The world of sport is filled with examples of children who follow in their fathers’ footsteps and carve a name for themselves in their own unique styles.
Joe and Kobe Bryant in basketball, Bobby and Barry Bonds in baseball, and Muhammad and Laila Ali are some names that immediately spring to mind.
The UCI Road World Championships Doha 2016 also had two ‘star sons’ in attendance.
Italian Alexander, son of legendary Russian cyclist Dimitri Konychev, and Lithuanian Raimondas Rumsas Junior, his father’s namesake, put up contrasting shows in Doha.
While Alexander finished 27th in the Junior Men’s Individual Time Trial, Raimondas was 59th in the Men’s Under-23 event.
For Alexander, who turned 18 this year, cycling was not his first choice in sport. Neither was it for his father.
“This is only my second year as a cyclist. I played football for 11 years before taking up cycling, that too accidentally. Once I accompanied my father on a ride down the road, on a mountain bike. He felt I was good at it and offered me his road bike to ride. That was the beginning. There has been no looking back since then,” he said.
For the record, Dimitri tried his hand at basketball and handball for extended periods of time before ending up in cycling. Soon, he became a giant among his peers.
Rumsas Junior and his brother Linas always knew they would follow their father’s example. For them, it was a natural progression.
“I have lived in Lucca since I was just six years old. My father joined Italian side Fassa Bortolo and we all moved with him to Tuscany. I always knew I wanted to be a cyclist. I am currently racing for Team Palazzago, with Olivano Locatelli, to gain experience. I’m growing better every year, but I have a lot to learn,” he said.
“This year, I won the National Under-23 Individual Time Trial Championships while Linas won the Road Race, with me finishing second. I want to become a punchy climber, a specialist on short climbs. I can be a great uphill finisher,” said the 22-year-old.
Both riders admitted there were certain advantages to having famous fathers in the sport of their choice. Alexander felt his dad’s advices prior to going to Doha stood him in good stead.
“This was my first experience competing in a UCI Road World Championships. Before coming to Qatar, I spoke to my father at length about how to face the pressures of competing in the UCI Road World Championships. He gave me a list of things to concentrate on and others to avoid. That really helped me focus better,” said Alexander.
Rumsas Junior, on the other hand, spoke more about his regular training sessions with his father.
“Until just a few years ago, my father used to take part in mass events, like the renowned Italian Gran Fondo. But new regulations prohibit former professionals from competing in the race. So now he rides just for fun. Whenever my brother, my father and me are together at home, we make it a point to train together. The insights he provides are so very valuable,” he signed off.