Roland Green has come out of the woodwork and captured a worldwide audience. He joins the respected ranks of rare North American cyclists such as John Tomac, Juli Furtado, Greg LeMond, Lance Armstrong, and Alison Sydor. Last year saw Green race more mountain-bike events than any of his other teammates at Trek-Volkswagen. on top of winning two World Cup events, the overall World Cup Series title, the National Championships, the World Championships, and the NORBA NCS overall title, he also finished 14th at the World Championships Time Trial!
Since then, Green can no longer just think about racing his next race and just riding his bike. Publicity, traveling, a social life, personal interests, and training-all have to be prioritized. Most of us could learn a lesson or two from this champion. He manages his training, racing, publicity, social life, and personal interests by doing just so. The first time I spoke with Green he had to cut the interview short. “Dinner's ready, they're calling me. If you're late for dinnerSthat's a very bad thing!” We laughed. Yet despite the spontaneity of my call, Green managed to speak with me for 15 minutes before he had to split. Within the past 24 hours, he had been to Seattle, Wash., and back, met with Steve Naish of the Mavericks, answered the numerous emails and phone calls that he gets on a regular basis, and he was having guests over for dinner. I was impressed. We agreed to talk the next day.
Green likes to do things differently. New goals and new challenges are on the agenda this year. He is peaking for this year's Commonwealth Games, which will be held in Manchester, England. A close step down from the Olympics, Green plans to do well in both the time-trial and the mountain-bike event. He is also aiming to win the World Championship title in the time trial at the 2003 Hamilton venue. He will ride on the road with the United States Postal Service team in 2002 at select events, including Redlands, CoreStates, and the San Francisco GP. Also on the schedule are all of the World Cup MTB events, as well as most, if not all, of the NORBA NCS events, which he will ride under the Trek-Volkswagen colours.
After a successful five-year career as a road racer, Green made the switch to mountain biking in 1996. In his first year of mountain-bike racing, he won several Canada Cup races and the National title. Later in 1996, he made headlines when he led the u23 World Championship race, only to flat and come in fourth. To this day, Green acknowledges and appreciates that the organizers of the Canada Cup series helped make his transition to the international scene a little easier for everyone.
In 1997, Green was seventh at the World Mountain Bike Championships and second at Nationals. In 1998, he started competing more regularly on the World Cup Mountain Bike circuit (three in one year), and placed 66th overall. That 66th went to 33rd overall in 1999, and 10th overall in 2000. In 2000, Green gained more international recognition, finishing fourth at the World Cup season opener at Napa Valley, 14th at the Sydney Olympics, and then second at the World Championships in Spain. That silver medal was Canada's first in the men's cross-country.
Green has been his own coach since day one (roughly about 1991). Over the years, he has taken advice and tips from other coaches such as Elmar Bertelsen, Ron Hayman, and, most recently, Dean Gollich. Digging into science and health books have also helped him to learn more about training techniques, nutrition, health, and rest. He is considering a career in sport medicine after he retires.
Last year, Green started his 2001 season with an 11th-place finish at Napa Valley. Two stops later, at the third leg of the series in Houffalize, Belgium, he became Canada's first man to win a World Cup event. The rest, as they say, is history.
Expect more surprises in 2002 from this champion; he has more up his sleeve. After years of training, racing, and dedication, Green has everything in check. His lifestyle, his diet, peaking, training, and race schedule-all are part of a bigger plan. Everything happens for a reason (except for those naughty flat tires). You could say he is on top of the world. Try to knock him down-it won't be easy.