Ilaria: Who is Pit Schlechter? The most of Allez A
ndy readers aren't from Luxembourg and use to follow only the pro races, so please introduce yourself. When were you born?
Pit: On 26.10.1990
ndy readers aren't from Luxembourg and use to follow only the pro races, so please introduce yourself. When were you born?
Ilaria:Your height and weight?
Pit: I'm 1,81 m and 69 kg
Ilaria: When did you start cycling?
Pit: At the age of 7.
Ilaria: For wich teams did you race till now? And wich is your actual team?
Pit: I only raced for 2 teams: LC Tetange and CCID Differdange
Ilaria: Tell us: which were your best results and the most important races you took part in?
Pit: I was 22 in World cyclo-cross championships in 2008 (junior), took part 6 times in world championschip, then I was 68 in Tour de l'avenir (U-23), 3 in Tour of Austria (junior), 5 inGp de Remirement (U-23), I was 4 times national champion of Luxembourg (U-17, U-19, U-23) and 35 in Paris-Roubaix (junior).
Ilaria: Ok, now we can start our interview! So Pit how are you? You are a road racer basicly so that would be your off season, but I know you are achieving amazing results also in the cyclo-cross, and you are already hard training. And you have also to study for school. How are you living this winter months?
Pit: Well, the winter days are very short for a cyclist who wants to combinate school and sport and so they have been very stressful months for me. My day starts at 7 o'clock and the work is done around 9 o'clock and then it begins my hour to relax a bit ;)
Ilaria: Ok, now we can start our interview! So Pit how are you? You are a road racer basicly so that would be your off season, but I know you are achieving amazing results also in the cyclo-cross, and you are already hard training. And you have also to study for school. How are you living this winter months?
Pit: Well, the winter days are very short for a cyclist who wants to combinate school and sport and so they have been very stressful months for me. My day starts at 7 o'clock and the work is done around 9 o'clock and then it begins my hour to relax a bit ;)
Ilaria: I met you twice since now: in Mendrisio, where you wore the national team kit, and in Ettellbruck, under the snow, where you ended second (but first in your cathegory) in a crazy cyclo-cross. Tell us something about your experience at the World Championship.
Pit: In Mendrisio I was for the fifth time at the start of World Championship. Before the start, I was a bit nervous because of the very hard circuit. But when the race begun I managed to stay at the front of the peloton and even
attacked. But lap after lap, the 2 climbs got harder and harder and I had to fight like never before to stay at the front of the peloton. Eventually 2 laps before the end, I couldn´t resist anymore and had to let the peloton go. So I found myself in a big gruppetto with riders as Martin Reimar or Degenkolb.
Pit: In Mendrisio I was for the fifth time at the start of World Championship. Before the start, I was a bit nervous because of the very hard circuit. But when the race begun I managed to stay at the front of the peloton and even
attacked. But lap after lap, the 2 climbs got harder and harder and I had to fight like never before to stay at the front of the peloton. Eventually 2 laps before the end, I couldn´t resist anymore and had to let the peloton go. So I found myself in a big gruppetto with riders as Martin Reimar or Degenkolb.Ilaria: About the pro Worlds race: Luxembourg federation decided to partecipate with only 4 racers even if it was allowed to bring more. Somebody criticised that choice: what is your opinion?
Pit: Well that´s the decision of the federation and that has to be accepted. I think that the decision was right because of the very hard circuit. The best luxembourgish riders was at the start and only one managed to finish the race. So it wouldn´t have made sense to sent 9 riders to start if nobody was strong enough to stay in the peloton.
Ilaria: Yes, that could be true. And I must say that one who went to the finish, Kim Kirchen, made a very good race. Back to you now: Mendrisio was almost the end of the 2009 season, are you happy with your results? Which was your best day and which the worse and why? Did you learn something this year?
Pit: My best day was when I finished the Tour de l´Avenir and rode together with Joel Zangerle over the finish line. I was very proud to finish that race as the youngest rider at the start at the age of 18. So to finish the biggest race for U-23 in my first year as an “espoir” was great.
Then the worst days: at the European championship I had a very bad and unlucky day. I had to change the bike 3 times and so i couldn´t do a good result even if I was in a great shape. And the national championship too, where I could finish but I had to stop because of painful convulsions during the last main climb. So I was far behind the winner Ben Gastauer.
Pit: Well that´s the decision of the federation and that has to be accepted. I think that the decision was right because of the very hard circuit. The best luxembourgish riders was at the start and only one managed to finish the race. So it wouldn´t have made sense to sent 9 riders to start if nobody was strong enough to stay in the peloton.
Ilaria: Yes, that could be true. And I must say that one who went to the finish, Kim Kirchen, made a very good race. Back to you now: Mendrisio was almost the end of the 2009 season, are you happy with your results? Which was your best day and which the worse and why? Did you learn something this year?
Pit: My best day was when I finished the Tour de l´Avenir and rode together with Joel Zangerle over the finish line. I was very proud to finish that race as the youngest rider at the start at the age of 18. So to finish the biggest race for U-23 in my first year as an “espoir” was great.
