Short interview with Pieter Jacobs, young Belgium pro.

Team: Silence-Lotto

Age: 22

Nationality: Belgium

Career/race highlights
1s Stage 2, Tour de Namur 2005
1st Classique des Alpes (Junior) 2004
1st Belgium Junior Road Race Championship 2002 5th 2007 Tour of Ireland

2008
7th, stage 3, Tour Down Under

Previous teams:
Unibet.com

-Pieter, When did start riding a bike and who got you started?

When I was 14 I started cycling and stopped with football. I always loved ride the bike and also my dad did it so that was also extra motivation.

You were Belgium junior Road Race Champion, was this the first time you dreamt of turning pro?

-No, when I started cycling it was already a dream to become the best.

Your season has been super long, with the Tour Down under in January, can you give us an insight into recovery and how you rest.

-I had a lot of races this year, probely to much, my first rest period was in begin July after the championships so I had a very long first part of the season.

Your ride in the Tour of Turkey was fantastic with two top five stages and 10th overall? What was it about the course that suited you best?

It was the second year I rode there. It’s a nice race, not easy but not to hard.

You’re young to be riding a grand tour. And this years Giro was fast-fast! How did you cope with your first three weeks in the saddle and what was your favorite stage?

I already did the Vuelta last year so it was my second grand tour. It was a heavy 3 weeks, the warm weather and the long hard stages made it hard. I don’t have a favorite stage.

Who are you best friend in the team?

I don’t have a really good friend in the team that an also see in my spare time but I often share the room with Francis de Greef with who it’s often fun.

10 years ago the pro peloton was rife with drugs. Although the problem is still there the majority of pro riders we hope to ride clean. Do you think it is important to rebuild the trust with the fans?

I don’t know how it was 10 years ago but I hope it’s better now and hope it will improve the next years so the confidence off the people return in the sport of cycling.

Give us an idea of where you would like to be in 3 years?

As high as possible but I will be already happy if I can win some races and have acceptable level.

Do you train with a heart monitor or power training or ‘feel’?

I train with powertap.

Who is your cycling hero?

Nobody

At this stage in the season you have seen plenty of hotel rooms- what the best thing about going home?

Just to have some rest, just an easy day, relaxing and do some stuff with the friends.

What advice would you give to a junior hoping to enter the pro ranks?

Just enjoy cycling and life, don’t be too professional so you can still improve.