In May 2013, Chinese mechanic Erju Zhang arrived at the UCI World Cycling Centre (WCC) in Aigle, Switzerland, for a two month internship.
Months drew into years, and he is still based in Switzerland. Now a fully-fledged mechanic, he is dividing his time this year between the UCI WCC workshop and numerous voyages with UCI WorldTeam IAM Cycling. He will spend some 140 days with the Switzerland-registered team, accompanying them on training camps and during races. This weekend he leaves for two Spanish stage races on the UCI WorldTour calendar: the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya, quickly followed by the Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco.
“When I first arrived at the UCI World Cycling Centre, I never thought I would still be here two years later,” says Erju Zhang, who nevertheless had never hidden his desire to work for a professional cycling team. In his first year he already gained experience with UCI WorldTeam Orica GreenEdge, then later with Team Europcar and IAM Cycling.
In the last two years he has been working with single-minded determination toward his goal. Although a permanent position with a pro team is his strong desire, his practical experience in the last year has been an eye-opener.
“You have to travel, travel and travel. It’s not easy if you have a family. It’s a difficult profession,” he admits.
Mechanics have long days during stage races, preparing the bikes before the start, following the race in the car, then cleaning and fixing the bikes after the race while the riders shower and have massages. The days are prolonged depending on the distance of the hotel from the finish line. Erju Zhang has vivid memories of one day last year when there was a three-hour drive to the hotel before the mechanics could even begin working on the bikes. And no matter how long the day is, or how tired they are, there is absolutely no room for mistakes.
“But I don’t find that stressful,” says the Chinese mechanic. “I believe I understand all the mechanics of the bikes and that I can do a good job. I really enjoy working with bikes. Sometimes we have time pressure or something complex to work on. We might have to work in the rain or snow but it’s no problem. It’s the life of a mechanic.”
In between his commitments with professional teams, Erju Zhang is a welcome addition to the workshop at the UCI World Cycling Centre where he learnt a great deal at the beginning of his internship.
“He is a very good mechanic,” says WCC Mechanics Manager Alex Roussel. “If he wasn’t, the teams wouldn’t take him on. When he is at the Centre, I can just leave him to get on with his work. And if I’m not here, he can also supervise the trainees.”
For since Zhang and Ethiopian Gebregiorgis Weldehiwot participated in the first internship in 2013, eight other trainees from as many countries have also sharpened their skills under the watchful eye of Alex Roussel and his team. Erju Zhang knows exactly how they feel.
“It is very impressive when you first arrive at the UCI headquarters,” he remembers. “When I see the trainees arrive I try to think how I can help them. They really need some experience before coming here because the course is only two months long. There is a lot of information to absorb and then they have to be able to put it into practice.”
Before arriving at the UCI World Cycling Centre, Zhang had three jobs: as a mechanic with the Shimano Neutral Service, as chief mechanic in the oldest bike shop in China, and as a part-time mechanic in another shop at weekends.
Hard work doesn’t scare this ambitious mechanic. His dream of permanently joining a professional team remains. As does his motivation.
“When I arrived here I wanted to join a professional team. I think I’m on the right path,” he concludes.
The UCI Mechanic Training Course is aimed at individuals who wish to pursue a professional career as a mechanic either within a professional team or a National Federation, and provides them with a complete background in the knowledge and practice required to work as a professional mechanic.
The first course for 2015 is already underway and two more courses will be held in May-June and September-October.