LUKE ROWE
The Team Sky Welshman is about to ride his third Tour de France
‘‘ I watched Pantani a lot when I was a kid and I looked to Peter Van Petegem for the Classics, he was really cool”
What’s the best thing about riding your bike?
Your job is your passion. You get paid to do what you would do for free anyway. It puts me in a privileged position. You get moments when you realise how fortunate you are and how many people don’t make it.
What’s your favourite race?
Paris-Roubaix. It’s iconic and special and crazy. Everybody knows what it’s about and how mad it is. This year was a bit disappointing, but over the years it’s been good to me. I was a bit battered and bruised this year, but I still dream of doing well in it.
Who’s the best domestique?
The most underrated would definitely be Christian Knees. He hasn’t got the name of somebody like Bernie Eisel or Mat Hayman but he turns up to each and every race, whether it’s the biggest race in the world or the smallest, and he’ll turn up at 100 per cent. He’s always at a good level, and all through the season he’s consistent.
Hardest day on the bike?
The 2014 Vuelta, stage 14. It had been really hot, my first Grand Tour, and it was a super mountainous stage. It went from really hot to really cold and pissed it down all day. I finished at the back of the gruppetto after struggling all day. It was horrific.
What result are you most proud of?
My wife is my best result!
What would you be doing if you were not a bike racer?
I think I’d either be in the army or be a fireman. They are similar jobs to cycling - you have to push yourself every day and it takes risk to get reward.
What is your favourite climb?
I don’t have one! If I had to, I’d say I like the Col de Madone – we use it a lot for training and the whole climb you’re always looking down to the ocean, so it’s beautiful.
Favourite bit of kit?
My skinsuit. I race wearing a skinsuit most days.
Who was your cycling hero?
I watched Pantani a lot when I was a kid and I looked to Peter Van Petegem for the Classics, I thought he was really cool. They were both always attacking.
Who’s going to win the Tour de France in five years time?
I think Simon Yates. Or Romain Bardet.
What could the UCI do to improve bike racing?
Make the stages shorter. The most exciting stages are the shortest ones. The shorter stages are harder – 120km is three hours of racing and you can go flat out for three hours. But at 160km people lose that mentality, even though it’s just one extra hour, and at 220km people are afraid.
What’s your favourite training session?
I like unstructured general rides where you go out with a bunch of mates and you’re not sure how far you’re going to go – four, five or six hours. You ride for three hours, get lost, take in the views, stop for a coffee and ride home. Old school.