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thewashingmachinepost interview

if you read through some of the other robert millar articles in this section, you'll find one entitled, a funny guy which came from a quote by one of robert's erstwhile team-mates, atle kvalsvoll. and he meant funny ha ha. in his latter days as a writer and bicycle road tester, the sense of humour was almost irrepressible - remarkably similar in this respect to twice british road champion, brian smith.

so how's robert nowadays? as he approaches his fiftieth birthday in september, is the humour still intact? is he still enjoying life? well, on the basis of the following, there are no fears on that score. i am eternally grateful to robert for this e-mail interview; you won't find anything about which sprocket he was in climbing guzet-neige - you'll find a lot more.

perhaps an unfair question, but does it give you a warm glow inside to know that people still hold robert millar in such high esteem?

I have to admit that I never knew I was held in esteem, so yes.

i remember phil ligget many years back commentating on marco pantani winning at alpe d'huez and saying that he could now be compared to the greats including yourself. as a cyclist, was pantani someone you admired?

I actually raced a few races with Pantani and though I wasn't riding well in those days, I did recognise the pure poetry of the man, he looked like he danced uphill which I always loved. A great rider and an inspiration to everyone who tries riding uphill.

do you still watch the tour de france on the telly?

I'll usually watch the highlights in the evening, or the last half hour live if possible.

any heroes, from any walk of life or anyone in the world you'd really still like to meet?

David Bowie, Johnie Depp.

in the days of your pro-cycling cycle tests, you had some really cool hairstyles. do you figure it's a sad fact that most of today's pros are so conservative in the barnet department?

They dont want helmet hair! Seriously, I can't imagine it's comfortable to have lots of hair under a crash hat for five hours a day.

in the issue of cycle sport edited by yourself, you advised getting a red colnago. bearing in mind thewashingmachinepost's highly prejudiced partiality for colnagos, would you still give the same answer today?

Yes, there's nothing cooler than a Colnago in a nice colour.

which would you consider to be the finest cycle jersey in today's peloton?

Caisse d'Epargne.

on the sunday ride (assuming you are partial to same) would you wear the braveheart tartan team kit?

I might - it's a bit in yer face though.

are you mechanically adept in the maintenance department, or are you happier with a following mavic car?

I can fix most things but parts don't wear out as quickly these days. Whether that's because I ride a lot less, or they are better made, is debatable.

any thoughts on the use of radios in the present day peloton?

Not a great fan of these, it removes the instant decision made by the rider.

have you ever tasted any of the islay malt whiskies?

I don't think I have .....yet.

any bottles of irn bru in the drinks cabinet?

Occasionally there are, but not at the moment. That could be fixed now I've been reminded.

you were always a fan of mtv's beavis and butthead which finished its run in 1997. do you miss it, or has your allegiance been transferred elsewhere?

I've had to grow up .....allegedly.

do you ever drag out a copy of 'the high life' every once in a while for a look?

No, I don't like watching myself.

apparently in the recent london-paris ride, stephen roche was the guy who nipped off the front on the first climb and split everyone apart. do you still have what brian smith referred to as 'muscle memory'?

Yes I think so. If I do lots of cycling I can feel that inner strength starting to come back, but I don't have a reason to cycle that much any longer.

coffee preference: espresso or cappuccino?

Both have their place.

you'll be fifty in september this year - what would be a good birthday present?

Ten years younger.

2009 will see the 25th anniversary of your king of the mountains win in the tour. any celebrations planned, even from a personal point of view?

Not really. I'm not nostaligic.

scots tennis player andy murray has already written his autobiography at the age of 21(!) any plans to do likewise, albeit at a slightly more mature age?

You mean by that more experienced - well I hope you do! No plans at present, but I have the title if I do.

are you still a vegetarian?

Yes, but not as focused as I was.

a few of today's top riders are either given, or give themselves nicknames (the cobra, the cricket etc.) any idea what you would have called yourself?

Diffi.

does it bug you when cycling publications spell your surname with an 'e' (ie miller)?

Yes. The correct Scottish spelling is with an "a"

posted on tuesday 15 july

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