Bobby Julich

Bobby Julich has announced today his retirement from the sport of cycling. He certainly wasn’t an Eddy Merckx but he was no slouch either. Some highlights of his career include 3rd place in the ‘98 Tour de France, a bronze medal in the ‘04 Olympics, and winning Paris Nice in ‘05. Of course, I wish he could have won more and I wish he was more aggressive. I watched him in the ‘98 TdF and he rode like an animal possessed! Where did that energy go?

Go Bobby, go!

Bobby rode clean (or at least he never got caught) unlike “champions” such as Bjarne Riis, Marco Pantani, and, with evidence mounting against him, Jan Ullrich. Riding clean in a peleton litered with drugs and needles is an achievement by itself. Remember, Bobby was around for the ‘98 Festina and the ‘06 Operacion Puerto scandals. I’m sure almost every pro cyclist is tempted to use drugs or medicine. The questions are is legal and will I get caught? Miguel Indurain used salbutamol in 1994 which wasn’t banned yet. If it wasn’t banned then is it still doping? Salbutamol is a bit more potent than just an average multivitamin.

If I had to show my son what success translates to into in the world of cycling, I would not hesitate to name Bobby Julich as a role model for him. Perhaps that will Bobby Jullich’s legacy to the next generation of riders.

Thanks, Bobby!