CyclistTheres not a race I havent done: Chris Juul-Jensen Q&AHow was your 2026 season? What were your standout moments?Thankfully, I can give you an answer that Ive given often in the past couple of years, which is that my standout is probably just my consistency. This is the end of my 15th year as a pro, and despite wishing I could say that my standout moment was winning this race or doing this or that, Id say that in general, its just the fact that Im able to maintain my level of consistency throughout the year, and that Ive been able to perform and do the job Ive been asked to do more or less at every race Ive gone to.It may not sound very ambitious, but as a pro, thats what its about. You want to go to a race, and you want to be able to perform. You want to be fit and strong, and youre desperate to avoid those bad days because the bad days linger more than the good days.There may not be many of them [bad days], but it doesnt take many for you to be like, Oh, I dont want to experience that again. Thats how I look at my season. Ive avoided those types of days, and whenever Ive raced, Ive felt strong and been able to do my job properly. Thats what its all about.The sport has evolved over the past few years; how are you able to maintain that level year after year?Id say experience. I wouldnt say we change things every year, but I always make sure to keep myself on my toes. I dont like stagnating getting stuck in the same routines. But at the same time, I pick and choose the routines that I know work for me, both physically and mentally.Ive designed my lifestyle: living in Copenhagen, having a relatively normal day-to-day life when Im at home, but at the same time, managing the demands of having to be at the WorldTour. My wife is part of the secret ingredient.I find it turns into a bit of a game, but I enjoy it. Its motivating to be able to maintain that level year in, year out. Now Im getting older, Im surrounded by so many young talents, which is also part of the motivation. I want to learn from them, but also prove that Im still able to do the job. That can be done in Copenhagen as well as it can be done anywhere else, so long as you have the right professional head screwed on.Everyone talks about work-life balance. I like being able to drop my kids off at school, pick them up, do all the day-to-day household chores that I cant do when Im at a race, but at the same time, maintain form as a professional bike rider. I find thats quite fun, you know. Everyone else, they drop the kids off at school, they go to work. Like you do the Giro one day, and then the next day youre on the school run, and its like, Werent you in Rome yesterday? So yeah, but its time to pack the lunches. I find that quite cool.ARN/Thomas MaheuxCopenhagen isnt a massive hub for competitive cyclists. If you were somewhere like Girona or Andorra, do you think that maybe you wouldnt have that separation?Maybe, yeah. I think at the end of the day, my biggest rival is myself. Whether I trained alone in Copenhagen or was in an environment where there are bike riders everywhere, its still a question of whether youre able to be better than the rider you were last year.In a way, I think it motivates me more, or keeps me more dialled in, because it leaves you guessing for most of the winter. Again, it keeps me on my toes because I dont know how everyone else is going. Its different if youre on a group ride every day and you can see how people are in or out of form. When Im on my own, I want to do everything I can to make sure that when I turn up, theres no doubt that Ive done my homework.Its your 11th season with Greenedge [the organisation that has been behind Jayco-AlUla in its various guises since 2011]. What is it about this team that inspires such loyalty?Its the staff that carry so much of this team, that makes sure that the atmosphere and the environment in the team is such a good place to be, which creates the motivation to want to perform and do it for their sake. Its a team you bring home with you in a good way. People work so hard that the least you can do is the absolute best you can to give them a performance theyre proud of.I couldnt imagine myself happier anywhere else. Its often considered a team where everyone has a lot of fun, but is super-professional at the same time. Everyones ambitious, motivated, always wanting to improve and achieve results. When we do achieve results, the feeling of elation, relief and happiness is shared among everyone. I always find that very special. Riders come and riders go, but the atmosphere, the DNA, has always stayed the same.You are known as quite a positive character. Is that something you mindfully work on, or is it just your natural way?Its a bit of both. As a 37-year-old rider whos been in the team for 11 years, I feel that I have a responsibility to be positive. We cant be positive all the time, but I certainly feel I have to create an atmosphere where this is a good place to be, a place where I want to do my utmost, so the team gets the most out of me.Its important to remind the young guys that being a professional cyclist is a great job. But you cant take it for granted. You know, its got to be enjoyed whilst youre doing it, but if you want to have a sustainable long career, it has to be taken seriously because if you dont, then it wont last for very long. There are many elements to professional cycling that must not be underestimated. I think thats important for me to show that.A.S.O./Billy CeustersAs a rider, youve worked for others most of your career. Can you give us an insight into the mindset of a long-serving domestique?Its very much a legs thing, to be honest. I think I realised that from an early point in my career. Again, it doesnt mean Im not always dreaming or ambitious and want to win myself or achieve results. But as I said, in terms of having a long, sustainable career, I realised early on that to put my engine to good use or proper use, it has to be in that domestique role. I was never the biggest talent, but I have an engine that can be