Cycling: In a cycling race, legs, stamina and concentration determine victory or defeat. But these are by no means all the requirements that are placed on a professional. Many casual viewers underestimate the importance of tactics in cycling. Before the fourth stage of the Deutschland Tour, we were present at the Lotto-Kern Haus team meeting - and also asked team boss Florian Monreal and driver Florian Nowak about this topic.
Even before the start of the working day
Germany tour. Last day. The sun is shining. The team buses and support vehicles have lined up in Lorsch. The drivers register directly at the monastery on a specially constructed stage and present themselves to the numerous fans. While the TV broadcast is far from having started, the main protagonists of the Deutschland Tour are already preparing for the start. More than an hour before the start of the stage, they answer questions from journalists and sign autographs for their fans. Shortly before heading to Stuttgart on the bike, the pros gather in their respective team buses and listen to the words of their team boss – including the German team Lotto-Kern Haus. Jan Hugger, Joshua Huppertz, Tobias Knaup, Dorian Lübbers, and Florian Nowak and Fabian Scromair take a seat in their small team vehicle and team leader Florian Monreal takes the floor. In his hand he holds the road book with the schedule for the relevant stage and the profile of the route.
"When there's a real bike race, it gets really disgusting"
No mass sprint is to be expected on the last stage of the Deutschland Tour. The 207,5 kilometers from Lorsch to Stuttgart are far too bumpy. The White Florian Monreal as well as its drivers: "Josh and Tobi know the route inside and out", he initiates the team meeting. Then the drivers themselves have their say, because they have already driven the course in training: “The first hill isn't really steep, but after that it's downhill on a narrow road. It will definitely go down there in a single file. Then it goes straight back up. When there’s real bike racing, it gets really gross.” Who could provide such a disgusting bike race? Florian Monreal suspects the French team AG2R La Mondiale again, which had increased the speed the day before, although it was loud Tobias Knauf left such a friendly impression in the shared hotel.
Have good legs, keep feet still
This is exactly what is part of every cycle race: sometimes the teams pursue similar goals, but every now and then they become bitter opponents - this situation often changes even within a stage. Therefore, the strategies of the opponents have to be reacted to live again and again. But the tactical orientation before the start is already clear: “Joshi, like yesterday, the final is actually made for you. You saw that you can finish in the top 10 here. If I were you, I would keep my feet still so that I could be up front at the end.” A clear message from Florian Monreal to the strongest sprinter in the team. Joshua Huppertz is only 23 years young and has shown more than once in the Rad-Bundesliga that he has damn fast legs. But on the Deutschland Tour he's going against other calibres.
The dream of the breakaway
Twelfth place in Merzig - on the bumpy course of the previous day - was for Joshua Huppertz a great success. This was only possible because the team supported him. "You did a good job in the finale and drove Josh in front." But on the last day of the Deutschland Tour, the Lotto-Kern Haus team would like to be even more active. "Let's see that we get into the group of the day. And when two of us are up front – even better!” But the danger of an active driving style is well known. Therefore warns Florian Monreal, not to have your tooth pulled before the first mountains. In the beginning, the streets are wide and escaping is extremely difficult. "Don't drive yourself, just be ready and then follow the attacks with your eyes. You've proven all year that you can do this. And we're going to do that again today."
Joshua Huppertz finishes Germany Tour in 18th place
We make a time jump of about six hours. The fourth and final stage of the Deutschland Tour has just ended in Stuttgart. With rank 18 has itself Joshua Huppertz sold well again and the colors of Lotto-Kern Haus were presented positively. But with the breakaway group it shouldn't work out today either. Like Florian Monreal already suspected, the wide streets prevented an easy escape. It was not by chance that we were able to get involved Remy Cavagna (Quick-Step Floors) and Vasil Kiryienka (Sky) only position two pros from WorldTour teams in front of the field. For the first time, no pro-continental or continental team took part in the flight. So Lotto-Kern Haus had to be content with saving energy in the main field – and this part of the tactic worked. The attack of Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb) with Lennard Kamna you couldn't keep up, but behind the group with the top drivers Joshua Huppertz sprinted to rank 18.
At the finale of the Germany Tour, Joshua Huppertz once again achieved a top place. On the 4th stage he achieved a great 18th place and left many well-known colleagues behind... https://t.co/6oNFWfy5Xn
— Team Lotto Kern-Haus (@lottokernhaus) August 26, 2018
Interview with driver Florian Nowak
Florian, how does a team address affect you as a driver, more tactically or emotionally?
Florian Nowak: “Actually more tactically. You deal with the emotional with yourself. If we go to Stuttgart today, we will be greeted by many spectators there.”
To what extent does a driver have a say in a tactic?
Florian Nowak: "Well, together with Joshi, I'm the contact person in our team. In hectic situations, we decide. Of course we have radio, but it will take time for you to radio through. We often have to react spontaneously and suddenly. Of course, the team boss specifies the basic tactics before the race. We try to manage everything within that framework.”
You often hear about “good legs”. Something like that will probably be passed on directly and then the tactics will be adjusted.
Florian Nowak: "Exactly, definitely something like that. Yesterday, for example, Joshi and I talked just before the finish. He just had the better legs and then I sacrifice myself for him too.”
If someone doesn't follow the team's tactics and does their own thing instead, it's almost tantamount to betrayal.
Florian Nowak: "It's often an ego problem. Cycling is a team sport that is designed very individually. Of course it's sometimes difficult when you have super good legs and feel good, but then you're not allowed to drive. Maybe you don't have a contract for the coming season and are therefore pursuing your own ambitions - but then you have to put yourself at the service of your teammates. But that's really great for us, because we're such a cool group. We also like working for each other.”
When it comes to tactics, radio plays a crucial role. What's your opinion?
Florian Nowak: “It definitely does me some good for the overview of the race. But that also depends very much on the sports director. But in my opinion no race is won or lost by radio alone.”
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Interview with team manager Florian Monreal
Florian, how do you develop tactics for your Lotto-Kern Haus team before the race?
Florian Monreal: “We know in advance who the captain is in our team because he fits the profile best. The tactics are then geared towards him. Joshua is our captain on the Deutschland Tour. He showed yesterday that he can drive up there. He was also strong the day before when he attacked. But when the top riders attack over it again, you've got one in the shoe.”
Many casual viewers only see a few professionals who are fast on their bikes and in the end one wins. How important are tactics in cycling?
Florian Monreal: “Yes, the non-cycling viewer sees – as you said – just a few people riding bikes. But at the end of the day, cycling is a team sport. Riders must be kept out of the wind and positioned ahead of tight spots and finish arrivals. The route has to be discussed and everyone gets their task. Everything has to be defined so that everyone knows what they can and cannot do. If you have good team tactics and the drivers harmonize well with each other, then you will be successful.”
To what extent can the drivers in Team Lotto-Kern Haus contribute to tactical questions?
Florian Monreal: “The captain's role has already been taken, but the drivers can of course get involved by simply being there longer until the end. So they can support the captain for longer or launch another attack. Today's pros must have a feel for it themselves. It's no use telling them to drive faster and faster over the radio if they just can't drive any faster. Every professional must have a feeling for himself what he can and cannot do.”
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We would like to thank Marcel Hilger for the photos.
Here is a direct link to his homepage: www.marcelhilger.de