ANTWERPEN – It may take her a little time to adjust. Pascale Schijns, born in Belgium (Luik), currently living in Madrid, will do a few does of work as an interpreter in the Lotto Arena in Antwerp. Pascale Schijns, you may say? Never heard of, in billiards.
But for sure we know her from cycling in the Tour de France, with Lance Armstrong, Chris Froome, Bradley Wiggins, Alberto Contador, Marco Pantani and Jan Ullrich. ,,I have worked the Tour eighteen times now, and I am the interpreter in all winner and yellow jersey press conferences.’’
How did Pascale Schijns end up on the WC 3-cushion in Antwerp?
Rene Vermeiren, the press secretary, was speaker at cycle cross events in Belgium for years. Long ago, when someone was needed to interpret at press conferences, Vermeiren knew who to turn to: ,,I know someone who speaks six languages and knows all about cycling.’’
He has now contacted Pascale again, to present the WC in foreign languages, show players how things work, and interview the winners. Ludo Dielis, organizer: ,,I am very happy she is here, because this organization should be professional in every aspect.''
She is fluent in Dutch, German, Spanish, English, French and Italian. ,,My seventh language will be Portugese, I am working on that these days.’’
Who was the most fun to translate at TdF press conferences? Without hesitation: ,,Lance Armstrong.’’
,,I was there all the years he won, so I have gotten to know him, and he knows me. He was the ultimate professional, a delight to work with.’’
Did she never notice anything suspicious? Pascale: ,,I was not surprised that he got caught, but they all used in those days. It is illogical to me that he was stripped of his Tour victories, contrary to others, such as Bjarne Riss.’’
Next to her TdF work, she is also press officer for prominent cyclists such as Alejandro Valverde. ,,And I write romantic poetry.’’
Has she ever seen a 3-cushion match? ,,No, only on tv.’’
But whether they are named Lance Armstrong, Chris Froome or Torbjörn Blomdahl, Frédéric Caudron or Marco Zanetti, Pascale Schijns will interview them with seasoned skill. ,,I am not a billiards connaisseur, but it’s the reporters who ask the questions, I translate. It is my work, I know what I'm doing.’’