I probably had what is called groupies today. ( laughs ) But I've been happily married since 1987. Do you know how I met my wife?

Tell me!

I was a huge fan of Maria Walliser. Because we had the same sponsor, I knew that she was contesting a European Cup race in Davos. But there I saw that she had a friend, a little frustrated I was looking for space. On the way back I stopped at a hotel in Klosters, where a friend of my mother worked. At the regulars' table I was served by a beautiful young woman, a date was arranged over seven corners. It was love at first sight.

But just, back to Italy …

… a gentleman enjoys and is silent. ( laughs ) I drove for the Italian Atala team for years, and because I spoke a little Italian, I eventually became a favorite with the public. When I later drove for a Dutch team, an ancient man spoke to me in Sicily on a park bench who hardly had any teeth. He said: « Hey, Freuler, when will you come back to us? » I still get chicken skin today when I think about it.

After your resignation, you were a team manager with the Swiss Phonak team for three seasons. How did you experience this time?

Owner Andy Rihs was a great guy, a patron of the old school. We often rubbed ourselves, he was a scorpion like me, stubborn and stubborn. Phonak was a second division team, we really wanted to get up, I put the team together. I tried to keep the expenses low, so I bought a very old team bus, had it restored, it all cost CHF 170,000. Later, John Lelangue, an employee of the Tour de France, came up to Andy and said Phonak would receive a wild card for the tour. But he made it clear: « I want Freuler's job for that. »

How did it go on?

Of course, so far – the pressure became too great. So I had to go. By the way: Shortly afterwards Phonak bought a new team bus. Cost: CHF 450,000.

And you became unemployed?

Yes, for a whole year. My wife said I should go stamping, but I just replied: « No, the freuler doesn't. » I was too proud to go stamping. I had a hard time without a job, but then I received an exciting offer as a co-organizer of the Zurich six-day race.

Phonak celebrated some successes, but was also involved in doping scandals. Did you feel complicit?

No! We were lied to by the team doctors, by the sports managers, also by the drivers. We also suspended a Swiss man whose suitcase we had found banned substances in. Oscar Camenzind's transfer was brutal, but he admitted everything. The case of doping by Tyler Hamilton broke our neck. ( thinks ) My father-in-law was a cook at Phonak; when I was no longer on the team, he noticed some strange, forbidden things. I was sorry for Andy, he didn't deserve all of this.