Interview with Yaroslav Popovych – Happy to be back riding for Bruyneel and Astana.

"Coming back to Astana is like coming home for me."

It was pretty obvious from his huge smile and easy going disposition that Yaroslav Popovych was ecstatic to be back with Bruyneel and riding for Astana.

almost 3 years ago steph- 10 comments 0 recs |

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Sometimes people need motivation

Riding for a winner would no doubt be motivating and bring out the best in you. Even though Heras was a doper, he has always maintained that his best day ever on a bike was riding for LA in ’03 I believe and shredding the field. Doper or not, he was one hell of a climber.

If I just had one more gear, I...

by SpunOut on May 1, 2009 4:22 AM EDT reply actions

you sure you didn't mean the 2002 tdf? 'berto wasnt much of a factor in the 2003 tdf...

"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind

by umwolverine on May 1, 2009 9:54 AM EDT up reply actions

Popo REALLY likes Bruyneel/Armstrong

I almost detect a man crush on his part, he’s always “Oh Armstrong is so great, this team is so wonderful, I love it here, blah blah blahhhhhhhh”

I’m not really convinced by the “I was sick” excuse for 2008, sounds like Popo just didn’t care for Cadel Evans or the management at Lotto and decided to sandbag it a little. My personal opinion anyway.

by Fernando on May 1, 2009 7:19 PM EDT reply actions

he was the leader in Vuelta last year

still the same old story…

by rbjhan on May 2, 2009 5:49 AM EDT up reply actions

Damn

Wish I saw this sooner and put it on the FP then…

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris Fontecchio on May 1, 2009 8:06 PM EDT reply actions

Wow

Lotto’s emphasis is on the classics? That might be the saddest thing I have ever read.

CQRanking.com, you complete me.

by Chris Fontecchio on May 1, 2009 8:08 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah- who knew?

Oh- I see someone in the back with their arm raised..

by ursula on May 2, 2009 12:09 AM EDT up reply actions

I went to the Astana media event to chat with Contador...

and was able to spend a few minutes with Popoych. I was really curious why he was back with Brunyeel.

He wears his emotions on his sleeves. The beautiful picture Lyne took absolutely captures how happy he is to be with Astana. He was quite unhappy with Lotto and even more so with Evans.

I am certainly not an Armstrong fan….however, there are several very good riders who are very devoted to Armstrong and actually ride better when riding for him. Popovych is one of them.

For Popovych, Astana is more than a professional team…they are his family….and I find that intriguiing.

by steph- on May 2, 2009 10:02 AM EDT reply actions

yeah, it looked obvious he was uncomfortable at *Lotto.

remember P-N last year when he was yelling at Cadel to slow down on Ventoux?

Thanks for the nice interview steph-! :)

by Bruce Suomi on May 2, 2009 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions

But what about his own ambition?

Last year was the first time he really had the chance to prove himself as a leader in his own right. Instead of responding with his best season he bombed big time. For a rider that was at one time considered a future Tour winner Popo’s career is starting to look like it will go down as one of the bigger disappointments of the last few decades, he’ll be fondly remembered by fans of Armstrong but everyone else will ask why he didn’t achieve more. Too much pressure? Lack of confidence? Just seems like he squandered his talent.

by Fernando on May 2, 2009 10:38 AM EDT reply actions