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cycling: Bernhard Eisel in an interview about Kittel, the Arctic Race & its future

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Bernhard Eisel Arctic Race

Cycling: Bernhard Eisel (Dimension Data) is an old hand in the cycling circus. The 37-year-old has been driving at a consistently high level for many years. After his fall on the Tirreno-Adriatico long-distance trip, many fans expected the end of his career - but the Austrian came back. What's next for Bernhard Eisel? Velomotion spoke to him on the sidelines of the Arctic Race of Norway.

Bernhard, is everything okay with you again after your bad fall and head injuries?

Bernhard Eisel: "Not really everything yet. I'm not ready to lead an absolutely normal life yet. There are no consequential damages, but what I was confronted with would not have been easy for anyone. They said: The hematoma is huge and needs to be surgically removed. But I've never been scared of the surgery. On the contrary: I even said that if they don't finally start the drill tomorrow, I'll do it myself with the cordless drill. I had a massive headache, but otherwise no other symptoms. So at first I assumed it was allergies – until the MRI. The operation went perfectly. After that I was in the hospital for a while. I always wanted to get back on the bike as soon as possible.”

What is special about the Arctic Race of Norway?

Bernhard Eisel: “I had always heard about this race before and wanted to experience it myself. Now I'm not one to go on a cruise ship and vacation up there. You'll never come this far north again. I was here last year and it was a wonderful tour, not only because I won the mountain jersey – unexpected things often happen. It was great fun. The tour was nice, the area is amazing. A small field of drivers, few traffic islands, few roads, good asphalt. We just have a lot of fun as a team. This year I didn't know for a long time that I was going to be there, because I was actually supposed to start in Hamburg. But then Cavendish was scheduled and we thought we couldn't send him up there alone with two trainees. So Bernie is there again. Then I was really looking forward to it, even if I had to go straight to the Germany tour afterwards. But I'm extremely opposed to the idea that you always drive the same roads in Europe. That's why I always like to take such expeditions with me - like Northern Norway or Guangxi. The hotels are nice, the food is great. Everyone tries very hard. It's really excellent. Unfortunately, such tours always get too little public attention. But where else do you get a massage and a shower on the cruise ship?”

To what extent do you even notice the beautiful nature and the reindeer on the bike?

Bernhard Eisel: "Already. In the rest of Europe, there is always a kind of fear that someone will drive through the roadblock or that someone will walk out into the street for a selfie. You can only be run over by one reindeer here. And the Norwegians are extremely enthusiastic about cycling. They are all here. I think there are around 100.000 people living in Finnmark – we've all seen them on the roadside.”

You already mentioned that you sensationally won the mountain jersey last year. For this you got 500 kilograms of salmon. what happened to it

Bernhard Eisel: "Yes, the salmon! It still exists. We haven't eaten everything yet. This is one of the best prizes you can win in cycling. I've heard that some drivers have won a car, but these are difficult to divide within a team. For our small team last year the salmon was perfect. We then organized a dinner in South Africa. The sponsor traveled to us with ten men and their own cook. Even the Ambassador of South Africa came to eat. It was great fun! At that time we ate away about 60 kilograms. Now I will soon have the last delivery.”

How will your duties within the team change if Mark Cavendish isn't there?

Bernhard Eisel: "Not that much has changed for me. I myself don't go for victories anymore. Last year was unexpected because I ended up in the breakaway group on the first stage. So I just wanted to get the mountain jersey if I'm already active as a breakaway - and then I was even allowed to keep it. This year, however, I knew that the form wasn't right. Mekseb Debesay is not yet under contract and we have two stagiaires with us. I try to put them in a good position and help them get a contract. It's easier for me. But with only five men, two of whom are interns, you simply go into a race with fewer ambitions. We try, but we have nothing to lose.”

Internationally, you are best known as a loyal Cavendish helper. How do you deal with the fact that you are partly responsible for the successes of another driver, but do not have these victories credited to your CV?

Bernhard Eisel: “I was a sprinter and captain in a team myself. You're always judged by your wins. And you can make yourself and the team unhappy if you continue to pursue your own goal, but actually don't really deliver. I think three years ago I had the most top 10 finishes in a Tour de France of any active cyclist - but no stage win. You can't buy any of that. That means you're very good, but not good enough. It was pretty easy for me because all of a sudden Cavendish showed up and was kind of unbeatable. It's easy when you realize someone has so much talent and you then grow into the role. Many drivers could get a lot more out of their career if they accept the helper role. You are happier and the captain and the team appreciate it. Also, you have a lot less pressure and your job is a little easier. You can see that in Marcel Kittel at the moment. What he has to go through just for dropping out on the BinckBank Tour. I don't know what the benefit of a kittel is to drive a stage on the Amstel and a short tour of Flanders. But a suffering sprinter does no one any good. I've never been paid to drive through. I wouldn't have done it. But if he wins a stage on the Deutschland Tour, everything will be fine again. That's why I say: I wouldn't necessarily want to change places with a captain. You have to confirm the top results every year and the interest and pressure increases. That maybe makes the difference between the top five riders in the world and those who want to get there.”

Mark Cavendish said in an interview that he was now afraid of holding out in a mass sprint. How do you feel after a fall?

Bernhard Eisel: "It's always been in the back of my mind not to want to fall again. But it also simply depends on where you ride and how comfortable you feel. Then when things get dicey again and the weather is bad – like at Ride London, for example – then I take it out immediately. But when you come back in, can drive your position and have everything under control yourself again, then you can do it again. You can only influence other drivers slightly. If you don't fully trust someone, you need to keep a safe distance. Many say that everything was better before. But that's probably not true. At that time, some of me might have thought “oh no, now he’ll be back”. The young drivers don't mean anything bad either. But we had a lot of serious falls this year. It doesn't have to be."

You are on the UCI Athletes' Commission and on the CPA. What are you doing there?

Bernhard Eisel: “I actually have nothing to do with the CPA. It's always said that everyone has a voice, but that's not really the case. Currently, about 50 percent have no voting rights, so to speak, because we do not belong to the big nations. Having a representative there wouldn't help much either, as the old nations just have too much to say. The CPA is still a really good organization. But at the moment you can't be satisfied with the work. The mills paint slowly. Something is already being done. I'm always in favor of people on these committees who do the whole thing full-time. It cannot be combined with another activity on the side. There is too much at stake and far too much work for that.”

And then there's a new contract?

Bernhard Eisel: “Yes, hopefully I signed it beforehand. I do think that in the next ten days to two weeks the decision will be made as to which direction to go. But first we all want to know what the doctors say about it. If there are no objections, we can talk about a new contract.”

We ask all Velomotion interview partners the last question: Do you have any tips for the young drivers?

Bernhard Eisel: “I always have a hard time with tips. Today's young drivers are difficult to influence. I think the most important thing is to let the young drivers have fun along the way. Cycling may not be the most recognized sport, but it is by far the most ingenious - and the hardest. But you will learn so much in your life and bring it with you for your future life. It will shape you whether you ride for two years or 20. At the age of twelve you get to know places that others only find on a moped. The horizon just expands very quickly. You get to know people, new places - and what's more - you are self-determined. From a young age you have been used to directing your own life. Even if your professional career doesn't work out, you'll gain a lot more experience."

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More than Michael Behringer

Cycling with all its tactics, stage analyses, placements and forecasts are Michael Behringer's great passion. In 1996 he tracked his first Tour de France. Since then he has observed almost every race. His passion for cycling has been with him for over two decades. There is no end in sight.