Found this 2005 story from Philly on Bobke's site:
http://www.bobkestrut.com/2005/06/09/tales-from-uspro/
Quoted message said:My name is Petra, and I like to smoke. While I was hanging around the Wyndham lobby a >bit on Friday night, I spied a woman who looked somewhat familiar decked out in Euro team >casual wear. It's not too unusual to see riders having a beer (or two) in the lobby bar, but >this woman proceeded to smoke up a storm. I figured she must have been a soigneur or >support staff and thought nothing more of it. Then, at the post-race party Sunday night, I >see the same woman smoking in the company of Judith Arndt and it dawns on me that >she's indeed Petra Rossner. I wonder how many ex-pros start smoking once their stint as a >rider is through, and is it more of a European phenomenon? It always seemed to me that
(stereotypically) American riders were totally consumed by the cycling lifestyle and would >proceed to live cleanly once their racing days were over, but the Euro riders treated the >sport as simply a job, a means to garner fame and money instead of driving a truck. Once >their days were numbered in the peloton, then it was time to put on some pudge, drink and >smoke some, and for many never ride a bike again. Just my impression
Hmmm. Do any riders smoke? Do they suddenly take up smoking after
retiring? Did Rossner smoke during her career or suddenly take up
smoking at the age of, what?, 37 after retiring?
(Trying to imagine a directuer sportif saying "smoke 'em if you got
'em!"😉