USA’s First Tour Rider Interview: The USA has had a checkered Tour historical past, excessive factors with wins from Greg Lemond, and… Nicely, we all know the depths, however who was the primary man from the US to journey the Large One? Ed Hood spoke to Jonathan typically ‘Jock’ or ‘Jacques’ Boyer.
“I’m by no means happier than once I’m writing.”
~ Ed Hood, as spoken to Martin Williamson from the passenger seat, driving alongside a stage route on the Tour de France.
Pricey Readers – Our beloved colleague and good friend Ed Hood suffered a severe stroke in 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 together with his future. Learn the complete submit right here – and please contemplate donating.
** Click on this hyperlink to donate to the GoFundMe web page to assist Ed **
We’ll be posting a number of Ed’s work from the previous 16 years, as a result of nice story-telling by no means will get outdated.
With the Tour bosses; Lévitan and Goddet
There will not be as many US riders within the 2021 Tour de France as there have been in some latest editions, however who was the primary US rider to sort out the ‘Grande Boucle?’
Tour’81
Utah-born Jonathan Boyer was that man, we caught up with him to debate his profession, at the moment he was closely concerned in teaching and mentoring riders in Rwanda a rustic he nonetheless has shut ties with.
There have been different ‘Euro Canines’ earlier than Jonathan Boyer, however he was the primary US rider to journey and end the world’s largest bike race, one thing he did on 5 events, with a twelfth place in 1983 as his greatest end. He received levels within the Tour de Suisse and Tour de l’Avenir and produced excellent rides on this planet professional highway race championships on multiple event. Regardless of being very a lot a person he rode as a part of a few of the highest profile skilled groups of the period – Lejeune, Puch, Renault, SEM, Skil and 7-Eleven.
Puncture within the 1981 Tour de France
He revolutionised the Race Throughout America and lately has taken up the brand new position as coach and mentor to Crew Rwanda. We caught up with man who initially hails from Moab, Utah simply after the Tour of Rwanda.
PEZ: Rwanda – what are you doing there, Jonathan?
Jonathan Boyer: I’ve no concept! A good friend invited me over to do a race right here however I didn’t decide up on it, he requested me once more the subsequent yr however this time despatched me a aircraft ticket. That was September 2006; I noticed the expertise that was right here and thought; ‘why not make a motorcycle workforce?’ In February 2007 I began to do expertise assessments, noticed that there have been doubtlessly good riders and started to draw sponsors. Our first race was the Cape Epic in South Africa, we saved getting sponsors and the workforce developed into the Rwandan Nationwide Crew.
1987 Mont Ventoux ITT
PEZ: Is it a protected place to dwell and work?
It’s the most secure nation in Africa; there’s a excessive safety presence with police and the army however it’s completely protected to stroll the streets. Theft is usually a downside – keep in mind that you’re surrounded by individuals who have completely nothing – however violence tends to not be.
1981 Tour TT
PEZ: Let’s speak about your skilled profession – how did you get a journey with the well-known Paris newbie membership, ACBB?
I obtained an tackle for an newbie workforce in central France, I rode for a junior workforce there, had quite a lot of wins and was expertise scouted by ACBB in 1973; I rode for them for 3 years.
Tour TT begin with SEM
PEZ: ACBB was the Peugeot ‘feeder’ workforce however you turned professional for Lejeune?
ACBB weren’t appearing quick sufficient for me; I wished to show professional so in 1977 I joined UC Créteil which had a direct hyperlink with Lejeune – I used to be professional by Might, that was the deal I made with them.
Autograph for a younger fan
PEZ: You have been in fairly a number of groups as a professional?
Sure, however with most of them – besides Renault – I used to be below the directorship of Jean de Gribaldy, he was a really charismatic man; I really lived with him at his home in Besançon for a spell. He had been an expert himself and rode the Tour de France. In addition to his biking pursuits he had a furnishings enterprise; he was an influential determine in enterprise and in biking. There’s a road in Besançon named after him.
Worlds’87 subsequent to Müller
PEZ: Which was your favorite workforce?
The three years on the finish of my profession with the US 7-Eleven squad, however I loved my years with de Gribaldy.
The finalé to the Worlds in Goodwood
PEZ: The Worlds, Goodwood, England, 1982, I used to be there, you have been value a medal however Greg Lemond determined in any other case.
He chased me down coming into the end – he informed me later that he didn’t need to see any American apart from himself profitable. Greg received the Tour thrice; there’s a lot extra he might do for biking however he might be so damaging – I don’t assume he’s a contented individual.
PEZ: You have been fifth on the Sallanches Worlds in 1980, too.
I beloved the Worlds, I used to attempt to peak for it however our coaching wasn’t as refined again then – now you’ll be able to tune an athlete to be on kind for a sure day however again then it was extra of successful and a miss.
Worlds’85
PEZ: Did your vegetarian weight-reduction plan trigger you issues – with French groups, meat was the factor – uncooked minced steak for breakfast and all…
I wasn’t 100% vegetarian, I ate fish and hen; it was a little bit little bit of trouble however not an excessive amount of. I used to take my very own dried fruit and nuts over from the States – the Renault dietician checked out my weight-reduction plan and rated it ‘A plus,’ pretty much as good, if not higher than the remainder of the workforce.
SEM grew to become Talent, subsequent workforce was 7-Eleven
PEZ: Profession highlights?
My journey in Sallanches, profitable a stage within the Tour de Suisse, ending high 12 within the Tour. . .
PEZ: You revolutionised the Race Throughout America, is it true you used an acupuncturist that will help you get the very best out of your transient sleep intervals?
Profitable the RAAM could be one other profession hi-lite – sure I employed an acupuncturist, I additionally used their providers once I was twelfth within the Tour.
Worlds’85
PEZ: Doesn’t the RAAM precise a toll bodily and financially?
Sure, I nonetheless have nerve harm in my arms and toes – the stress factors; it wears on you greater than another race. As for the monetary side – I used to be sponsored, so I suppose you possibly can say that I misplaced the least sum of money!
PEZ: Who impressed you most throughout your profession?
Bernard Hinault and Sean (Kelly), however I used to be fortunate as a result of we have been on the identical workforce!
Worlds’85
PEZ: Did you endure from ‘submit profession blues?’
Positively, the primary six months to a yr, sure, positively – and there have been laborious occasions after that too. . . The final 5 years have been wonderful, right here in Rwanda I can use every part I realized in biking and in my life to assist folks. Numerous riders right here don’t have any mild or working water of their properties, dust flooring – you’ll be able to assist them develop as people, as a group and now, as a nation. The consequences are actual and you’ll see them occurring earlier than your eyes.
PEZ: Profession regrets?
No, you’ll be able to’t want issues had gone a sure approach – it’s what it’s!
TT with Renault-Gitane
PEZ: What are your targets, now?
To see an African rider within the Tour – take a look at Daniel Teklehaimanot from Eritrea (Tour of Rwanda winner; African highway, time trial and workforce trial champion); and to see a full African workforce within the Tour, sooner or later.
Amstel’83: Within the break with Anderson and Raas was Joop Zoetemelk, Etienne de Wilde and Jonathan ‘Jock’ Boyer
Like PEZ? Why not subscribe to our weekly e-newsletter to obtain updates and reminders on what’s cool in highway biking?
