Andrew Talansky is part of the next generation of American riders making a name for himself in some of the biggest races. But it all might have gone a completely different direction if he had grown up near the beach!
What is your first memory involving a bicycle?
Learning to ride down the street; taking the training wheels off — that’s the first memory I have. I think I made it for a little while… I remember that day and that I was happy at the end of it!
If you were not a pro cyclist, what career do you think you would have pursued?
Journalism. Probably world affairs — traveling around and embedding myself in different places or cultures and writing about it.
It ranges, when I want easy reading a lot of fiction like John Grisham novels. I read a lot of biographies. When I want a real book I’ll pick up a biography of people I find interesting.
What is your favorite race and why?
It’s either Tour de Romandie or Tour d’lain… well, it has to be Tour de Romandie. My first top-ten and I have good memories of that, and it treated me well again this year. But it’s the most beautiful place I have ever raced in — stunning. And the course they come up with are beautiful, so that’s why it’s my favorite race.
Is there a little known fact about you?
If I have lived somewhere that had waves I would have become a surfer and would have never started riding a bike, ever. I still go surfing every winter.
This leads to the next question, what do you do to relax and get away from the bike?
I never [surf] during the season, it would never work. But those couple of weeks that I get to go away I usually go to Maui. It’s the most, more than cycling or anything. that gives you a rush and that I can still get a rush out of. You feel very connected to nature while you are doing it — just a board and yourself out in the ocean.
When you have been on the road for a while what do you do first when you get home?
Regardless, kiss my girlfriend and then have a HOME COOKED MEAL! Doesn’t matter if I’ve been gone for two days or two weeks, something nutritious. Usually Mexican food; if we are over in Europe we’ll make Mexican at home. You can get everything you need for it in Spain but can’t get it anywhere. So sit down with a nice glass of wine.
if it’s back here in the U.S. we’ll go back to Napa and go out to a nice dinner at one of the restaurants with a nice bottle of wine.
