Get To Know Team Garmin-Sharp Cyclist Andrew Talansky

Team Garmin-Sharp rider, Andrew Talansky, is part of the next generation of American riders and making a name for himself in some of the biggest races. But it all might have gone a completely different direction if he had grown up near the beach!

What is your first memory involving a bicycle?

Learning to ride down the street; taking the training wheels off — that's the first memory I have. I think I made it for a little while… I remember that day and that I was happy at the end of it!

If you were not a pro cyclist, what career do you think you would have pursued?

Journalism. Probably world affairs — traveling around and embedding myself in different places or cultures and writing about it.

What kind of books to you read?

It ranges, when I want easy reading a lot of fiction like John Grisham novels. I read a lot of biographies. When I want a real book, I'll pick up a biography of people I find interesting. 

What is your favorite race and why?

It's either Tour de Romandie or Tour d'lain… well, it has to be Tour de Romandie. My first top-ten and I have good memories of that, and it treated me well again this year. But it's the most beautiful place I have ever raced in — stunning. And the course they come up with are beautiful, so that's why it's my favorite race.

Is there a little known fact about you?

If I have lived somewhere that had waves I would have become a surfer and would have never started riding a bike, ever. I still go surfing every winter.

This leads to the next question, what do you do to relax and get away from the bike?

I never surf during the season, it would never work. But those couple of weeks that I get to go away, I usually go to Maui.

What is it about surfing that you love so much?

It gives me the most rush, more than cycling or anything, and it's one of the few things I can still get a rush out of. You feel very connected to nature while you are doing it — just a board and yourself out in the ocean. 

When you have been on the road for a while what do you do first when you get home?

Kiss my girlfriend and then have a HOME COOKED MEAL! Doesn't matter if I've been gone for two days or two weeks, something nutritious. Usually Mexican food; if we are over in Europe we'll make Mexican at home. You can get all the ingredients you need for it in Spain but can't find a restaurant anywhere. Then, we'll sit down with a nice glass of wine. 

If it's back here in the U.S., we'll go back to Napa and go out to a nice dinner at one of the restaurants with a nice bottle of wine. 

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