How Pavel Vorzhev wanted to finish his career, but in the end he became the number one sprinter in the Kazakhstani cycle track”

The cycle track in Kazakhstan is gradually reaching a new level. New methods of training, the conditions necessary for qualitative results in the international arena. This allowed the team to achieve completely different goals: ambitious, serious. Those that previously seemed something fantastic. For example, participation in the Olympics in the sprint.

In other types of cycle track, a similar bar was taken. Artem Zakharov spoke at the 2016 Games. And now sprinters are on the way, where Pavel Vorzhev is the leader. This is by far the best Kazakhstani sprinter. However, some time ago, the athlete was on the verge of leaving the sport. In an interview with Olympic.kz, Vorzhev recalls that difficult period, talks about the main successes, and also notes positive changes in the Kazakhstani cycle track.

— Pavel, what is the current season for you?

— While it is difficult to judge, since the season has not yet ended. In the track, in principle, the season never ends (laughs). All time races, races, races, a set of points. In general, everything is going well. The main goal this year was the Asian Games. But before the Asian Games at the China Cup, I was seriously injured and could not show the maximum that I can do.

— What result was expected to show on the Asian Games, if not for the injury?

— In the conditions of such intense competition, anyone who goes to the start can be a winner, because any slightest movement, some tiny mistake, has a great effect. Many have injuries, with heavy loads they can make themselves felt. Who better recovered before an important start - he has a better chance of winning.

— What is your most successful performance this year?

— The Asian Championship, probably (became the first racer in the history of the Kazakhstan sprint, who was able to overcome the 10-second mark in the 200-meter race). And the World Cup in France - there drove the seventh in the keirin. Yes, seventh place is a small final, but it was a victory. In this race, I beat the world champion Matthew Glazer. It was very bright and memorable.

— And what is the most successful outcome for your career?

— Just the same result on the World Cup. Yes, I have medals from international competitions, from continental ones, but at this World Cup there was competition among the strongest, all the elite gathered. And I took the 7th place.

— In Kazakhstan, the sprint on the cycle track remained in the shadow for quite a long time and you caught this period. Tell me how it was?

— We did not have a coach, there was no systematic training. Everyone prepared himself. There was no such thing that centrally sprinters gathered and went according to a certain plan. It used to be like this - they trained for a month, then they dismissed everyone, they all went home. Who wants what, that and is engaged. Someone does nothing at all.

— After all, you seriously thought about leaving the sport. What gave the strength to continue?

— I love my job and I want to do it to the last. There are certain ambitions, goals. At that time there was no support, it was difficult. I understood that time is ticking, but I have nothing behind me. Now, fortunately, everything has changed. There were interested people, first of all, this is our coach (author's note - Valentin Savitsky), who is trying to convey that the cycling track sprint is an important and medley-intensive sport.

— What inspires you so much in cycling?

— I live it. Days without training, without a track, without racing for me are unbearable. I do not know what to do. I can sit for a day.

— The course for serious development of sprint disciplines in cycling on the track was taken two years ago. What has changed over the past couple years?

— Much has changed. There was a system with a plan for the years ahead. There are charges. There are new athletes in the team. Earlier, in fact, there were two of us in Kazakhstan - Zaki Sultanov and I. Now in the sprint there are new faces. The approach to training, of course, has changed dramatically.

— Cyclists at the very beginning of their careers often choose the highway than the track or MTB, because the highway in Kazakhstan is a more developed sport. If we talk about cycling on the track, again, preference is given to the pace, rather than the sprint. Do you think you yourself, is there any sense to the young men and girls to go to the sprint?

— Of course have. Now has a very strong development. Every year more sprinters. By the way, it is not only in Kazakhstan. This is generally a global trend. Why are the Dutch so successful? At the last World Cup in France, they put one team into the team sprint and won, and at the second World Cup they came with two teams and took first and second place. If they add two more riders, they can take the whole pedestal. That is, in Holland more competitive athletes. And we do not have enough people. In Russia, for example, Tula and St. Petersburg are considered to be the sprint forge. In Tula at 8 am, the children are already engaged on the track, and they are trained purposefully for the sprint.

— Since we are talking about training - how are the sprinter's everyday life?

— To tell everything - you will need a lot of time. In general terms - training twice a day, all year round, one day off - on Monday.

— How long is your vacation?

— Over the past two years, vacation was not. Happened such that rested a maximum of five to seven days. Not longer. But rest days mean that I change my occupation. I train in the gym, for example. In the summer we can go on the highway - for aerobic training. Or I train as usual, but not twice a day, but every other day.

— How do you prefer to spend a single day off?

— Just do nothing. Get enough sleep.

— What kind do you prefer?

— None I go all. I like all kinds - both individual and team.

— Let's go back to the World Cups. The past World Cup in France was the first competition where you could earn points for a license to participate in the Olympics. What are the chances of being selected for the Olympics?

— Last was easier to select than this. The selection system has changed. Previously, it was possible to select from the continent, somehow, now there is no such thing. Complicated system. Now you need to drive the World Cup. It is necessary to get in the Olympic ranking in the top 14 best racers of the planet in individual species on the basis of participation in the World Cup, Asian Championships and World Championships. This is a feasible task. The stages of the World Cup this year I started at the 16th position, for example.

— What prevented the selection for the Olympics in Rio?

— When first opened the set points at the World Cup - this moment was lost. I went to the World Cups with a tempo trailer, I did not have my own coach. I was on my own. If we were engaged at that moment, then it would be possible to select. And this is more difficult, but there is every chance.

— What qualities should a sprinter have to have?

— It's hard to say. Someone wins at the expense of strength, someone wins at the expense of tactics. Dutchman Javier is very talented, by nature he has such a physiology. He can afford to make some mistakes and at the expense of health can nullify these mistakes. And someone, on the contrary, is not as healthy as he is, but he can build a competently check-in. I think one of the main qualities is the ability to make quick decisions. In the sprint is a very short race. And you never know what your opponent will do. Before the race, you can plan some strategy, but during the race it will collapse in a fraction of seconds, because the opponent can do something you did not expect. To this must be prepared.

— What is your goal for the near future?

— To go to the Olympics and fight for medals there.

Recall that at the last stage of the World Cup (October 19-21), Vorzhev showed the best result among Kazakhstani racers. He ranked seventh in the keirin.

Source: http://cycling.kz 

Photo — olympic.kz