1

Paul

At the start line you could feel the tension in everyone, none of us wanted to compromise the team performance with an individual mistake. The four kilometres were brutally hard and in my last lead towards the finish I didn’t really feel anything anymore except an incredible pain in my legs.”

2

Pippo

I like this kind of finish, maybe it comes from my experience with fixed gear crits. I jumped from wheel to wheel to be in the best possible position while staying covered. I put in a long sprint and in the end that was the win. On arrival I cheered with all my teammates and staff, which was exciting. It was important for me to relieve the team with a victory and the yellow jersey, even if it was unfortunately only for one day.

The victory was a milestone. Because I am also learning to be a team leader and not “just” a sprinter. For me, this is an important step in my career that I will always take with me into the future.”

3

Daniel

I stepped in at short notice – but this effort was worth its weight in gold. Among us riders, a latent smile and lasting joy in the cause was the constant companion. We often sat together until late in the evening and simply had a good time. In this constellation we had exactly the spirit that a team needs to be successful together. “My team. My crew. My family” – we racers were very, very close to it.”

4

Patrick

On the mostly flat stage, we firmly expected a bunch sprint and therefore tried to control the stage as best as possible. On wide, windy roads, however, it took a good two hours before two riders broke away and we were able to take the reins in the peloton. What sounds quite unspectacular is in reality much more exhausting and nerve-racking – Paul, Phil and Daniel made sure in this first phase of the race that no dangerous group would ride away without our presence and gave everything to keep the other riders off our backs.

Surprisingly, the tide turned around 50 kilometres before the finish. Due to wind, crashes and the interests of other teams to prevent a sprint of a big group, we said goodbye to the controlled riding style. It was up to Felix and me to occupy the most important groups and keep an overview in this hectic situation. After several unsuccessful attempts, a taste of blood in our mouths, panting breathing and narrowed field of vision, then the race-deciding moment: there was a big gap between us escapees and the peloton. “Go Patrick, go!” – I hear Pippo’s energetic voice on the radio and switch over. Now it’s time to support the group as much as possible, but without putting ourselves out of the race. The next kilometres fly by. Adrenalin in the whole body; poker face when it comes to giving oneself a short breather.

In the final sprint, I look for the best rear wheel of the group, squeeze every bit of power out of me and ride to third place in the stage with a gap of only centimetres. Full of happiness, I turn around, see how Pippo also wins the sprint from the peloton and I am happy. Congratulations, a hearty team atmosphere, ice cream in the hotel room and the certainty of having taken a big step as a team before the tough cycling world surprises us again and brings us back down to earth.”

Position 6 GC I Patrick Reißig

5

Felix

Shortly after the start of the stage, the peloton split in the crosswind caused by some other teams. I had Pippo on my bike and luckily our reaction time was very fast, so we soon found ourselves in the front group of 30/40 riders. We immediately looked around and saw that Phillip and Patrick had also broken away in the front group, which was exactly what we had planned.
Unfortunately, we lost Patrick in a crosswind split later in the stage. Our main focus was now on the final sprint around Pippo. Heading into the final, Phillip and I were ready to help Pippo as much as possible, but on the last lap Phil and I crashed due to a very slippery road. Luckily I was able to get back on and work at the front to launch a cheeky attack in the last few kilometres and get Pippo to the front on the last corner.

After the stage I was a bit upset that we couldn’t get the final result we wanted, but luck wasn’t 100% on our side. Overall, I’m very happy with the team’s performance during the Tour.”

Position 17 overall GC I Patrick Reißig

6

Philip

„Nach dem Prolog fand die offizielle Eröffnungsfeier der Rundfahrt statt. Wir hatten viel Spaß dabei. Ich wurde zu unserem Fahnenträger erwählt. Diese Aufgabe habe ich natürlich mit viel Stolz angenommen und wir haben es richtig zelebriert.

An dem Abend begann, was in den kommenden Tagen ein Ritual werden sollte: unser Fahrer Meeting, bei dem wir den vergangenen Tag Revue passieren lassen und die kommende Etappe besprechen – gerne auch mal mit Eis für jeden und einer Runde „Schwachsinnstalk“ im Anschluss. Viel gelacht haben wir auch darüber, wie Paul Rudys seinen neuen Freund Adam Hansen, vormaliger World Tour Fahrer und Rekordhalter der meisten Grand Tours am Stück, gefunden hat – nämlich mit etwas zu viel Tempo drauf, was wir aber nicht weiter vertiefen wollen!

Last but not least: die Unterbringung. Die Zimmersituation konnte mitunter interessant sein, beispielsweise wenn wir zwei Zimmer weniger hatten als geplant. Wir sind alle etwas zusammengerückt und haben es passend gemacht. Zum Leidwesen von einigen hat da schon mal eine Bedecke gefehlt, weshalb improvisiert werden musste.“