Q&A: Love of Cycling Runs in Vande Velde Family

When Lemont native Christian Vande Velde crossed the finish line last month at his ninth Tour de France, he was greeted by his mentor and greatest supporter—his dad.

John Vande Velde broke into the cycling world long before his 35-year-old son began racing professionally at age 16. John competed in two Olympics (1968 and 1972) and had a small role in Breaking Away, a 1979 film about an Indiana teen obsessed with competitive cycling.

Christian finished the Tour de France last month in 17th place overall, and secured a team victory with Garmin-Cervelo. This year marked his seventh finish. He was part of Lance Armstrong's winning U.S. Postal Service team in the 1999, finishing fourth in 2008 and eighth in 2009.

Patch caught up with John Vande Velde shortly before he headed to Paris for the Tour finale.

Lemont Patch: How were you first introduced to cycling?

John Vande Velde: I really got into cycling because of my dad and uncle, who raced a long time ago before being interrupted by war. There was always a deep love of cycling in our family, and that eventually carried over to Christian.

Patch: When did Christian first show an interest in the sport?

Vande Velde: He was interested very early on but I was so worried about letting him start too soon. I've seen so many great junior racers put everything into their sport, and they end up burning out before they have a chance to really go anywhere or make money. By the time Christian was 16, though, he was starting to race competitively.

Patch: When did you first realize how talented Christian was?

Vande Velde: I think we knew fairly early on that he was going to go very far. He has an incredible work ethic. He trains hard and he's very disciplined in his diet and how he takes care of himself—even in the off-season. He deserves every success he has had.

Patch: What is it like watching your son compete at the Tour de France and other top races?

Vande Velde: July is a rough month for me. I always wake up very nervous about the possibility of Christian crashing. It's difficult following his career, in that sense. But I love to watch him. He's worked very hard and now he's competing with the best of the best. It's a curse and a blessing.

Patch: Cyclists competing in the Tour de France typically race 100 miles or more for three weeks straight. How does the body recover from something like that?

Vande Velde: These guys are the best athletes in the world. No one comes close to them physically. Picture running a marathon for three weeks and you might have some idea of how difficult that would be for the average person. But they do it. It amazes me every time I watch.

Patch: This Tour de France was pretty difficult for Christian. After crashing five times by the end of the first week, how was he able to bounce back?

Vande Velde: I think he had a little hesitation after the first week, which is normal considering the falls he took. But he's strong and he had the mentality that no matter how many times he fell, he would get right back up. I was a nervous wreck, but he really took it in stride. He's so professional in that way—always doing his job.

Patch: The Tour seemed to be difficult for many riders this year, considering the rain and multiple crashes. How do riders get in the right mindset?

Vande Velde: It's mind over matter. They're going 28 mph, riding across the mountains and making steep descents. It's dangerous but they're professionals and it's their job.

Patch: What do you think of Christian's overall performance this year? Was it disappointing that he couldn't finish as high in the standings as in years past?

Vande Velde: I think this year was about teamwork. Christian fell behind pretty early on, so his team's leader was established. Christian is a consummate professional, so he took on that supportive role. He's used to that, because that's how it was when he rode with [Lance Armstrong].

Of course it's disappointing, because I think we both know he's capable of a top 10 finish. At the end of the day, though, he rode for his team and he did it well. It all worked out, and I'm so proud of him.