Photo by Luke Seemann
CBR interview: Ryan Freund
There are two reliable ways to make an appearance in the Chicago Bike Racing annual photo calendar.
One is to ride aggressively. Attack, get in a break, lead the way. I can’t take your picture if you’re hiding from the wind.
The other is to show some emotion. Grimace. Snarl. Smile a little. Pretend you’re having fun out there.
It’s no surprise, then, that Ryan Freund (Verizon u25) made three appearances in this year’s road calendar, including the glamorous cover shot. He’s not afraid to give it a go off the front, and he’s not intimidated by the company of pros, as he showed at last year’s Evanston Grand Prix and Chicago Criterium.
And he’s almost always baring his teeth. Snarl, smile, take your pick.
The 24-year-old Freund has rocketed through the ranks, having started racing only in 2008. After short stints in the 4’s and 3’s, he started his Cat 2 career in 2009 by placing in the Top 10 in all four stages of the prestigious Joe Martin Stage Race in Arkansas.
Now this structural engineer starts 2010 with a fresh squad, the newly announced Verizon u25 powered by ABD, where he’ll be surrounded by some of the best young talent in the Midwest.
I recently checked in with Freund to learn more about how he’s achieved so much in such little time.
Before cycling you played football at Elmhurst College. How would you characterize your collegiate career?
Versatile maybe? It was fun, very competitive and sometimes wish I could play again.
I started at quarterback my sophomore year and rotated time with a teammate. Then I bulked up and moved to “Athlete” my junior year. I was scheduled to play tight end but the starting quarterback got injured so I partly moved back and rotated with the other back up. I ended up playing some quarterback, tight end, wide receiver and running back, all in the same game. Senior year was tight end and receiver.
Does cycling have anything in common with football?
I get this question a lot from guys I used to play with in college and honestly, no, not really. There is strategy and athletic ability involved in both but in completely different ways. There is one parallel: If everyone on the team is willing to sacrifice for each other and buy into a one-for-all philosophy, then you will have a successful team.
Who got you into racing?
Lance Armstrong (RadioShack) or Jan Ulrich? Actually, no, it was more Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen. Every July I would watch the Tour and try to find a $10 bike at a garage sale to ride for a week or two. But having said that, Wayne Simon (Verdigris) made me a bike racer.
How did you make Wayne’s acquaintance? How’s he helped you?
A family friend, Renee Broaddus, told me to meet him on a group ride. Our first words were: “Hey, greenhorn, quit messin’ up the paceline. Pull through easy and stay tight!” He’s helped me a ton. He coaches my training and even more important he helps me mentally with tactics and such.
Is there a rider, either amateur or pro, whom you model yourself after?
Fabian Cancellara (Saxo Bank) and Davide Rebellin and now Matt Busche (RadioShack). What a beast. Unless I’m doing 3x20’s or attacking from the gun, in which case I would say more John Meyers (Verizon u25).
Tell me about your first races. What did you learn from them?
My first race was Winfield Criterium, which was my hardest perceived effort to date, mostly because I tried to lead every lap. Spring Prairie may have been my first road race and was my second most disappointing race to date. I saw the break go and didn’t know about the yellow-line rule, so I used the other lane and bridged up, but was told to go back when I got there. I then tried to bring the break back with whoever would work at the front, but no one wanted to work.
What’s been your most satisfying result so far?
Maybe my overall at the Joe Martin or 3rd at the Arlington Heights Superweek race, but I felt I could have done better at both. So the most satisfying would be Hillsboro-Roubaix last year because it was the first time I rode more than 75 miles consecutively. I really wasn’t sure if I could make it that far.
I can’t believe Hillsboro was your longest ride to date. That’s contrary to the standard training dogma of frequent 5-hour death marches, especially in the pre-season. Do you do more endurance now?
Yeah, I didn’t have that much time to ride that long. I mean, I would ride hard for 2-3 hours, sometimes on the trainer, and I had some specific work-outs. I do some longer stuff now. Whenever I can I will try to get a long ride in. But really it’s just being able to go hard when no one else wants to.
Tell me about Evanston this year. You `It’s just being able to go hard when no one else wants to.’were in the break and looking good amongst some pretty elite company, including Mike Friedman (Jelly Belly), but then suddenly you weren’t there. What happened?
This was my most disappointing moment in my sports career except for maybe when I lost the Heavyweight Super Bowl, throwing 5 interceptions. (The Heavyweight Super Bowl was our Pop Warner Super Bowl when I was in 8th grade.)
I could talk about what went wrong all day, but basically I always feel obligated to do work in the break, but I was fed up with a Fly V Australia making me close a gap for him while he did no work. So I refused and he didn’t care, and we went backwards.
How did the Verizon u25 squad come together?
Billy Dwyer and Mark Swartzendruber of the Verizon Wireless masters team were interested in supporting the young guys they saw around the Chicago area, so near the end of last season they approached Mike Ebert and ABD about it because of ABD’s history of sending riders to the pros.
Do you have aspirations to go pro?
That’s a good question. My plan was to graduate, try to become a pro bike racer while working part time for the family business and try to find a structural-engineering job in the suburbs. I didn’t think opportunity would present itself in this economy. However, it did so I had to take it. I still don’t want to give up cycling so if an opportunity presents itself I will have a decision to make.
Has Swartzendruber cooked for you yet? I hear he’s quite the chef.
No, but I do love eating. I actually gained 5 pounds at a four-day stage race. (TMI?)
Will there be a race director guiding you along?
Only the best, Mike “I use more technology than you” Ebert.
During races, how closely will you be allied with your elders on Verizon and ABD? Put another way: When I get in that break with you, Josh Carter and Swartzendruber, will it be every man for himself, or is it going to be Goldilocks against the three bears? (Note: It was after this interview that I learned that Carter, formerly with ABD, will be riding for Team Hotel San Jose this season.)
That is a very good question, but if you’re in a break with Josh and you want to win, well than you’ve already made mistake one.
In all seriousness, should we consider you and ABD or Verizon to be one team on the road, or has that not been sorted out yet?
ABD will be the presenting sponsor, and we will work with the ABD team.
I sensed that Carter took you under his wing a bit this year. What kind of things did he teach you?
Josh is a great guy: laid back but aggressive and very competitive. One thing I tried to learn from him was how he was able to stay in the top 15 places of the race and would exert less energy than anyone else in doing so. Mostly where, when and how to stick your bars into tight spots.
What races are you looking forward to in 2010? Will you guys be traveling to any stage races? Nationals in Bend?
Not completely sure about the stage races yet. Unfortunately I don’t think I will be able to do nationals because I’m getting married June 26 and I believe that is the same time, so… (Love you, Tiff.)
What’s your winter regimen like? Are you a gym rat? Do you brave the elements?
Gym rat. I still love the weight room and maybe some indoor flag football. As for the elements, I never did like playing in the cold.
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