www.chechurubiera.info - an online magazine for fans of Chechu Rubiera

MEDIA 2009

Also 2001-2006 : 2006 : 2007 : 2008

Spanish translations by Christine Kahane and Rebecca Bell.

16 April 2009

Chechu Rubiera says that cycling "is a clean sport"

Chechu Rubiera, cyclist with the Astana Cycling Team, emphasised today that "currently there are separate standards for measuring doping," and said that this is "a clean sport" in which "they do more controls than in other types of disciplines."

"We ourselves decided to accept all these controls in an effort to catch cheats, and in a peloton of 400 cyclists, it’s impossible that there are not some case of doping," explained the professional in a press conference prior to an informal symposium talk.

Photograph © EFE

Cyclists Chechu Rubiera and Joan Llaners participated in a round table discussion organized by the Press Club of El Diario de León, where they reviewed his professional career.

The Astana professional is convinced that cycling "is at a good point for reclaiming the confidence that has been lost in the last few years, what’s more, we now have a good crop, a generation of very good cyclists," he said, although he cautioned that the main problem facing the sport is recovering the confidence of the sponsors.

Rubiera, who had also decided to retire, returned to cycling when Armstrong announced his comeback. The seven-time champion of the Tour then made the Asturian an offer to join him once again as gregario, to which Rubiera argued, saying, "I couldn’t tell him no" and count out continuing one more year if the north American requested it.

Olympic medalist Joan Llaneras, who has been world champion more than once in indoor track events, stressed that despite his retirement, Spain "has a great number of cyclists who are doing well," in a sport that lives in the shadow of road racing.

23 February 2009

Chechu hoists his colours in the United States

The Gijón professional cyclist José Luis Rubiera inaugurated BarLata last week in Oakland, a restaurant for tapas and other Spanish specialties

Chechu Rubiera’s American adventure goes far beyond his friendship with Lance Armstrong. The veteran cyclist from Gijón is attracted more than he thinks by the country of the stars and stripes banner.

Indeed, taking advantage of the celebration of the Tour of California, Chechu inaugurated BarLata, a Spanish restaurant in Oakland, where one can find fabáda and Cabrales goat cheese on the menu, a way of recalling his native land.

Chechu was raised between cooking fires in Casa Rubiera in Baldornón, where his mother Lolí is a first class cook. His many trips across the Atlantic to compete have encouraged him to set up a "little business which will motivate me to come often". He's currently enjoying riding the Tour of California along the Pacific coast, where he ranks in the top ten in the general classification, together with the seven-time winner of the Tour and (Levi) Leipheimer.

Rubiera has enjoyed the United States a great deal in recent years. "I met my partner, Daniel Olivella, who is a cycling fan, and because of that, I decided to enter this business. Olivella made a proposal to me last year and I said yes straight away because I like gastronomy and it’s a way to link two cultures".

Chechu is sure that Barlata can live up to its reputation "because Spanish cooking, with its tapas, wine, and various specialities is attractive for the Americans".

The name has not been chosen at random. The "latas", according to Chechu, are "typically Spanish and our menu offers very good ones with sardines and tuna, among many others".

Basketball and cycling

Since signing with the US Postal team, almost a decade ago, Chechu's interest for American customs has grown every year. Now, for example, he has become a great fan of basketball. "Everything is a show here. Thanks to my friendship with Sergio Rodriguez, I get to attend a lot of games involving the NBA in Sacramento, Oakland, and Los Angeles, specially those with the Golden Gates Warriors." Chechu adds, "I recently met Rudy, and this increased even more my interest for this sport".

Chechu’s immersion in the gastronomic business world provides a new stage for the rider who is considered one of the best domestiques in the world. It also coincides with what will be his last year as a professional rider after Armstrong asked him to delay by one year his retirement to accompany him in his startling comeback in cycling.

From now on, the San Francisco and San Lorenzo bays will be united by cycling and gastronomy. Asturias earns its presence in the new Obama era.

15 February 2009

Video interview with Chechu at Tour of California. Go to Bicycling.com

2 February 2009

Rubiera: "No-one has more motivation than Armstrong."

The Gijon rider, who competed alongside the American for his come back in Australia, says that “the Giro will be his preparation for the Tour”

“Nobody can surpass Lance Armstrong in terms of motivation and he is eager to perform in the best way possible in the Giro de Italia which will be his preparation for the Tour de France.”

La Nueva España reports, This is how Chechu Rubiera found his Astana leader during the training that took place in Australia, and the subsequent Tour Down Under race, where the American was very active.

Rubiera, 36 last Tuesday, admits that the Australian race was “hard and demanding because riders arrive there well prepared and not as in the past just in order to train. Furthermore, the presence of Armstrong created more pressure because he wanted to be outstanding, participate in the breakaways and come up to peoples' expectations for his comeback to competition. As it was rather windy, the pressure was multiplied and there were several falls. I also fell. Now you can't enjoy this competition anymore like before. I didn't get there quite sharp enough because of bad weather in Asturias. The level of cycling in Australia was that of a big race.

The important thing is that I am in good shape to help Lance when the Giro of Italia starts.”

Chechu Rubiera will soon leave for California where he will rejoin his team-mates Benjamin Noval and Dani Navarro. Carlos Barredo, with whom he trained yesterday on the La Campa climb in order to evaluate his physical condition for his participation in the American race, will also take part in the Tour of California. Then, Rubiera will compete in the Vueltas a Castilla y Leon and Basque Country, the Tour of Romandie, and the Giro de Italia.

