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John Herety - Directeur Sportif

Your competition CV?
Easy, the older I get the better I was.
What was your first club?
Cheshire Road Club.
How/Why did you start cycling?
I loved all sport at school and back then 12 year old kids had bikes not computer games. A bike was a valuable tool in this adolescent’s quest to be independent from his parents. I and a mate would pick a place to ride to just see how far we could ride. When I was younger maybe 8 or 9 years we'd play at having are own Olympics. This always had to be held close to the house. The bike event was the best because my mum would let me go further on my bike than if I was just walking, I was allowed all the way round the block on the bike! Crazy logic as the marathon had to be held up and down our street where my mum could keep her eye on us. It got boring doing the marathon on a 100 meters stretch of road!
Why did you begin racing?
I loved all competition at that age. On one of our "adventure rides" we were stopped by a club cyclist who asked us back to his place he said we could fill our bottles up. When I think back now you couldn't do that in this day and age. He asked if we were in a club and would we like to race, that was on a Saturday, the following Wednesday night I rode my first club10.
Best moment so far in your career?
As a rider there's a few that are hard to choose between. A stage win in the Peace Race when the Eastern block was at its most formidable, riding the Moscow Olympics, winning the Manx International on my own having been away most of the race in various breaks when I was classed as a sprinter. Winning the National Pro Road Race Championships. As a manager it’s again hard to choose. Chris Newton winning the Circuit des Mines stage race overall, managing the GB Road team at both the Sydney and Athens Olympics was special. To be honest I just love it when I/we win.
Worst moment so far in your career?
Resigning from my post as GB National Road Team Manager.
Favourite event?
Tour De Lankawi despite the team being rejected this year!
Any ambitions in cycling?
To secure a sponsor who has access to an even bigger budget than I've worked with before, I would love to be able do all the things that I know would make a difference to both a team and a riders success. I'm not that bothered about going bigger or up to Pro Tour if you know what I mean, I'd just like at least one shot before I retire at putting into practice all the things I've learnt managing various teams and riders over the years. Taking and applying best practice into all areas of the team without having to make any compromises because of a lack of money. To be able to make choices based on whets best not on what can I afford. That would be great.
Any ambitions outside cycling?
Not really, this sport even at this level tends to be 24/7. I don't think I've ever thought about any ambitions outside of cycling which now you've asked me and I've had to think about it is quite scary really.
What is your focal point for 2008?
To make The Rapha Condor Recycling Team the most envied team in the UK maybe envied is not the right word. I want riders to have this team at the top of there wish list of teams to be in. I want young kids to see this team and dream of being a part of it. Not just by us winning races, but in the way we look, conduct ourselves, the whole package. I want us to race correctly and win races, not win at all costs. Whilst we're doing it I want us to have fun, a smile on our faces, a camaraderie that other teams envy. I'm not talking about race situations we need to be serious on the bike but not loose our sense of humour. I think it's very important that we enjoy what were doing as it's to hard a sport to be in if you don't. One of my old sponsors once told me. I don't care how big a rider’s salary or contract is how much prize money they win, no rider in the world big or small will ever be compensated for the sacrifices they have to make to be an elite cyclist. I believe he was right, the least we can do is to make sure we enjoy what were doing.
Where do you train?
No training for me these days, it used to be Cheshire and the peak district.

If given the choice?

Opera or pop?
Pop I suppose, I've been a big music fan all my life. I think a lot of cyclists are, mainly due to the amount of time they have to rest and recover. Trouble is by the time you get to my age, I'm dreading the next new music format to come out. I've been through vinyl, cassette, CD, Mini disc even succumbing to the mp3 player now. I'm glad that wasn't around when I was racing and training, I can't imagine how much money I would of spent on music lying in bed recovering from a race or training session and being able to not only listen to your music but buy it instantly at any time of day or night, any day of the week any where you are in the world.. I can just imagine justifying the purchases on how well you went. As a reward when you'd gone well and as a tonic when things had gone bad.
Beer glass half full or half empty?
I like these deep and meaningful ones, bring in the therapist now. Here goes, in company always half full. On my own or at home sometimes it could also be half empty. Next Question please...
Rain is liquid sunshine or just wet and something to grumble about?
As a rider in my early days I used to love it, working on the basis that all those riders who didn't like it were as good as beat before the race started. Now all I do is grumble about it.
Comics or books?
Don't read enough to be honest. Yet when I do, on holiday for example, I love it and can't understand why I don't read more, books it would be rather than comics. That said I buy plenty of music magazines, which my wife classes as comics.
Shakespeare or Jeffrey Archer?
Both have or had dodgy morals, both have a dodgy taste in clothes, both wrote to my, taste dodgy literature. One can be forgiven for these things, the other can't. Which one, well just lets say it will be the one that is remembered in a 100 years time that I would forgive.
Kylie or Britney?
Kylie for sure. It's a shame, but Britney has to be psychiatrist’s wet dream, an accident waiting to happen.
Action movies or French art house?
Both actually, I can appreciate most genre of films if there good, although I struggle a lot with the horror genre.
Thatched cottages, modern or Greek classical architecture?
Modern and if it was possible, future proof.
Flares or drainpipe trousers?
Both are as bad as each other for a short arse with legs only as long as most peoples arms. Add into that equation a pair of thighs Popye would be proud of; you can see why I have the serious emotional scars at having to miss out on both these classic fashion statements.
Opera or Soaps?
I like soap operas some yes, but I prefer the American style sitcoms especially the ones with a morbid or a self depreciating lead character. Becker, Frasier, at the moment whilst its not a sitcom, I love House with Hugh Laurie, his character is in the same vein as the others. A self righteous opinionated know all...........Ring any bells!!!!!!!!!!!!

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