used on all sorts of terrains. Theres not really a race I havent done.It is actually a bit difficult to explain, but thats just who I am. It obviously takes legs, but it also takes an understanding of the sport and of the role to be able to get where I am and be here for so long and still be relevant.I dont think any rider wants to admit that they dont want to win anymore. I think we all want to win, but you have to be realistic. If there are riders better than you, then its also a matter of trying to help them for the good of the team.Youve also been a great servant for Denmark over the years. How have you viewed the development of Danish cycling over the past few years?Its no secret how Danish cycling has developed since Ive turned pro. Its always been a strong nation, but its exploded in the last 10-15 years, and its been a privilege to be a part of this new era of Danish cycling and experience it firsthand.Mads Pedersen winning the Worlds in Yorkshire that was such a big moment for Danish cycling. Being part of that was a huge career highlight. Representing your country is always a privilege and something that needs to be done with pride and needs to be taken seriously, and theres always a great atmosphere. Its very unique.Im also happy that now we have three Danes in this team. Theres a very strong relationship between Danish riders across teams, which you can really see and feel when you get together on the national team.A.S.O./Romain LaurentYour current contract runs to the end of next season. Will you continue, or are you just taking it year by year?Lets say Im still super-motivated. Im looking forward to next year. As long as the hunger and the desire are there, then theres no reason not to keep going.Have you thought about what you might do after your riding career?Thats for another interview! I like prioritising focusing on being a pro, like thats where I put all my attention and emphasis.It would be naive not to be thinking about a life after cycling. I think any bike rider, no matter what stage of their career theyre in, should have post-career thoughts. But to be honest, I love prioritising being a pro because I hear so many times from retired riders to just enjoy it, because as soon as its over, its over, and youll never be able to get back. Im making an effort to enjoy it while it lasts, and not focus so much on what Ill have to do once I wake up and this dreams over.The sport has obviously changed a great deal over the past decade or so. What would you say are the best and worst changes in your time as a pro?The fact that so many young guys are coming in and taking over, I see that as a positive thing. Its very encouraging.From a negative side of things maybe Im just being a bit old and overthinking things but I wouldnt mind if we could somehow reduce the speed a little bit. How we achieve that is a different discussion, but I dont know if its a good thing.The way riders have become stronger the way we train, the way we eat, the way we look after ourselves is a very good thing from a nutritional point of view, and from a general health point of view. Its a bit of a paradox, safety-wise, on the bike, because the speed is so high.I think there are a lot of ways to reduce speed without having to make too many restrictions, but I dont have the answer right now. To me, this element of speed has to be taken into account a little bit more.Youve seen many riders come and go from the team. Who have you enjoyed working with the most over the years?There are so many, but if I were to mention just one, especially now that hes retiring, it would be Luke Durbridge, who is a very close friend and teammate. I think Ill miss him, and [Luka] Mezgec, a lot. Bloody hell! I could go on. Any rider Ive ridden with has been an absolute pleasure. [Michael] Albasini, [Mathew] Heyman, [Daryl] Impey you know, Bling [Michael Matthews]: hes still here. The Yatess. I mean, with the fear of missing someone out Swino [who????]. [Esteban] Chaves. [Matteo] Trentin. Caleb [Ewan] there have been so many great teammates, and thats what makes this team so enjoyable to be part of.Unipublic / Cxcling / Antonio BaixauliTell us about one or two of your favourite days from your career.Obviously, Id say the Tour de Suisse stage win. Its one of my few wins. I think when I retire, Ill be grateful. I would have loved to have had more [wins], and maybe I will get more, but being able to remember that one day is fantastic.I think there are so many moments in big races the Tour, the Giro, on the big stages you know, being at the forefront of a race, in the break, being able to attack or ignite the race, those types of days.Its a difficult one to answer. Its like whats your favourite song?. When I sit down, there are so many, without being able to mention many specifics, but its those moments where Ive been at the front. It doesnt have to be the biggest race either. Its just a race where youve been a focal point or made a difference. Theyre what make me want to race again next year. Where do you enjoy riding the most?I love racing in Italy. This time of year, end of autumn, the colours, the lights. When the weathers good, the atmosphere. Ive really enjoyed this block. Ive always liked racing the Giro. The [Itzulia] Basque Country as well. Its such a hard race, but beautiful, scenery-wise and with great people. We have a lot of Basque staff. The Basques love cycling, and theyve got a great cycling fan culture.And finally, is there anything you havent done yet in your career that you still would like to do or tick off?There isnt, and that is a good way to end the interview because that sums up me and my career in general. Ive actually done every race, which I do appreciate. Ive done Roubaix, Ive done Lige, Ive done Lombardy, Ive done Flanders, Ive done the Olympics, Ive done the Worlds, done all the Grandies [Grand Tours], Ive done all the stage races. I wouldnt say Id do them all again, but theres nowhere I havent been.The post Theres not a race I havent done: Chris Juul-Jensen Q&A appeared first on Cyclist.