The Baldornón rider, who lives in Muño, was impressed by the atmosphere created in Australia by Armstrong’s come back. "There was a special aura, sometimes it was like in the Tour de France, because of the heat and the amount of people gathered along the road. There were also two city circuits attended by more than 120,000 spectators. The Australian Prime Minister, among other personalities, came one day to the departure point in order to greet Armstrong. I also liked the fact that Lance took time to discretely visit cancer patients in hospitals without letting the press know about it. He managed to incite political personalities to start a foundation to fight the illness which bears his name in Australia”.

Rubiera, who is happy to “return to competition because it’s what I like and I travel a lot, and even better if it’s at Lance’s side, which is an enriching experience”, makes it clear that “Lance is very eager on doing well in the Giro d'Italia, which he never attended before, and which will serve as a preparation for the Tour de France”. The Gijon rider also admits that the Texan still needs “to lose more weight and muscular mass to cope with a multi-stage tour, but sees him very strong and motivated. He must also improve the changes of rhythm because he has not worked on this aspect yet. But he is already very keen on doing training sessions in Italy and France in order to prepare for the Giro and the Tour. On top of some in Tenerife in order to improve his tuning in the mountains.”

The Gijón professional rider had already said earlier, “I see Armstrong finish on the Tour podium”. Now, after the Australian race, he confirms the following “sure that he will finish among the first five. What we still need to know is whether he has the capacity to win again, specially confronted with young riders like Alberto Contador. It’s sure that Lance will do it well because he is very eager and strong".

Armstrong also told Rubiera that “he sold his houses in Nice and Gerona and that one day he would like to come and train in Asturias with Benjamin, Navarro and me. I don’t know when because with his foundation for cancer and his cycling, his schedule is booked up. But it’s nice that it's Lance himself who made that comment to me.”

Road Bike Action

Chechu tells Road Bike Action,

"I had a little racing bike and loved to ride. No one in my family was into cycling at all. But I loved it right away. I had a little jersey and shorts and would ride my bike all over even when I was young. "

Also International Herald Tribune

CHECHU TALKS ASTURIAN

Leading Asturians have joined a political campaign to prevent the Asturian language dying out.

see blog

Don't miss! Chechu also interviews in Italian for Gazzetta dello Sport. There's a feature too, Lance's guardian angel.

Rubiera : "Armstrong is nothing less than a hero"

as.com reports, José Luis "Chechu" Rubiera, one of the two Spanish riders from the Astana roster, who will take part in the Tour Down Under, together with Lance Armstrong, stated to EFE Radio that the American cyclist, who is making his comeback after a three-year retirement, "is nothing less than a hero".

"Lance Armstrong is a great champion. We have a very good relationship, and I also admire him a lot as a cyclist and as a person. For me, he is nothing less than a hero," said the Asturian rider. According to 36 year old Rubiera, Armstrong’s come back will be an asset for the team and his cohabitation with Alberto Contador won’t be an obstacle.

"Historically, there have always been teams which counted several top class riders participating in the Tour de France, such as Greg Lemond and Bernard Hinault, or more recently in the Vuelta a España, Leipheimer and Contador. In the end, it’s the team that benefited from it. We can only hope it will be the same for Astana this year. It’s the race that decides who is the strongest, and of course the directeur sportif in his car who determines who is the strongest and takes charge of getting the other riders to work for him".

Rubiera commented in front of the EFE Radio microphones on the physical fitness of the seven-time Tour de France winner, which is even superior to that of his period of triumph.

"I notice it very well. He is better than previously at this time of the year despite his three-year break. We did some intensive training sessions and he is in better shape than previous years at this period. What he misses is the rhythm of competition, and previously he was more relaxed in January. This year, he started training ahead of the others. If one adds this to his super-gifted capacity, he is in a super form. His real objectives are the Giro and the Tour."

The Gijón rider defended his Texan team-mate from critics, saying they are "not constructive and show lack of respect. One may be of the opinion that Lance’s comeback is an error, but one must respect his decision. It seems that there are people who become indignant at a person who is going to give many a lesson on the subject of what sacrifice means and start again to transmit society some moral values : work, effort, dedication. He does it as a challenge for himself, and above all for a noble cause to promote a foundation the purpose of which is to help cancer sufferers fight their illness".

Armstrong’s comeback is "a great satisfaction" for "Chechu" Rubiera who already worked together with the Tour winner for seven consecutive seasons.

"We have not been pedalling side by side for the last three years due to the distance that kept us apart, Lance being in the US, and we have not seen each other much. I find him very relaxed with as much determination as ever. What worries him is the lack of the rhythm of competition which, however much he trains, he can not attain. It will have to come gradually while participating in races. Apart from competition training, he is very conscientiously doing his daily work."

Rubiera, who announced his retirement during the last Vuelta, explained the reasons why he decided to carry on competing one more year.

"I was feeling well physically, last year was satisfactory on the sports level, and the fact that Armstrong was coming back and counted on me at his side in the team appealed to me. Both reasons made me change my mind during last season’s final pedal strokes. I am happy because the atmosphere is still very good and I feel very at ease in this world."

His first race of the seaon will be the Tour Down Under, in Adelaide (Australia).

Then he will participate in the Vuelta a Castilla y Leon, the Vuelta al Pais Vasco and the Tour of California. His main objectives will be the Giro and the Vuelta a España.

Praising Fernando Alonso

Friend of Fernando Alonso, twice Formula One champion, Rubiera dreams to see his fellow countryman join Ferrari. "It’s difficult to maintain a relationship when you are biking while he is practically never in Asturias, but we send each other messages and I am grateful to see that such a busy person still dedicates some time to his friends. I wish him the best. I am aware of what’s in the press and all the fans see in Ferrari a prestigious trademark. Seeing Fernando compete in a Ferrari would be very motivating for us all."