• Bikes & Tech

Exclusive VeloNews video interview: Cervelo’s Gerard Vroomen

by VeloNews.com

• June 22, 2009
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Vroomen

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In a year full of pro cycling surprises — Lance returns, Tyler retires, ASO and the UCI seem to get along — Cervélo’s entrance into the team sponsorship game had to rank high on the unsuspected scale.

After a long and fruitful relationship with Bjarne Riis and his CSC squad, the Toronto-based bike company opted to go out on its own and get in the ProTour game. Even more surprising, the new squad managed to sign two of the sports biggest stars in reigning Tour de France champion Carlos Sastre and Norwegian sprint stalwart Thor Hushovd.

So what motivated Cervélo to spend all that money? And has it been a worthwhile endeavor so far? To find out those answers and more, VeloNews contributor Jason Sumner sat down with company co-founder Gerard Vroomen during the final days of the recently completed Giro d’Italia.

Vroomen, always a candid interview, pulled no punches, saying that to spend millions of dollars a year and have no influence on how the team behaved was simply an untenable situation. “Now we may not be able to avoid all the problems, but if something does go wrong we are empowered to take care of it. In the past we just had to sit back and wait to see what the team decided to do.”

Part 1: Vroomen explains the TestTeam philosophy, grades the 2009 season thus far and respectfully disagrees with the UCI.

Part 2: Vroomen talks about Carlos Sastre’s greatness, seeking title sponsorship and the TestTeam Travel program.