming
back from injury how do your rate your chances of holding onto it for
another year?
TJ: I think I have just as good a chance as
anybody, [Johnson pauses before laughing at the question and
responding jokingly] Thanks for reminding me that today is the last day
I get to wear it! I appreciate that. I really hadn’t thought of it that
until you brought it up. It sucks actually. What a beautiful day, its
pissing rain and don’t get to wear the jersey anymore.
I have
just as good of a chance as last year. Last year I didn’t rate myself
as a favorite by any stretch. This year Jeremy (Powers) is riding well,
as is Ryan (Trebon). Page we have no idea, just like every year. Todd
(Wells) has been riding well. I think it’s an equal shot between the
five of us.
A good thing about having the jersey is that I have
been invited to a lot races all around the country that hadn’t been to
before and that was really neat. 2008 was big year for cross and 2009
is going to be larger. Redbull is coming into the sport, not only by
supporting me but also getting into some of the events and hopefully
giving us some TV coverage.
Johnson's teammate Jeremy Powers sets the pace in round five of the USGP.
RBA: You mentioned your teammate Jeremy Powers, on the
race course you two often work together. How is that dynamic going to
play out at Nationals?
TJ: I think Jeremy and I are going
to have to sit down and talk about our strategy, but I don’t think the
race at Nationals is going to be like yesterdays race. I doubt that
there is going to be a group of riders, or even two riders together.
Typical Nationals is hard from the gun, so alliances don’t really
factor in. With that said it depends on the day, yesterday I was trying
help Jeremy because I thought he had the best chance out of the two of
us. I didn’t rate myself high enough to just go out and drop Trebon.
Jeremy has always had a good kick so I wanted to set him up. Like I
said it all depends on the day. Who knows what is going to happen at
Nationals. If its totally epic with bad conditions then it becomes a
game of mistakes and who makes the fewest.
The addition of Floyd Landis gives the OUCH team a "much more powerful tool at our disposal."
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)
RBA: For next year your road team Health Net/Maxxis has a
new sponsor in OUCH and has signed Floyd Landis. As co-captain of the
team how does this effect your role in the team and what are the
expectations with the addition of Landis?
TJ: I’m really
excited for next year. With Floyd coming on just as a cyclist he is
going to give us another card to play in the biggest races and
hopefully get us on the podium at Tour of California and Tour of
Missouri, some the races that we haven’t had the best success at in
recent years.
For me, I will still be calling the shots on the
road, its just now we know we have much more powerful tool at our
disposal. To get the team a win is still going to be the number one
focus.
Johnson racing the Tour de Langkawi for Saturn in 2003
(Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)
RBA: With the addition Landis is the team going to be looking for more international exposure?
TJ: No
we are purely domestic. Who knows about 2010, we have some plans that
would bring the team more exposure globally, but this year the only
race that we are going out of the country is Tour of Mexico in March.
RBA: Who else on the OUCH presented by Maxxis team are looking to have a big year?
TJ:
Rory Sutherland has had a great past couple of years winning the NRC
the past two years. I am looking forward to him taking a stage at a
race like the Tour of California. Last year he got in a couple of
breakaways that went to the line and he was second on the final stage
behind Hincapie. Another rider to watch is John Murphy. John has good
sprint on him and he can win time trials. He is going to be one of the
best riders in America in the next couple of years. We also have a
bunch of new guys that are going to surprise a few people.
"When Astana shows up at Tour of California they are going to be the number one team, the number one threat." says Johnson
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)
RBA: Along with the return of Landis the comeback story of the year
is that of Armstrong. You guys will be racing against him and Astana at
the Tour of California. What is your take on his return?
TJ:
I was shocked just like everyone else. I had heard he was riding, and
thinking about coming back and when he finally did I couldn’t believe
it. But since then we have seen what has been happening, he has been
training, and when Astana shows up at Tour of California they are going
to be the number one team, the number one threat. They will probably
own the race, but its not just Lance, he’s got teammates that have been
winning and taking podiums at the best races in the world the last
couple of years.
I think overall for American cycling you have
to embrace it. You have to be thankful he is coming back. Now we have
even more of a chance to clean off the crap that has been thrown on the
sport. It gives me another example when I talk to people and tell them
I am a professional cyclist, people understand what its about because
of Lance. I take his comeback as a positive.
RBA: What are personal goals for next season?
[Johnson pauses for moment before answering] I would like to win one race!
Johnson on top of the podium after winning the USGP overall title.
Johnson went on to finish third in the final round of the Crank
Brothers US Gran Prix of Cyclocross and took the overall title ahead of
Ryan Trebon, Todd Wells and Jeremy Powers. It was Johnson’s first
overall US Gran Prix title.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|