Then the worst days: at the European championship I had a very bad and unlucky day. I had to change the bike 3 times and so i couldn´t do a good result even if I was in a great shape. And the national championship too, where I could finish but I had to stop because of painful convulsions during the last main climb. So I was far behind the winner Ben Gastauer.
Ilaria: Ah yes, I remember that day... My impression is that you are very serious about your cycling even if you are still very young. How did you start racing? And what's your project for the future? Are you going focusing all on cycling (like Andy Schleck or Ben Gastauer) or keeping also studying to have many possibilities (like Laurent Didier )? if you will be not a pro racer what would you like to be?
Pit: Well that´s a good question. I´m asked very often what I would like to do and I have to answer every time that I simply don´t know what I will do. My goal is to finish the school this June with a good result.
Ilaria: Of course that's important and you'll have time to think about your future. Anyway I think you can do great things. Which is the racer you like more in the history of cycling? And now? And which one is more like you? Imagining to race as a pro for an important team, you see you more like a leader or like an helper? Which is your best quality? And the worse?
Pit: When I start cycling I was very impressed by Erik Dekker because he was always in the breaks and attacked in every races. I´m a big fan of riders who attacked every times they can, riders like Phillippe Gilbert or Alexander Vinokourov. So I would describe myself as an aggressive rider who always tries if it's possible to accelerate and who feels comfortable in all terrains. But that´s often my problem because if I´m feeling good I can´t sty in the peloton. I have to attack. That´s sometimes a big problem for me because if i do that i can´t make big results.
I would say that I´m a all-rounder. I finish races like Paris-Roubaix and races like the world championship. But of course I have no problems to work for someone who is better than me. So if I have to help a leader there is no problem.
Ilaria: Family and friends are important for you? what do you like to do in your spare time? Favourite music? Mouvie? Book? Country (Luxembourg excluded)? Food?
Pit: For me my family is a very important part of my life, because my parents and my sister are very great persons who help me a lot. My father for exemple always repairs my bikes after races. So without him I would loose a lot of time. And my mother an my sister always motivate me and help me in everyday situations. And then of course there is my girldfriend, who I meet in my spare time. She supports me a lot and is very kind and patient when I have to leave for races. For the rest, I'm a big fan of electric, house and hardstyle music. My ipod is always in my bag. And to choose my favorite book or movie is very hard for me because I rarely go to the cinema or read a book because I hate siting there and listening to someone or reading something: that makes me very nervous.
Ilaria: Which is your dream race?
Pit: I like races like Tour of Flanders or Paris-Roubaix.
Ilaria: And finally, you know this blog is the most about Andy Schleck. Tell us something special about him.
Pit: Andy was in the same team as me (Lc Tetange) when he was younger. So I met him when he was still a “nobody”. But then when he left the team he hold a little speech that was impressive for such a young man.
Ilaria: Thank you Pit, and good luck!
Pit: Well that´s a good question. I´m asked very often what I would like to do and I have to answer every time that I simply don´t know what I will do. My goal is to finish the school this June with a good result.
Ilaria: Of course that's important and you'll have time to think about your future. Anyway I think you can do great things. Which is the racer you like more in the history of cycling? And now? And which one is more like you? Imagining to race as a pro for an important team, you see you more like a leader or like an helper? Which is your best quality? And the worse?
Pit: When I start cycling I was very impressed by Erik Dekker because he was always in the breaks and attacked in every races. I´m a big fan of riders who attacked every times they can, riders like Phillippe Gilbert or Alexander Vinokourov. So I would describe myself as an aggressive rider who always tries if it's possible to accelerate and who feels comfortable in all terrains. But that´s often my problem because if I´m feeling good I can´t sty in the peloton. I have to attack. That´s sometimes a big problem for me because if i do that i can´t make big results.
I would say that I´m a all-rounder. I finish races like Paris-Roubaix and races like the world championship. But of course I have no problems to work for someone who is better than me. So if I have to help a leader there is no problem.
Ilaria: Family and friends are important for you? what do you like to do in your spare time? Favourite music? Mouvie? Book? Country (Luxembourg excluded)? Food?
Pit: For me my family is a very important part of my life, because my parents and my sister are very great persons who help me a lot. My father for exemple always repairs my bikes after races. So without him I would loose a lot of time. And my mother an my sister always motivate me and help me in everyday situations. And then of course there is my girldfriend, who I meet in my spare time. She supports me a lot and is very kind and patient when I have to leave for races. For the rest, I'm a big fan of electric, house and hardstyle music. My ipod is always in my bag. And to choose my favorite book or movie is very hard for me because I rarely go to the cinema or read a book because I hate siting there and listening to someone or reading something: that makes me very nervous.
Ilaria: Which is your dream race?
Pit: I like races like Tour of Flanders or Paris-Roubaix.
Ilaria: And finally, you know this blog is the most about Andy Schleck. Tell us something special about him.
Pit: Andy was in the same team as me (Lc Tetange) when he was younger. So I met him when he was still a “nobody”. But then when he left the team he hold a little speech that was impressive for such a young man.
Ilaria: Thank you Pit, and good luck!
