German Know How Helps British Sprinters
July 19-23; Athens Olympic Velodrome
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World Sprint Star, Jan van Eijden, Helps GB Prepare for Major Championships
Jan spent the session working with the riders on the track and when off it, continued to go through what they had learnt on the track.
Being around riders of the calibre of Jan van Eijden, you can't help but enjoy the experience because as well as being a champion on the track, he is also a 'nice' guy off it. There was certainly a lot of laughter at Newport on and off the track as the German rider went through lots of various moves a sprinter has to be aware of.
This is the first time Jan has worked with the Great Britain team although he has had some experience teaching at his coach's training school. Jan has an impressive palmeres with two World titles, one in 1995 in the Team Sprint and again in the Sprint event at Manchester 2000. He was also 3rd in the Kilometre in 1996 (Manchester again), 2nd in the Team Sprint in 1997 and for five minutes he had a silver medal in the Keirin in 1998 until he was DQ'd. He has also been 5th and 4th at the Olympics and over all those years has learnt a lot from racing ath the highest level which he still does.
"I have been racing at the top for more than 12 years and I have never been the fastest one but I think I have been one of the smartest ones" he says of his career "and if I hadn't been so smart, I would not have had such success in sprinting. You look at the sprint right now, it is very tight. This year at the Worlds, there were 12 riders below 10.3 and if you see this level at how fast and close it is, then tactics will become more and more important. This year, Theo Bos was for sure, the strongest but also the smartest."
Seeing Jan working with the Juniors, you can sense he has their attention on and off the track. "It's easy working them because they still listen to you, and they can see that they can learn a lot by watching and listening. As people get older, they start to think I know everything but with these riders I can go onto the track and show them lots of little mistakes they do which an opponent can use against them."
"Coaching is also a challenge for me because I have been racing for 15 years so it is different but also lots of fun. And working with Iain, it works out well for the riders."
Jason Kenny keeps an eye on Jan as the German tries to outfox the youngster.
After a set of mock races on the track, the junior sprinters would sit down with Jan and go through the moves, good and bad, on the video screen.
Jan was also pleased to have the video to work with. "When we do a race, we can see it straight after and see what mistakes we make and visualise it. It's much better than just talking about it because lots of time riders have no imagination of what they have done so you tell them, but they do not know what it is. But by watching and analysing it on screen, this is a really good way."
"There is a big difference between now and when I was growing up. Then, during the summer, I would do at least one sprint competition a month against older riders where I would have to use tactics. Without them, I would have no chance, to win or even look good."
Jan is also happy to come to Britain which is only one and half hours from his home in Munich. "Everyone here is very friendly and working with them, they respect me and honour what I do to help them be better. Because of that it is very enjoyable to be here."
Jan is also quick to point out he hasn't retired and is still racing. "I am looking forward to doing the Nationals (Germany) in the middle of August and only take part in the Keirin where I will make it hard for my German colleagues. Then, after I will do the German Grand Prix's (which some of the British will be doing) and then I would like to come back and do the Revolutions."
As for retirement, he says that decision will probably come after his home Grand Prix (Dudenhofen) and after that he will decide. Whatever that decision, he does admit to wanting to stay in cycling and as well as working in the media which he did at this years World Track Championships, he also says he'd like to become a proper coach which was one of the reasons he came to Newport to see if he can do it. Judging from the riders reactions, he was certainly of great value to them and we may well see him back in Britain soon.
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Christian Lyte makes life difficult for his teacher...
Above and below: Jan was able to give all the riders a practical lesson in tactics around the boards of Newport.
