Bobby talks to Bjarne Riis at stage 1 of the Amgen Tour of California.

Julich, who rode for the team before retiring in 2008, has been with the squad as a Rider Development Manager ever since, but will drive the team’s second car at the American marquee race.

“Bjarne asked me back a few months ago if I’d drive the second car at California,” Julich told Cyclingnews. “It was a favour and it was hard to say no, and of course with it being a race that I’d like to promote it’s great for American cycling, so I agreed. But now I know how much work it takes to get everything achieved.”

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Julich rode for the team for five years during its incarnation as CSC. He is about to begin his second year as part of the squad’s back room staff, as a rider development manager.

“From the very first day I signed on this team I had to either battle for my contract or battle for a sponsor right until the last minute. With Saxo Bank pulling out we’re more prepared than ever to deal with it. We went through the biggest issue last year when IT Factory was forced to pull out. We were forced to continue with the team at the highest level but with a lower budget. We really pulled together and fought together. I know we’re more prepared than ever,” Julich told Cyclingnews.

With the team losing some of it’s previous management staff to Team Sky in the last few months, Julich has also found himself with more responsibility, liaising more with current sponsors, while also being the go-to-guy for the riders, many of whom he used to ride with professionally.

“The role is everything I did last year and then also inheriting sponsor accounts, trying to reconnect with them and get the most out of that. It’s turned out to be very fruitful so far and we’re working together really well. We want to be an open and friendly team. Make it more fun and no barriers. I’m trying to help with that.”

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I hope that you have enjoyed your time off because it is time to get back to work! That was the mantra I used to tell myself at this part of the season and during my career it would usually coincide with a team training camp.

Each team’s camp is different depending on the level of organisation and the team’s aims for the upcoming season. I was at Motorola, Cofidis, Crédit Agricole and Telekom during my career and feel that they were all similar. There were meetings and nights at the bar bonding with teammates, but I never felt like I got anything spectacular out of them. I felt it was more of a chance for the directors to check up on us and make sure no one was too much out of shape or had been piling on the pounds. Oberall, I didn’t look forward to them and couldn’t wait to get them over with, but that all changed when I signed with Bjarne Riis at CSC.

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ESPN: Julich may be off bike, but he’s not done selling the sport he loves

VeloNews: Julich takes management role with Saxo Bank

CyclingNews.com: The Bobby Julich Chronicles. Bobby will be writing a new column for CyclingNews. His first is titled “The Business of Cycling.”

The 36-year old American rider who has been with Team CSC since 2004 is now retiring and looking ahead to a possible future within the sport.

“I have had a long career as a professional cyclist and it has been an honor to be part of a team like Team CSC Saxo Bank for the last five years. I remember the day after meeting my team and team mates for the first time, making a phone call to my wife telling her that this is the team that I have been searching for my whole career and where I would end my career. Years later, that turned out to be quite a prophetic statement because now is time to make that decision and move on to the next phase of my life”, says Bobby Julich who saw a new part of his career unfold when he came to the team in 2004.

With an Olympic Bronze Medal in 2004, a strong winning streak in 2005 (including Paris-Nice, Criterium International, Eneco Tour), Julich completely revitalized the latter part of his professional career that previously had shown a podium finish in the Tour and consistent results in the biggest races on the calendar.

”Being on such a great team for so long, I know what it takes to be at the top level of this sport and realize that mentally I am not able to make the sacrifices that it takes to be there anymore.
I have seen the highest of highs and the lowest of lows during my career, but every moment has taught me many things and made me into the person that I am today.

I hope to stay connected to the world of cycling because it has been my life and passion for 25 years, but I am also keeping my options open. To continue to work for Bjarne and the team in some way would be great and I would love it if that opportunity presented itself. The hardest part of leaving the crazy world of professional cycling will be having less contact with my team mates. The friendships that I have created here are hopefully life long, but I will miss the fun that we have together on the road. I would like to use this opportunity to say thanks to CSC, Saxo Bank and all my past sponsors for showing a kid from a small mountain town in Colorado the world, its people and the wonderful world of cycling. Thanks also to all the fans and my supporters who have cheered me along all these years and hope to see you out on the weekend rides or bike paths”, Julich continues.

Team owner Bjarne Riis echoes Julich’s words, empathizing that he is keen to offer Julich an important position in the team after his career as a rider.

“Bobby has been one of the true cornerstones of the team from the day he joined us. A great athlete, a profound and intelligent guy and the perfect team mate. We have been extremely proud of and very happy about being part of the second life of Bobby’s career took on when he came to the team. He has been more than just a classy rider producing great results, but also a real mentor and a solid role model for our younger riders”, says Bjarne Riis.

“When Bobby and I talked about his future, I realized that the best thing I could do for him was to give him the time and liberty to consider and figure out what he wanted to do after stepping off the bike – instead of forcing him to race a full programme for the rest of the season. I have the utmost respect for Bobby as a rider and as a person, and I would be honoured if he would consider being part of the team in another role in the future”, Riis adds.

Cyclingnews is pleased to announce that Bobby Julich (Team CSC – Saxo Bank) will make a special guest appearance on our live commentary team for stage ten from Pau to Hautacam. A veteran Tour campaigner, with a podium place and an Olympic bronze to his name, Julich’s huge wealth of experience and sharp sense of race tactics will provide a professional’s insight into the race.

Julich will be joining us as the races heats up on the ascent of the Col du Tourmalet. Cyclingnews will begin live coverage of the stage around 13:00 local European time (CEST)/ 7:00 (USA East)/ 21:00 Australia (EST) – also on WAP-enabled mobile devices at http://live.cyclingnews.com/wap/.

Read the full chat transcript on U.S. Cycling Report …