Hans-Michael Holczer (Photo: Gerolsteiner)

GEROLSTEIN, Jan 31 (CP) - In an exclusive interview during Team Gerolsteiner's recent presentation, Hans-Michael Holczer spoke with Cyclingpost.com's Kathrin Bomans about his team, the situation of the ProTour and the Spanish doping scandal.

Hans-Michael Holczer is a team manager with a difference. Never having been a pro cyclist himself, the 53-year-old German has had a different career than most of his colleagues. Thus, he often has a fresh perspective on issues in cycling, which he often supports in an outspoken way.

What kind of goals do you have for the coming season?

Over the years, the goals have been growing in conjunction with us. They are not a whole lot different from last year. With riders like Stefan Schumacher, Fabian Wegmann and Davide Rebellin, we will of course try to play an important role in the Spring Classics, especially in the Ardennes. That is a goal that we have had all those years. Then, there will be expectations as far as the Tour de France is concerned. That will be interesting for sure. We trust in our inner development, we trust in our young riders. Ultimately, that will be the most exciting issue this year. Then, there will be the World Championships. I think Sebastian Lang is well on the way to being a candidate for the podium, and Stefan Schumacher does not live far from the course, so it seems to be tailor-made for him. Therefore, I think that this will be another facet for this year.

Will there be less pressure on you in the Tour in comparison to last year when your rider Levi Leipheimer was one of the favorites?

I handled the pressure that weighted on Levi, especially after the suspension of several riders, in a relatively normal way. I never allowed illusions to develop in me, like what it would be like having to defend the yellow jersey, because I have made the experience that the race is long and hard. There are so many unforeseeable elements there. And after a few days, after the time trial, the pressure was gone immediately, because we saw that he would not be able to come close to the podium. So I think the pressure won’t be any different from what it has always been like. You want a stage victory, you want to have someone up front. You put pressure on yourself.

Is Markus Fothen ready yet for taking the role of a captain?

Last year, he fought admirably for the white jersey. It was a great performance. Now, he will be in the center of interest. All expectations will be projected on him. This is of course a question that he needs to answer then. I absolutely believe that he is capable of getting into the top twelve or the top ten. But I also believe that one should not make it mandatory for him. I do not want to tell him: You must get into the top ten. One should be a bit cautious here. All it takes is a cold three weeks before the Tour or some problem in the preparations, and then it will be place 30. You have to be so fair and collected then to analyze it and to say: Well, that’s the way things go. But I believe that he has got what it takes.

Your team is strong for the Classics, where do you see weaknesses?

We are definitely too weak as far as the flat classics are concerned. There is no doubt about it. In our team, we do not have a rider like Tom Boonen. But there are a few young riders on the rise. There is Heinrich Haussler, who had to realize last year that the initial success of the first year does not always translate automatically into an improvement in the following year. We have David Kopp, who is pretty good in these races. Tom Stamsnijder comes from that region. But it would be presumptuous to expect him to compensate for our deficit in the flat classics and the cobblestone races. We definitely do not reckon on being up front there.

How do you want to develop your team in the next couple of years?

It is interesting, we have noticed that the development of the team has its own dynamics. In 1999-2000, nobody of us would have imagined that we would have a Classics team for the Ardennes one day. That started with Rebellin. You get more riders, you sign some for his support, who then develop into riders that can succeed him. In parts, that is deliberate, in parts, it is the result of a development. I think we will continue this inner development in the next couple of years. We will try to develop those riders that we have on the team and to get them to the front. And to lead the really young riders into a direction so they will fit into the team. At the moment, there are no strategic considerations to change the team completely into a squad that is predominantly successful in the north European regions. Instead, we will try to continue from where we are now and, in this process, try to build up specific groups within the team.

Davide Rebellin is the only foreign top rider in your team. Is that a constellation that came about by chance or on purpose?

No doubt, this is the result of a development that has been started at some point, definitely in agreement with the main sponsor. You can’t call it chance, really. The main sponsor clearly obliges us to sign German-speaking riders.

Without this obligation, would you be interested in a more international team?

You have to act according to the programme that has been developed. I do not really feel a big urge to have a more international team. I quite enjoy it that many on the team speak German. This makes some things easier. We have plenty of staff that does not speak German. But I also believe that it is important for a team not to be limited to one nationality. Especially for a team with our standards, it is important to have an international touch.

