 Name:
Kurt-Asle Arvesen
Country: Norway
Born: 09.02.1975
Height: 183cm
Weight: 70kg
Pro since: 1998
UCI: 103
Previous teams: Asics (98), Riso Scotti (99), Amica Chips (00),
Team fakta (01-03)
Most important results:
2003 1 Stage 10 Giro d'Italia, 5 Grand Prix Plouay
2002 1 Norwegian Championship, 1 PostGirot Open, 1 Stage 3
Post Danmark Rundt, 1 Points competition Post Danmark Rundt, 1 Schynberg Rundfahrt,
1 Mountain competition Paris - Correze, 7 Rund um den Henninger Turm, 8 Ronde
van Nederland,
2001 1 Norwegian Championship ITT, 1 Stage 9 Herald Sun Tour,
1999 1 Norwegian Championship.
Growing up
My sports career started already at the age of 5, when I entered my first cross
country skiing competition. And there were many more to come, as skiing was
my main sport until I turned 18. The major results remained elusive, but I won
a few. I even became county champion. Nationally I came in at 20th place in
the junior Norwegian championships at my best. Combined with cross country,
I enjoyed other sports during the summer. As well as roller ski there were lots
of activities when the snow melted. I of course played soccer, playing most
positions from goalie to centre forward, although the final years (15-16 years)
I mainly played centre. “You’re the one with the best stamina,”
the others would say. I entered cross country running and enjoyed track and
field. I ran the 800 m, and entered the long and high jump. Apart from this,
I entered every event there was time for during a day on the track. There was
always something to do and participate in, and mum and dad did not have many
weekends off. They had to drive me round to the different events. When I was
17 years old, I cycled “Den Store Styrkeprøven” – a
cycle race from Trondheim to Oslo (21 ½ hours) and ran Oslo Marathon.
In addition, I have entered the Birkebeiner Ski Race 5 times. So I became a
kind of ‘Superman’ at quite a young age. Something which had quite
a high status amongst the “old boys” in the valley. Following all
these events I concentrated more and more on cycling. I started off in Nesset
Cycling Club. I cycled my first race locally here in Nesset, and took place
during the Eidsvåg Festival. The race was a 20 km standing start. We were
about 10 people at the start, all local “Trondheim – Oslo people”.
Towards the finishing line we were more or less all riding in a group, then
I went for it about 200m before the finish and won! Floating on success I carried
on cycling to Molde (50 km) and watched Molde Football Club play Brann.
More cross country
The following year I was supposed to concentrate on cycling. But still with
cross country as a main priority. That was my final year as a junior cyclist.
That year, 1993, the Norwegian Cycling Championships were held in Molde only
a few Norwegian miles from home. I came in 10th in my first big race. Prior
to this I had almost solely entered recreational races. At the end of the year
I entered Norway Cup in Bergen. Which went ok. But during the final standing
start things went wrong. During a down hill stretch I drove straight into the
barriers. I flew across a cycle path, whilst the bike got stuck in the barrier…with
a broken frame! Thus it was a rather quiet boy who headed home up to Romsdalen
that Sunday. I did wonder for a while whether cycling was for me. It doesn’t
hurt as much nose diving whilst skiing…the asphalt is much harder!
Serious cycling
However when spring came and the wounds had healed I was back on my bike again.
I entered more and more races. Following 10th place during the Norwegian Championships
in Kongsberg in 1995 Vegard (Ø Lied) came to me (following orders from
the Per I Bøe) and asked me to join Bjørgvin Cycle Club. Which
I did. 1996 was the year when my cycling career really took off. I then won
my first national race in senior class and entered the under 23s World Championships
in Lugano. I learned a lot during the years I spent in Bjørgvin. The
following year, 1997, I began to win races abroad. The high point was then decidedly
the gold medal in the under 23s World Championships. I then signed a contract
with Asics for 1999 and 2000. Which was the team that changed names twice. In
1998 I chose to ride as an amateur in Italy (Zalf Euromobil Fior). I also rode
for Bjørgvin during some races. I worked it this way as I thought I didn’t
have enough experience to go straight into pro racing following the World Championships
victory. And the transition was probably smoother. I won 3 races and had 10
further top three placements before I put on my first pro rider shirt.
Pro
I entered the pro world in August–September of 1998. My first pro race
was Paris-Brussels together with Michele Bartoli. There was a side wind from
the very start and my task was to protect the captain of the team. I fetched
bottles and shaded him from the wind as much as I physically could. I ended
the race after 200 km together with Alexander Sheffer who also rode for Asics.
Following the race Bartoli praised me, “Thanks for the help lads. And
I am sorry I didn’t win!” And that said by the man who came in third…
The next few years in Italy were harder and very educational. The big results
did not materialise, but I had a great time. I fitted well into the team and
otherwise where I lived. Many friends were gained within the cycling world and
outside it too. In 2001 I chose to try something new and accepted an offer to
join Team Fakta. I have not regretted that at all. I enjoyed it so much that
I stayed for three years in that “little” Danish team. During that
period we were also called EDS-fakta. The spirit in the team was great, and
we were a loyal gang of friends which would do anything for each other. We won
a lot of races, and I had my best year during this period. I won 7 races in
all, incorporating the Giro-stage as the high point. At my best I was ranked
33rd in the world. Team Fakta won the second division in 2002 and raced in the
first division during the 2003 season. I had a really great time in the team,
where I could ride the races the way I wanted and was taken very good care of
by the Danes. Enjoyment is really important to achieve success. I like the Scandinavian
mentality and would rather not let that one go. This is why the choice was rather
easy to make when Bjarne Riis made me an offer just after Danmark Rundt 2003.
I signed a two year contract with team CSC later in the autumn. The team seems
very professional and ambitious, and nothing seems to be lacking. It is going
to be an exciting cycling year!
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