View from the sunflowers: Welcome back, Bobby Julich. Cycling needs you

Bobby Julich deserved more fanfare when he retired earlier this year. Among many wins and career highlights, Julich finished third in the 1998 Tour de France and won the time trial bronze medal in the 2004 Summer Olympics.

Julich finished a share of grand tours and he shared the Tour de France podium with Marco Pantani and Jan Ullrich. He also had superior season in 2005 when he won Paris-Nice, Criterium International and the Eneco Tour.

But Julich was left off the 2007 and 2008 Tour de France teams of Bjarne Riis, the director who revitalized Julich’s career after a few stagnant seasons, and the now 37-year-old rider knew retirement was near.

Julich’s retirement coincided with retirement of another long-time pro, Mike Sayers, and both of the riders’ departures occurred about the same time as news of the return of Lance Armstrong and Floyd Landis to the peloton first surfaced. As such, the cyclists’ retirement was noted on cycling web sites and sport-specific publications. But the riders’ long careers were largely dismissed by the mainstream media.

Sayers and Julich were respected professionals and they both left the sport graciously. When I last talked with Sayers he had just returned from Interbike in Las Vegas and was considering various industry offers.

Julich, who lives in Reno, Nev., didn’t stay retired long. He’s been appointed Rider Development Manager at Team Saxo Bank – IT Factory, the same team (with a different name) that employed Julich during the final several years of his career.

According to the team’s press release, Julich will “take on a managing role on the team with technical development, testing and time trial coaching as his main work objectives.”

For a few years during his mid-career, Julich’s reputation, particularly in the media, suffered. He could be short in interviews and didn’t often seem happy in the peloton, particularly in his years with Cofidis.

But in recent years, Julich matured. During press conferences and team camps, Julich became, for lack of a better term, an elder statesman for his team and cycling. He made fun of himself on occasion. He answered questions thoughtfully and he seemed comfortable with his place in the sport.

So, welcome back to cycling, Bobby Julich. Cycling needs guys like you.