Your comment on the present state of the ProTour?

At the moment, we have the problem that every group tries to exploit the doping crises of cycling for its own interest. This is a pity. But it is also obvious that the ProTour has achieved decisive things. And unfortunately this is always neglected, negated, explained away or distorted by the public and also by many of those responsible. The ProTour has brought about a decisive restructuring within the teams and within the network of teams. It also has brought about something like the IPCT, which is a company that was founded so pro teams work together on the highest level, complement one another and pursue common goals, also common economic goals. In my opinion, this is irreversible. Maybe, the IPCT will someday be one of the really important factors in pro cycling. And ultimately that will be a result of the ProTour. I take note of the muddle which concerns organizers, traditions, interests, also financial interests, possibilities, blockades or visions. But as far as the teams are concerned, we have taken a very straight direction in the ProTour during the last two years. And if you look at what has been achieved within the teams because of the ProTour, it has clearly been a decisive step in the progress of cycling. We are a lot better organized, we have a completely new infrastructure, we are all bigger today. In the ProTour, there are no longer the old problems of riders having a contract but getting no money. Those are small things, but they are important. The security to be able to plan ahead for four years is invaluable. It is not without reason that we have applied for the license until 2010. All these things should not be disregarded, in my opinion, despite all the conflicts. We as teams could also say that the UCI has promised us things which are not happening now. But despite all the criticism and all the difficulties of this venture, one needs to understand and admit clearly that there has been a development within the teams which is irreversible and which has brought noticeable changes.

Does the ProTour have a future?

I would not want to say that the ProTour is dead, and I would not want to refuse it in its present form, either. Maybe, the future of cycling lies somewhere else, based on the ProTour. I do not know in which direction and how it will develop, but I’m convinced that those teams which are in the ProTour today will also be the decisive teams in pro cycling in two or three years. And that is the success of the ProTour. I can’t say whether it will still be called ProTour then or not. But I would not bury it as readily as some people do, either.

What about the other crisis in cycling, the Spanish doping scandal?

I think that we as teams are presently doing everything we can, and I have said that loud and clear as well. There is always a legal reality which one can’t ignore. On the other hand, one has to realize that cycling has declared its commitment to ethical principles in order to carry on this sport and to make this sport credible. There are those two things. I do not want to comment on any of the stories. I think it is about time to have some political pressure on the Spanish authorities so they either issue everything or close the case. There needs to be some progress in that respect. A solution needs to be found in some direction or other. It was political pressure that caused the documents to be published at a time which was definitely not intended, and now it is about time that this political pressure makes sure that there will be some movement in the case. Otherwise, the situation will be unbearable. Of course, we also need organizers who take a similar direction as the teams. But ultimately we have to find a position within this area of conflict between the legal reality and the ethical principals from which we can continue orderly. Otherwise, the sport will be pushed into the background even more and will be at its end sometime.

Which direction needs to be taken?

A clarification in whatever direction as quickly as possible. And I do not want to judge that. I think it is simply necessary to have a decision. And I think that this old and traditional sport is really entitled to demand this decision now.

What kind of steps are still necessary in the fight against doping?

I think that the teams all in all have chosen a very good direction. Above all the innovations in the ethical code, like the self-suspension and the neutral team doctors among other measures, aim clearly and distinctly at detecting and stopping manipulations earlier. I believe that cycling is absolutely on the right track. If we stick to it, we will regain the acknowledgement of the public in the near future. I believe that cycling is at the spearhead of the fight against doping. Cycling is on the right way, it does not look away. But it is also true that cycling cannot solve this specific case on its own and so Spain’s political help is needed.

Should the DNA test be made mandatory?

Last week, the teams have once more come out in favor of making it part of the contracts.

Will that happen?

I know that this is the case in many teams already.

Will it be up to the individual team to do it or will it be obligatory for all?

I assume that we will make it obligatory.

Why do you not have a special anti-doping programme in your team?

Actually, we have had a certain programme for eight years already. For eight years we have built up a certain fundamental attitude. And, in cases where it had been necessary, we took the appropriate steps rigorously, and acted with a clear sense of direction, without any discussions, without looking left or right. Your sponsor demands that and we support it. This has an effect. Maybe some smile at that, some may call it naive, but this is maybe the best of all possibilities.

© Kathrin Bomans