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Uploaded by Colt McElwaine | December 13, 2009

Speakers: Jonathan Page

Categories: Post Race Interview

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15 comments

jerry 2 years ago

I think Matter restates what I was trying to say, perhaps more eloquantly:

Brian Matter, a Wisconsin-based racer making his second trip to Belgium, agreed with Driscoll about the strength of the competition. Its totally different coming over here and racing, he told us. In the US we are all kind of friends. There is pretty much no bumping after the first corner. I see a lot of guys get content to ride with familiar faces. Here it is completely opposite. You dont know anyone, youre bumping elbows for an hour, and its impossible to prepare for. The only way to prepare for this type of racing is to come over and race.

Marc 2 years ago

He does come across as a bit of a . He was in Bend this fall visiting family and raced our little after work cross series, and seemed like a really nice and personable guy. It was super cool to go line up behind and race at the same time as Page, Trebon, and a bunch of other current and former Mountain and Road pros. He passed me at least 3 times in the 45 minute race.

2 years ago

Dave, apparently you dont pay much attention to the results over there then

Dave 2 years ago

I'll say it again, wait until the other US riders hit the shores of Europe and the results will be far less flattering. I really wish this weren't true, but short of JPows's results over there as of recent years, the rest have been weak. Trebon just gets blown out of the water completely, yet he is a huge force in the States..The huge strain of travel plays a large part in this. Evidence the lack of punch with Page.

neguy 2 years ago

Jerry, Page and his wife are definitely some of the nicest people in person but he does seem to have a definite superiority complex. Erwin V. usually beats page in most of the euro races, this year at least, and even he had difficulty winning in the US this year. I really don't think US cross stepping up can be construed as anything but a good thing. I really wish the only US elite rider to stand on the World Championships podium would just say, 'wow I missed a lot in Europe this year these guys are flying and should be great competition in Europe later' Not manage to do an interview where the tone comes off: 'They beat me today but in Europe I'll wipe the floor with them because I'm just better'. As to being more intense in the moment, look at Jeremy Powers' interview. He looks absolutely crushed and lost a big chance at the win due to the bad luck of a crash, yet he still conducts one of the nicest most gracious interviews I have seen in a long time.

2 years ago

There in lies the problem that Page thinks he is better than the rest of the americans. When in actuality he isn't anymore. Yes he was better for a few years, but I dont think he has come to terms with the fact that everyone else has stepped it up as well and not he isn't winning in the US anymore. Before it was a forgone conclusion that he would win.

Jerry 2 years ago

that is a tough time to have a camera in your face, I thought he said what he felt and its clear he is in the moment, trying to put not winning back in the box in his head. He expects himself to win that race every time he lines up (as do the others) and the minute after you finish and did not manage to win it, it has to be tough mentally and you (he) has to face it, rationalize, and try to get back to the eye of the tiger the next weekend. So put it in that perspective. At least he is not just PC'ing it.

One thing about Page's interviews post race, and I know everyone always says what a he is based on these post race interviews (where are all the ones from the day before or after?), but one thing that comes across every time is that he takes it MUCH more seriously, internally/personally, then the other top guys. He is much harder on himself. Its like he just goddamn expects himself to win every time he lines up in the US and not a step lower. Every time. The other guys race against one another all year, win some, lose some, etc. and they seem comfortable with that balance. They are all part of the traveling circus, all "buds", all sort of hanging out, yah know? That is probably a much healthier place to be, true. But, its quite clear that Page aspires for much more than US based success, he expects Euro based success, whether he gets it or not. He effing expects it of himself. Period. So 2nd-3rd what ever in the US is absolutely not good enough for his personal standard.
That is why he is so driven. That is why he is living in Europe. That is why he puts himself through all that, beating his head against the wall, tilting at windmills, doing it along with his family unit, isolated from both the euros and his US support base back "home".
He is fighting to be the best of the best, whether its in his ability or not. He wants it and he expects it and he is hungry and driven for it. How else can you expect to achieve it if you don't have that mentality?
It most certainly does not make him a . It makes him a fighter who wont settle.

Dave Aukerman 2 years ago

But, is what he said not trute? The fact is, is that he the only American racer that is putting the amount of race time in Europe that he has over the past decade. A few NA races in the beginning of the season and then the Nats., otherwise it's all Euro racing. Brash, maybe, but watch the upcoming results of the top-10 in nats once they go to Europe vs. Page and the truth will show.

neguy 2 years ago

He comes off like a prick in this interview. It is also worth noting that Tim Johnson took several years off from cross to focus on the road, so Page's most podiums ever is at least partially a product of his competition not racing every year. Losing to Tim also seems to be the story of JP's career. He lost in 98 to Tim in the U23 race, lost to him in Kansas the year after, lost to him and Todd wells in Baltimore the year after, etc, etc

Jeff Kerton 2 years ago

I think what he wanted to say just didn't come out properly.

He was saying he should be happy because he got on the podium and he's been consistently hitting the box through his career, more then the other riders in fact. He felt, although disappointed, he should be proud of his accomplishments both past and present.

It actually may be the most thought out answer of any of the interviews.

karl hoppner 2 years ago

he was in spain so he would of had to go back to belgium then over to the states. He said it right. When they all line up in europe page will be the first north american. When you come over here and he hasnt played the tactical game in 4 weeks is a disadvantage. in gloucester da1 when it was strongest man wins he rode away the second day it was faster and more tactical he came third. Thats the way it works. yesterday was fast enough to be tactical

anon 2 years ago

So it was impossible to race the world cup and not come earlier? Like where was he monday, tuesday, wednesday? Apparently it took like 4 days for him to get there right? Did he take a boat?