I'll do a more extensive introduction in one of the next posts. This first entry is solely about setting up the blog and giving a little information of how this will go. I have divided this blog into four categories, which are the following:
This category is probably the most important one. Here I will discuss racing, training, recon camps... Simply everything that has to do with my career. In this first post, I will also make a list of achievements, which hopefully will grow as I progress in the world of cycling!
List of Achievements
Despite what some suggest, life is more than racing alone. A career in cycling is all about sacrifice, about making commitment. In general there is little living to a cyclist's life. The little life I will have, I'm willing to share in this Personal Journal. But don't worry, I won't bore you with my grocery lists. Anyhow, I will present myself in a next blog, both professionally and personally.
The times they are a-changing. Bob Dylan knew it. With the rise of the internet and the invention of social media, the world has turned into a Global Village. This, like many things, has its ups and downs. I will use this section to try and guide you through the gossips (of course, related to cycling). Subjects here range from transfer rumors to doping investigations. I will also occasionally discuss important races here, if I don't participate myself: The World Championships, Le Tour De France...
Finally, a section reserved just for the fans, that's you! This is an interactive blog, which means any one of you can comment. I will try to answer all your questions truthfully and as soon as possible. Anytime I do a blog-update, I will answer to all (or most) of the replies that have been posted since my previous entry.
There, I guess that was all I had to say today. I will introduce myself properly in a little while.
Good luck! Looks great, so far! Try with some Pro Continental team at start,and as a Swiss, i am pretty sure in 1 option. Edited by admirschleck on 13-06-2013 21:59
Good luck Jean. You seem to have strict antipathy to doping, that is good. But dont get fooled, there are still dopers in the peloton and you will have a hard time to battle them clean. Good luck with that!
Yesterday I opened this blog, and it's nice to see it's already attracted some attention. Today I will present myself properly, both professionally and personally. You will notice I talk an awful lot about cycling in my personal introduction, too, but that's just the impact it had on my life.
Bio
Early Years
I was born in Sion, canton Valais, Switzerland. My father was a professional cyclist and my mother stayed at home to take care of the kids. I'm the youngest of 5, that's why I've always been named "Le Petit" as a nickname at home. Growing up, my length affirmed that nickname.
At the age of 4, we moved to Martigny, which is only 30km away from Sion. None of my brothers or sister was interested in cycling, I was the only one ready to fill my father's shoes.
Martigny, Switzerland
At the age of 10, my father guided me on my first Category 1 climb, it was an amazing experience.
Between the ages of 10 and 19, I spent most of my days on the bike. In the summer I went on hour-long rides, sometimes going to France, sometimes to Italy. In the winter, I did some mountain biking and, living here you have to, also skied a little bit.
At the age of 16, on one of my rides to France, I stopped in Samoëns (France) to get some water, and there I met my current girlfriend, Gina. She was a local girl, both of her parents worked hard in the bakery (still do). We hit it off instantly. Mostly I visited her, and came by bike. After a while, I got tired of the same old road and started taking different routes. Sometimes it was a 10-hour trip, then I'd stay the night and return the next day.
Alternative Route to Samoëns
Cycling: A Life Style
It wasn't long before cycling started to control my life. We lived in the mountains, we had nothing else to do all day long. I was either on my bike or at my girlfriend's. I was raised on a bike, it's my second nature.
At the age of 17, I entered an amateur race in France. I set out with high hopes, but the peloton was fast-paced, the profile was flat, the speed was dangerously high. I realized I'd always gone cycling alone, with my dad or with a limited group. I had never rode in a peloton, and I thought it was scary. I could steer well, but I can't account for everyone in the peloton.
I entered a few more races and I learned. I was pushing my limits further constantly, going faster, harder, attacking from further out. Only rarely did it result in a win. My dad helped me train and every year we tried to do a Tour de France stage with the two of us. Mother would be at the finish to take us back home at the end of a very long day.
The first Tour stage I did with my dad.
At the age of 19, I became the regional champion in Mountain Biking. My dad was very proud that day.
Recent Past
But then it was time for college. I studied hard and after the long hours, I had no courage to go cycling. I was studying physiotherapy. However, my legs couldn't handle sitting still so much. I dropped out of college and moved back home, to great pleasure of my girlfriend. Only last month, we got engaged and moved to Cluses (France), which isn't far from her home town. We got an apartment there together, and in that apartment is a computer, from which I'm blogging right now!
Personality
I'm the silent-type. Usually I'm quite introvert, I don't like being the center of attention. In comparison to my brothers, I never went out to party or just hang out with a bunch of people. I had about 3 friends and that was it, but we were really close, and still are.
Normally, I'm a pretty calm guy, it takes a lot to get me going. However, on the bike, that changes completely. It's part of my personality, as a rider I have an edge, a temperament, as a rider I rage throughout the mountains. I guess it's a bit of a yin-yang situation.
