Thomas Pupp, the great man of Tyrolean cycling, takes a clear position in this article. And that's for a valid reason. He was the initiator who created the Tirol Cycling Team as a talent factory for young Austrian professionals and is still one of the most active advocates of promoting young people today. As a member of the Tyrolean state parliament (SPÖ), he is as active in cycling as one could wish for practically any German politician.
On Easter Monday he was with me I seinem Tirol Team live for the first time at Rund um Köln and was very impressed by the enthusiasm for cycling, which, despite all the prophecies of doom, apparently still seems to exist in Germany.
Easter Monday in Cologne. It was a really big cycling cinema. And not just because our Tirol Cycling Team is in the leading roles very young stormy runaway and Man with fast legs cut a fine figure.
Big cinema because on this holiday public opinion won a big victory over published opinion.
After all, the leading German media have been putting cycling in a mess for years and depriving it of the big media stage.
And then that: Thousands of enthusiastic people along the route, young and old, male and female. Stadium atmosphere, goosebumps feeling. Unfazed by the media noise. And all applauding the achievements of the Knights of the Highway with great respect.
So it's finally time to rethink. Medial and also economic and in general. Medial because simply one of the most attractive sports. Economically, because a commitment to international cycling is undoubtedly one of the most effective sports sponsorships. And above all because there is now a new generation of racing drivers in Germany. Young and very successful. Kittel, Degenkolb, Martin, Ciolek, Geschke and a Greipel. And they all deserve a new chance with the whole of cycling.
Yes, and in general. Thanks to the organizers for the invitation and the beautiful race, which is in no way inferior to the great classics such as Amstel or Liège-Bastogne-Liège. We'll be back next time.
Already in 2013, Pupp took a stand. In the summer of last year, together with Josef Margreiter, he brought the application documents for a cycling world championships in Innsbruck to the then UCI President Pat McQuaid. As it should be, both traveled from Innsbruck to Aigle by bike.