The Spanish Once team was largely populated by Spaniards, riders as well as management and support personnel. Alex didn't get very far with his Swiss-German, so he was more or less forced to learn Spanish. By listening and trying, reading newspapers and watching tv, he picked it up fairly quickly and as early as 1993 by his grandious Vuelta debut, he was able to give interviews in fluent Spanish. Because of his two Vuelta victories and his wins in many of the smaller races there, Alex is extremely popular in Spain. (His Swiss accent is supposed to be another factor in this popularity!) In return, he likes the land and the spanish mentality, and even has a vacation home in Moreia.