I appreciate good humor, Monty Python, Blackadder, that kind of stuff. When I take out my fiance, we usually go see a good movie. I'm a big fan of America cinema, despite my Swiss roots.
I grew up in Swiss, but so close to the French border that I feel I'm 50% Swiss and 50% French, moving to France seemed logical. I speak the language fluently, obviously, I also speak Italian, German and English.
Well, the rest of my personality, you'll learn along the way, I guess.
Bio
My career started in the amateur races I told you about earlier. I got my first victory, my first scars... Being regional champion Mountain Biking at age 19 definitely was the highlight of the year. But I already told you about that. Time for a real career...
Returning from college, I was a bit lost. I didn't know what to do and all I did was go cycling. Then my dad stepped up. He's the kind of guy that lets his kids do whatever they do. They have to make their own mistakes. But for the first time in my life, he took the reins.
He called up an old team-mate, who is now directeur sportif in a professional cycling team, and asked for a favor. After three days, he called back and told him: "It's okay, we'll test your son."
In August 2012 I underwent three days of testing. My fiance (then girlfriend) went with me and we made a trip out of it. We were gone 10 days, and that experience made me realize she's the right woman, so only a month later we got engaged.
Anyway, returning home, my father had a message for me. I had already forgotten what it was about, but then it all came back to me! The news was good, I was accepted! They offered me a one-year contract for season 2013. I signed the contract on the 14th of August 2012.
Now we're October 2012. I will soon start my training with the rest of the team. I'm anxious to meet them and to start my journey in the professional world of cycling. I feel I belong there, and I love it, but I can only hope it embraces me back.
My contract forbids me to talk about the team before the 25th of October, so in a few days, I can talk freely about it!
Rider Information / Abilities
After my testing, I got a fiche in the mail. It's a file about what they believe to be my abilities. Some things came out surprisingly, others were to be expected.
I had expected a good result on my steering skills, since I practically grew up on a bike, both race and mountain bikes. My riding came out better than expected. I can ride fairly strong, but my weight is a real disadvantage in the wind, especially since I'm the worst rider ever in aerodynamics.
I was incredibly happy that they labeled my climbing as a talent. I guess that's my biggest strength, come to think of it. I grew up in the mountains so I never thought about it that much. Cycling equals climbing for me.
Unfortunately, on the second day of testing, I had to ride on a time trial bike. I had never even seen one, so to speak. I expected a bad result, but this is sad. I had expected better from cobblestones, too. I have the disadvantage of the weight, but I felt pretty good riding those cobbles.
Then follows a string of excellent results! They see a future in my attacking, explosiveness and endurance. The final figure (4 for race intelligence) was to be expected, I guess. Like I said, I'm used to riding alone, and when I started racing in amateur races, I just attacked without thinking. I love riding and racing, but I'm not a tactical mastermind (yet).
All in all it's a good report, that's what my dad said. The fact that I got offered a contract says it all. They want to give me a chance to develop my talents and to improve my weaknesses. This is a chance of a lifetime!
I'm happy to see some people already here. Thanks for your comments! I will no try to answer some of your questions!
fcancellara wrote:
I like the Bob Dylan reference, are you a big fan of him, Jean?
I do enjoy his music. I actually learned English growing up with his (and other) songs. But I must admit I enjoy his words more than his actual music.
Jesleyh wrote:
Jean, what type of rider are you actually? Or do we have to wait till the introduction to find that out?
I think the above answered your questions partly. In amateur races and on my daily rides, I never thought about being a type of rider, I just gave it my everything. But going into the professional peloton, I might have to specialize. And given my abilities and my love for the mountains, the choice is easy on my part!
welker3257 wrote:
Jean, what are your favorite races?
That's a tough question. I always loved the heroics of Paris - Roubaix, the romance of the Giro and prestige of the Tour de France. But my favorite race might be the Tour of Suisse, my home country tour.
Mresuperstar wrote:
Good luck Jean, hope to see you do great things.
Thank you! I hope so, too. But first I'm just concentrating on proving what I'm worth, since my contract only runs for one year!
Avin Wargunnson wrote:
Good luck Jean. You seem to have strict antipathy to doping, that is good. But don't get fooled, there are still dopers in the peloton and you will have a hard time to battle them clean. Good luck with that!
I have a very strict anti-doping policy. I've always been careful with my health since it's the most important thing you have. I don't understand riders who risk that all just for a little result. I'll try my best to prove them wrong, that you can do it clean!
krisa wrote:
Jean Remy was a french colonel
He was a Colonel under the Free France Liberation Group founded by Charles de Gaulle in 1940. But I'm not named after him, don't worry. And if I ever would get a nickname, I hope it won't be "The Colonel". I stand on war as I stand on doping: trying to ban it from the world.
Okay, that was it for today. Thanks for everybody replying, and if you have any more questions, shoot!
Tomorrow I'll talk about the team I signed the contract with!
The Great is back
And yes, everyone is allowed to post!
![imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg](https://imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg)
Try to make it special for them! 
