BMX
Mania -
Bas, what's up over there in OrangeLand'
Bas -
Hey Jerry, it is really orange, since the European
Soccer Championships start today the whole of Holland
turns orange.
BMX Mania -
Hey,
can you give us a heads up on your nominations for the
Dutch Olympic Team'
Bas –
Over
the last 2 seasons Dutch riders could qualify themselves
for the O.G. by meeting certain criteria. These criteria
could be met at UCI Supercross races and at the UCI
World Championships. Six riders met these criteria,
Robert De Wilde, Raymon Van Der Beizen, Rob Van
Wildenberg, and Martijn Scherpen in the men's and Lieke
Klaus and Willy Kanis in the women's.
We had
set up an internal ranking system made of the results of
the SX races in '07 and '08. The first man and woman to
go to the O.G. are the highest ranked on the UCI
individual ranking '08, after the recent UCI Worlds
those were Robert and Lieke. The remaining 2 spots for
the guys were given to the number's 1 and 2 in our
internal ranking, which are Raymon and Rob. Martijn got
3rd in that ranking and is the alternate.
BMX Mania –
You have had one of the strongest national teams in the
history of BMX, was it difficult to trim the team down
to three men and one woman'
Bas –
To a certain extent, sure, it was difficult 'cause I
have been working with these guys and
girls intensely over the last 3 years, and you bond with
them, and then it is hard to "pick" riders, for in this
case, the Olympic Games. But I have to be honest to
myself and the riders, we knew we only had 3 spots and
there are 9 guys on the team, so choices needed to be
made. Also, we had set up the above explained
system which kind of left it to the riders themselves
whether or not they would make the cut.
BMX Mania –
What’s it been like to have such a great group of riders
under your care and coaching'
Bas –
It has been an experience like no other. I don't think I
could have wished for a group that was more motivated
and driven to improve themselves as this group. Although
BMX is an individual sport, I think it made all the
individuals stronger by working as a team as we did.
BMX
Mania –
How’s the excitement level going in to the Olympics on
the team'
Bas –
The announcing of BMX becoming an Olympic sport has made
a big impact on BMX, all of a sudden there were these
coaches and federations trying to change how these
athletes should train or how to go about their sport.
For some
I'm sure this was going too fast and is way beyond the
BMX lifestyle, but every athlete with a right mind knows
that the Olympics is were you want to be as an athlete.
So, if you have been working as hard as these guys did
over the last 3-4 years, and you know you made the cut
to go there, I think you're exited as you'll ever be.
You should be.
BMX Mania –
Will the National Team Program continue next year'
Bas –
Most likely it will. In what way will depend on a few
things. The UCI point system in regard to the London
Games could be a factor in all this.
BMX Mania –
Thanks, Bas, it’s been a pretty wild ride, huh' Who
would have thought back when you were “riding high” in
BMX, back in the "day", that you’d end up coaching a
national team and going to the Olympics'
Bas –
I for sure didn't even think for a moment (back in
the 80's and early 90's)
that
BMX would make it into the Olympics, let alone
me
being the national coach.
But
it did make it into the Olympics, and I enjoy every
minute of coaching these guys.
BMX Mania –
Congratulations and continued success to you and the
Super Successful Team NL!
