Paris-Roubaix was the last time we have seen Lars Michaelsen sliding through a rainy, muddy turn on a cobble stoned road in Northern France. Or in position amongst his colleagues in the peloton ahead of a steep climb in Tour of Flanders. Lars has chosen to end his long, great career as a professional rider and to do this with a grand performance in Paris-Roubaix was the best possible way for Lars to say goodbye – and thanks.

As a rider Lars Michaelsen was the very definition of the qualities needed to make it in the kind of races, he has become an expert in: The toughness, the slyness, the vision and the technical skills, which together make all the difference between success and failure. At the same time Lars has always been a realist, who is well aware of his limitations and who has achieved the maximum from his career: 25 victories and four times at the Olympics.

A smart journalist once wrote that the difference between a stage race specialist and a classics specialist is like the difference between a plough and a sword. The difference between the long, hard battle and the decisive moment, where everything comes together because a voice inside you says it's now or never. Lars mainly favored this last one in his approach to cycling.

Even though it kind of goes against his calm personality, his approach to racing a bike has more than anything been a well-considered sassiness. The ability to tag along, use his breaks a little less and squeeze through in order to secure his position in the break or the spot in the finale. Without these abilities it is virtually impossible to do well in the classics, and Lars either possessed them from the beginning or acquired them in record time, because he won Paris-Bourges during his first year as a pro and Gent-Wevelgem during his second.

He has achieved a well-earned status in the one-day races, which are so important for the cycling sport. Just as important as the Tour de France and the World Championships. Lars has fought his way into history with his results and his personality in general. With a passion and a know how, which spans from a minute knowledge of the routes, the turns, the pot holes, the wind and the weather in general to a vast knowledge of his own role and abilities.

Lars has never been known to shout about his abilities and ambitions - more the quiet, focused and realistic type.

But there is no doubt that the dreams have always been present. The ambitions have been intact from day one. From the fight to get a contract as a professional rider in his youth to the great seasons with the big international teams like Festina, TVM, La Francaise des Jeux, Coast - and for the last five seasons - Team CSC. Lars Michaelsen delivered a solid effort from the very first year as a pro and the foundation to one of the most respected cobble stone specialists of his generation was laid. But it was not the cobble stones alone, which created the basis for Lars' victories – he has won races across the globe: Europe, South Africa, Canada, Australia, Qatar and the States.

Lars has achieved a great reputation thanks to his amazing technique, and a lot of riders would probably prefer to sit on his wheel as the peloton approaches the Arenberg Forrest in Paris-Roubaix or the Oude Kwaremont in Tour of Flanders. The ability to foresee an accident before it occurs, to read the cobbles, to touch the breaks just enough to ensure that final, almost invisible place in the turn has been his trademark.

This is what makes the choice of Paris-Roubaix as his very last race as a pro so natural. A race, which has meant a lot to Lars, and which has been the main focal point for the final half of his career. He said goodbye with one last, brave attempt at the Queen of the Classics, where Team CSC took the ultimate triumph.

Lars was there for the entire day paving the way for Stuart O'Grady, who took the Team's second victory in a row. Most would probably agree that Lars himself would have ended on the podium after a dream race if it had not been for his crash. The very same thing happened in 2003, where he crashed 30 kilometers before the finish and had to see his podium spot slip away in the mud on the way to the Velodrome in Roubaix. He has achieved two fifth places in Paris-Roubaix and especially the one in 2005 will be remembered: A brilliant Paris-Roubaix, where he did fantastically and deserved so much more.

Lars is a craftsman by trade, which also translates into his career as an athlete: He knew his trade, was proud of it and acknowledged the value of pure hard work. An attitude, which has earned him respect and made him a much-liked teammate and colleague.

As the most natural thing in the world Lars has passed down his vast knowledge to the young riders on the team during his long career. And the Team CSC riders continue to benefit from the extensive feedback, Lars has provided on the equipment and the status, Team CSC has achieved as a team with the very best gear for the toughest races. And the team can also look forward to benefiting from his passion and experience, when he will be starting down a new path in his career with Riis Cycling in the near future.

 

 

As reported yesterday X-Bionic started a poll about their collaboration with Jan Ullrich.  Cyclingheroes spoke with X-Bionic press officer Stefan Wild ,who told us that X-Bionic will not stop it's collaboration with Jan Ullrich. The comnpany published a statement today on their website today in which the company says: "There is no way at all, that the poll puts the partnership in question or that the sponsor is 'plagued by doubts' ." The statement continues with: "We do not understand why the media is calling for a witch-hunt of Jan Ullrich and condemns our decisions, in that they make claims that are not entirely right. It gives the impression that Jan Ullrich is to be 'sacrificed' and his economic foundation pulled away."