Interview: John Degenkolb (Giant-Alpecin) is having the most successful season of his career so far. With Milan-Sanremo and Paris-Roubaix he won two monuments of cycling. In an interview with Velomotion, he looks back – and ahead.
John, it's been a few weeks since your wins at Milan-Sanremo and Paris-Roubaix. What memories do you have of those two days? Have you been able to really realize what you have achieved there?
Of course, both days will have a permanent and very important place in my memory. For me, they are two of the most beautiful races that I know and that embody the fascination of cycling like few others. In this respect, I am of course very proud that I was able to immortalize myself in the list of winners of these monuments.
How did the German cycling fans welcome you at the Bayernrundfahrt? Where is cycling in Germany - even after successes like yours?
The reception in Bavaria was sensational and I'm happy about the support from the fans. I think Tony [Martin], Marcel [Kittel] and I have achieved a lot in the last three years and regained some credibility. But we are far from having reached the end of the road. It is important that fans and media representatives in Germany recognize that cycling has much more to offer than just the yellow jersey at the Tour de France.
What is the fascination of cycling for you personally, and what do you recommend to those who are now motivated by your victories to get on their bikes?
For me, it's always nice to be out and about by bike. There is no means of locomotion in which you have a range of motion comparable to that of cycling using only your own strength. If my successes help to motivate people to cycle, I'm happy. But everyone should do it exclusively for themselves.
2015 is already a great year for you. Where can the fans see you ride in the coming weeks and what are your future goals for this season?
Before the Tour de France, I still ride the Tour de Suisse and the German Championships in Bensheim. Then I try to win a stage in the Tour. And at the end of the year we have a World Championship which I think could be on course [in Richmond, USA].
A look back and a look ahead: What do you think about your career so far and what do you want to be able to say about the future in five years?
I think I've been very lucky in my career so far. Looking back, I often made the right decision. It would be nice if I could say in five years that, despite the great successes of that year, I have not let up and that I have remained sportingly ambitious.
John, thank you for the interview and all the best!
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