INTERVIEW: TUFT & MCNULTY
Rally UHC Cycling’ s S vein Tuft, 42, and Brandon McNulty, 21, are at opposite ends of the career spectrum; one is about to retire, the other just getting started. Pro cycling sits down with the duo to swap life experiences and advice
We meet Rally Cycling’s young Brandon McNulty, and experienced Svein Tuft
What’s it like rooming together?
SVEIN Well, he never shuts up… No, TUFT he’s not a big talker but I was the same at his age. As you get older, you evolve as a person, too. We get along fine. You’re pretty focused on what you’re doing, and there’s not a lot of time in between.
BRANDON It’s cool, because you look at MCNULTY his whole career and history, but then he’s not that much different to anyone else. There’s stuff to talk about in the racing world but we’re usually back to the room quite late, then it’s pretty much in bed watching Netflix or whatever.
Are you close?
ST: I wouldn’t go that far, but through the experiences we’ve had – like Sicily and Suisse – you get to know each other and understand each other’s character. For sure, we got closer, and I wish he was staying here and I was staying on racing, but that’s just the nature of the business; everything moves on.
Was the Giro di Sicilia, where Brandon won, your stand-out race together?
ST: Definitely, yeah. Brandon was peaking at that moment and put everything together there. Also, the team really rallied behind that. It was bike racing at its most beautiful. You have a guy at a certain level but then the team steps up to that next level, as well. You see the real character of guys because they’re willing to sacrifice and do so much more than they normally would.
BM: Everyone stepped up for that race, especially on the Mount Etna day. There were guys climbing better than I’ve ever seen. Everything came together – it was incredible. Obviously I was at the back, seeing what they were doing for me, and I was like, ‘Okay, I have to step up now.’
Can you talk us through your journeys to becoming professional bike racers?
ST: I reckon it’s totally different – bipolar different. For me, I never really cared about Europe. I started out on an American team, and actually quit for a year and – this is the super condensed version – then I was at Symmetrics, a Canadian team. We did races in South America and all over the shop, and
I loved it. I had enough to survive and was completely content. I didn’t need to go past that. But then we lost our funding in 2008, and I was hitting my peak as a rider, and that allowed me to get a contract with Garmin in Europe. At that time, I would have been 31, and he’s… you know, he’s been doing European races from the age of… BM: Fifteen.
ST: And ProConti and Conti races, from, like, 20, would you say?
BM: Well, I was still 19 last year when we started coming over with Rally.
ST: It’s mind blowing. I was a hobo at his age.
Brandon, how did you get over to Europe to race at such a young age?
BM: Through the national team. Billy Innes is kind of the spearhead of that. When you’re 15 or 16, you start out on kermesse trips, going over for a month, and those are more just fun – hanging out with guys your age, doing two races a week. The first time, I was already winning most of the kermesses, then as a 17 and 18-year-old you get into the Nations Cups which are the proper junior races, I guess. I still found success there, then obviously won the Worlds [junior TT] and signed with Rally in 2017.
Canada and the USA are very different but there has been a general shortage
“FIND THAT BALANCE... THE RESULTS WILL COME IF YOU BALANCE EVERYTHING UP IN LIFE” - - Svein Tuft
of North American success. What are the structures and pathways in place?
ST: In the case of North America, Rally is one of the only teams to make it to European level, and that’s not enough. In Canadian Cycling, we used to have guys doing a national U23 programme, racing in Europe, and now we have none of that funding. There are guys doing the Tour de l’Avenir for the first time but it’s down to a benefactor. The same goes for the US, you have these fluctuations where there’s funding for these projects then it goes away. Would you say that’s the case?
BM: Junior funding has always been pretty strong, but recently the U23 programme has taken a hit with USA Cycling. I came straight to Rally as a U23 and only had to do one trip with the national team to get enough racing in. There are teams like Axeon, who have a lot of the good U23 Americans, but beyond that it’s pretty tough if you’re not already a hitter as a junior.
Is the biggest issue access to Europe?
ST: The biggest issue is there’s a race scene in North America but it’s a totally different style of racing to Europe. Guys are super-strong – world class strong – but they’re racing on eight-lane highways. If you go to Europe, you have to learn all over again. That’s the hardest part to take, because there’s ego involved - ‘I’ve won all these races, I can do all these numbers,’ but the reality is you’re starting at ground zero. It took me a good two years.
Brandon, it must have been an advantage to get a taste of Europe so early on...
BM: For sure. The longer you do it, the more normal it becomes. You’re doing these Belgian races at 15, 16, and you get used to the punchiness of it. ST: And the fighting for position.
Where do you live?
BM: I’ve been basing out of Phoenix, [Arizona] but recently just got an apartment in Girona for next year. I put the deposit down last week, basically.
Svein, what’s the most important piece of advice you’d give Brandon?
ST: My experience is that most young guys want everything to happen super fast. I was lucky because I didn’t really care – I wanted to train and race hard but I wasn’t obsessed with the outcome. So I’d say look at it as a long-term process, take care of your body, and think about a balanced, healthy approach to the whole picture, rather than overreaching too soon and blowing out. If you’re willing to take that step back, you can accomplish a lot of your goals without trading in your health and mental stability. There’s plenty of time to race, man. It will happen, but you need to let it happen. That’s just my opinion, because I know in my life, every time
I try to force things I f*ck it up.
