VeloNation continues our series of interviews with the movers and shakers behind pro cycling’s rider transfer market, and whilst names like Orlando van den Bosche and Andrew McQuaid represent the big players in the world of cycling agencies, there are others in the marketplace quietly doing a job for their riders on a personal, lower key basis.
North Californian, Robert Nichols is a relative newcomer to the game, and represents three very different professional riders. A former professional himself, Nichols puts his experience to work for his clients, and discusses how he got into the business, and some of the recent developments in the sport.
VeloNation: You raced yourself, Robert?
Robert Nichols: I raced as an amateur in France in 1986 then as a pro with Pepsi Cola – Alba Cucine – Fanini in Italy for season 1987.
There weren’t a lot of US guys in Europe at that time – [Greg] LeMond and 7-Eleven were the big names.
I wasn’t at the level of the 7-Eleven guys but I got to ride Milan-Sanremo, GP Frankfurt and the Pays Basque, maybe I didn’t realise at the time but it was a great experience.
I couldn’t get a contract for 1988 and even then was thinking about that aspect of the cycling world; if you were good it was easy to get a contract but if you weren’t so good then it was very hard.
VN: What lead you to represent riders, now?
RN: I’m a physical therapist and prior to the Tour of California in 2008 I met Swiss rider Rubens Bertogliati [former Tour de France stage winner and yellow jersey holder and current Swiss elite time trial champion]; he stayed with me and came on rides with our club.
He was supposed to sign for the stillborn H20 team for 2009 and after that I said to him; ‘Rubens it’s gonna be hard for you to get a contract,’ so I put out his resume, made phone calls, sent emails and we got him the ride with Diquigiovanni.
VN: Rubens rides for Team Type 1 this year; that was a surprise.
RN: It all just fell into place, I approached Phil Southerland at Type 1 and they were looking for good European riders.
The team have big ambitions for 2011, they want to go to Pro Continental level and have already been in discussion with the Giro organisation.
One of the sponsors with Type 1 is Sanofi-Aventis, a global pharmaceuticals company based in Switzerland, and with Rubens being Swiss champion it was a natural fit.
It’s not unusual for European riders to come to race in the US towards the end of their careers, but I think that Rubens has been overlooked by Euro teams. He’s one of the strongest domestiques out there.
He was second to Matt Lloyd in a stage of the Giro this year, and on the stage where the huge break went, he was in it but dropped back to work for Scarponi.
He’ll continue to live in Europe, though, because the team has a lot of ambitions on the other side of the Atlantic.
A thing I’ve said a few times is that the budget of some of the US Continental teams is more or less what the budget is for a Euro Pro Continental team.
VN: You have two other riders, both on the ProTour.
RN: I have 2008 Canadian elite road champion, Christian Meier, who’s with Garmin and British rider Tom Faiers who’s with Footon.
There are big changes at Garmin with the Cervelo merger and whilst it’s OK for the big riders it’s harder for the not so big riders.
But we’re working closely with Jonathan Vaughters on Christian’s future and hope to have a resolution, soon. [Meier signed with UnitedHealthcare for 2011 just after the interview]
Tom has had a problem with his heart and he’s in the middle of medical tests at the moment, but hopefully there will be a place for him in 2011.
But what I always say to the guys is; ‘it’s not a contract ‘til the ink is dry on the paper!’
Jonathan Vaughters and Mauro Gianetti are good guys though, they have time to talk to you and are open in their dealings, but not everyone is like that in cycling. I often wish folks would just say, ‘no’ instead of stringing you along.
VN: How does team management take to you announcing; ‘I’m so-and-so’s agent?’
RN: I’ve had no problems, but I knew the managers before I started to work with my riders, so that helped.
VN: What are your opinions on the UCI rules around rider transfer?
RN: I think that the UCI should have a list of recognised trustworthy agents; young riders should be careful because there are guys who if a young rider dealt with them, it would be like the wolf taking them into the barn!
I’ve never seen one but I’ve heard some folks talk about contracts where riders have ‘signed for life.’
There’s supposed to be a pension provision in rider contracts, but some teams try to duck that; and if you’re a 23 year-old rider it’s not something you’ll really be thinking about – you just want to race.
I think that the ‘buy out’ clauses in contracts should be looked at, in the light of the Bradley Wiggins/Sky negotiations, last year.
And I think that there should be a rule in place that makes it compulsory - by say the middle of August - that the team tells the rider whether or not his contract will be renewed and not keeping them hanging on until the end of October.
VN: How often do you talk to your riders?
RN: Usually every two or three weeks, but at this time of year sometimes two or three times each day.
That’s one of the complaints you hear from riders on big teams, that they don’t actually get the chance to talk to top management all that much and communication could be improved.
VN: What’s the worst part of your job?
RN: Not getting a rider what they need.
It’s not just the contracts with the team I organise, I’ll also organise individual sponsorships; for example, Rubens will be riding Louis Garneau shoes for 2011.
VN: What are your ultimate goals as an agent?
I’d like to have Grand Tour stage winner on my books; but I don’t see me ever having more than five to ten clients – I want to make sure I give them personal service and meet their needs.
And I want to give the riders as long a career as possible; I think that the average pro rides at that level for only three or four years. I’d like to prolong that for my riders, get them a contract when maybe they wouldn’t have been able to get one themselves.