Interview Ruben Perez

Today I got an interview with Ruben Perez from my fellow super-euskaltelfan and blogger Magnus, you can find his blog in my favourites (http://ibanmayoblog.blogspot.com/) . I will now try to translate the interview as good as I can for you. http://www.gara.net/paperezkoa/20070803/31853/es/He-pasado-pensar-colgar-bici-correr-Tour

Ruben Perez

In his third year with the professionals, Ruben Perez has managed to get his master's degree. The man from Zaldibar showed his orange jersey in the tour, always in an escape. He is a cyclist with a lot of class and together with his combativity he became a protagonist in the stages to the Great Bornand, Plateau de Beille and Ghant, where he was only 3lm from the finish before he got caught again.

Ruben Perez is now 25 years old, but he wanted to quit cycling after his fifth year with the amateurs in 2003. Now he represents the future that Igor Gonzalez de Galdeano and Miguel Madariaga love in the new Euskaltel.

Yesterday Ruben ended a training with the team for Clasica San Sebastian. He thinks he's in a good shape but the examination will be saturday. After the Clasica he will go to the HEW Cyclassics in Hamburg and the Eneco Tour.

"Apparently, I already have the cyclist card" he assures, after he reached Paris in his first tour. "The Greatest Race, but I did it and I feel very proud" . He had ever overclassed his expectations"I went to the tour with the intention to do what I've done, but I never thought I would reach the finish that way, and for that reason I'm very contented."

In the three escapes, two times Ruben had to work for another companion, in the stage to the Great Bornand for Landaluze and to Platea-de-Beille for Txurruka. Only in Ghant he could do his own thing.

The opportunity from Orbea

The certain thing is that four years back little things lacked so Ruben wanted to quit cycling. By the amateurs he rode five seasons, all in the Olarra and always with victories, but in 2003 a virus ruined his illusions. When he thought he wouldn't get an opportunity, suddenly Team Orbea came up.

"In my fourth amateur year I got mononucleosis and I didn't heal well. In my fifth year I was much better but I thought things should go better so I thought about quitting with cycling. Untill Orbea gave me this opportunity and it was an incredible opportunity.

Three years later Ruben Perez is a consolidated cyclist but still misses his first victory. Gonzalez de Galdeano indicates him as one of the Euskaltel-pillars for the future.