BM: Yeah, that’s pretty much been ingrained since I was young. I think a lot of Americans do try to force it. You see really good juniors but they think they need to be in Europe 365 days a year at 19. I could have jumped up last year, for sure, but it was definitely the better option to take it slow, have another year here, and, actually, have fun.
ST: That shows a lot, that decision right there. It’s appealing for most young guys if they can sign that WorldTour contract. The fact he was willing to wait another year, that shows a lot.
Brandon, who have been the important figures in guiding you?
BM: I’ve been with the same coach, Barney King, since I was 15. He’s been in the US junior scene for 20-plus years, and seen lots of kids make mistakes. He was definitely the first person. I started working with Roy Knickman, director of the Lux team, and it was the same thing. He turned pro at 19 and has some crazy stories, like doing Suisse, Tour, Vuelta when he was 19 or 20. Basically, he was like, ‘Don’t do that.’
What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned from Svein?
BM: Maybe the biggest thing is watching him navigate the peloton. When I race and he’s not there, it always seems a bit more stressful. Off the bike, he’s big on balance, takes time away and does his own thing. We all need that, for sure.
ST: It’s different for everyone. For me, it’s yoga. I do a session in the morning to take a moment away from the bubble of bike racing. Grounding, sunlight, and a bit of movement… that’s helped me a lot. It’s going to be different for everyone, but find that balance. If that means going back to your normal life… just have a normal life, actually, because a lot of guys obsess and don’t have anything else in their lives. You can pull that off for a few months but it’s not sustainable. The results will come if you balance everything up in life. What’s the biggest change in the sport since you started out?
ST: Guys are so committed. Everyone is doing 100 per cent, insane training, nutrition, equipment. Back in the day, it was a funny mix of levels due to doping or whatever, but there’d be a rhythm to the race – the break would get 10 minutes and it would slowly come back. Now you have five guys in the break riding 420W all day. That means you can’t give them more than a few minutes, and the bunch is going nearly 50 kilometres per hour. Maybe I have a poor memory but, honestly, I don’t remember that when I first came over.
Brandon, how do you see it?
BM: I think that ties into taking it slow. At my age, that one per cent doesn’t make as big a difference as losing 10 per cent because you’re f*cked or something. Being 5kg lighter won’t do you any good if you can’t ride at that weight.
ST: If your engine’s not even close to the mark... Why sacrifice all that other stuff if the engine is not there?
BM: Now, for me, it’s more about making the big gains like building the engine, adapting. Down the line you can worry about the one per cent that it takes to actually win at the highest level.
How easy is it to stay patient when you see what other young riders are doing?
BM: We all have our own development. Some guys are just naturally really good at young ages, and others take forever. I just have to work by myself. I know I will have my time if I’m patient and do everything right.
You recently suggested that young success was a sign the sport is cleaner. Do you believe you’re entering a clean sport now?
BM: I would hope so. There will probably always be some people. I don’t have much experience of the past, but I feel I’m able to compete, and I know what I’m doing – I’m clean. Even the big races… We did Suisse, for example, and I was getting smashed but, at the same time, the level didn’t seem unachievable in
“I could have jumped last year but it was definitely the better option to take it slow” - Brandon McNulty
five years. I could see myself being good enough if I just keep improving.
Svein, is cycling cleaner?
ST: Definitely. With the biological passport, it’s got a lot better. Like anything in life, there are some assholes who will feel they need to do that. You just have to hope most guys aren’t willing to throw everything away for a few results.
Is that spoken about at Rally?
BM: Not specifically. It’s pretty much known…
ST: It’s our culture. I don’t feel there’s anyone who would even imagine that’s an avenue for them. I’ve known Jonas [Carney, performance director] for ages and he’s built that culture. It’s not like young guys need to be told – it’s implicit.
What else has changed?
ST: There’s no more order or respect in the peloton. The old way of things is not always great and perfect, but that hierarchy is one thing we’re missing. Young guys now think they’re the cat’s pyjamas.
Brandon included…?!
ST: No, he’s not doing that stuff. Some guys, as soon as you’re out of the peripheral vision, they’re like, ‘Bam!’ It’s like you’ve disappeared. There are points where you have to take risks but we all have lives and want to get home to our special people. It really bothers me when I see those things where they’re basically saying, ‘F*ck you.’ That’s been a big change, because when I came over there was order… until the final 5km, but now it starts 40km out. It’s just madness.
Brandon, what’s the biggest thing you’ve learned so far?
BM: Just keeping my own pace, being smart. Burnout has always kind of been the fear. I’ve seen guys overcommit too early and it’s detrimental. I don’t think it will happen to me, hopefully, because I feel I’ve learned from others’ mistakes and taken the right steps.
Svein, what’s it like leaving the sport and seeing someone like Brandon, with such potential?
ST: For me, it’s exciting to watch this guy about to take his opportunity. He has a good head on his shoulders, and I think that’s the main thing. The life is crazy, but I see the decisions that he’s made so far and I have to respect the fact he’s going to have a good career, just based on that.