5 questions with Jeff Louder

Jeff Louder has been a professional cyclist for 10 years and raced in several of the biggest races in the world including a spot in this spring's Paris-Roubaix. Last August, on the familiar roads of his native Utah, Louder beat more than 100 of America's top road cyclists to win the Tour of Utah. Starting Tuesday, he'll shoot for a repeat. Deseret News reporter Jared Eborn got a chance to sit down with the BMC Pro Cycling team member between some of his epic training sessions.

Question: You've won plenty of races in the past. How big was winning the 2008 Tour of Utah?

Answer: It was a long time coming before I got to this point where I could try to win a stage race ... So to have the chance to win a race of this stature, on the roads I've grown up riding, it was pretty special. The Tour of Utah might not be the biggest race in the country, but because of the race itself, and how hard it is, it's one of those races almost everyone has circled on their calendar. It's probably the closest thing to a classic European stage race we have in America and everyone wants to show they can compete well in a tough race like that. So, for me to win it last year, that was really special.

Question: Pro bike racing is a team sport, but a lot of people don't understand that. In a nutshell, explain it for the casual fan.

Answer: In cycling, it's really pretty complex at this level. It's not just man against man on each individual day. There are so many different agendas and objectives every day. One day you might all work to help someone win a stage, other days you are trying to protect your top rider. And then you might just want to get out in a breakaway and give your sponsors some exposure. In the end, yes, we all want to win. But usually your goal is different every day depending on what your team's need is.

Question: You raced Paris-Roubaix this year. How did that go for you?

Answer: Besides the Tour (de France), it's probably the second biggest race in the world. It was just an honor to be able to start it. But it was hard. In a race like that, you have to be really good and have perfect luck. I didn't have very good luck and my bike didn't hold up very well. But I learned a lot just from the time I was in it. I hope I get another chance to race it.

Question: The Tour of Utah bills itself as 'America's Toughest Stage Race.' What makes it so?

Answer: There are some pretty amazing races in America. But none of them have the mountains that the Tour of Utah has. It's really like a mini-Tour de France with the way some of the stages are designed. The race is getting bigger, and more people want to race it.

Question: Do you feel any pressure to repeat as Tour of Utah champion?

Answer: There's definitely pressure. I want to win, but I don't have to win except for my own pride. I'd be happy if someone from my team won. I'd be very happy if Burke (Swindlehurst) won. He and I have been racing together for a long time. So if I can't win I wouldn't complain one bit if he did.