Cycling: Fans call him "Simoni" or "the most beautiful beard in the peloton". Simon Geschke (CCC) enjoys a high reputation both among drivers and spectators. On the Deutschland Tour he can – as he reveals in our Velomotion interview – enjoy freedom.
Simon, how important is the Germany Tour?
Simon Geschke: “Every race is important. The junior races are particularly important. Although the Deutschland Tour with its HC category is not a race for youngsters, some Continental teams can present themselves here. And they can go head-to-head with WorldTour riders. This is of course very important for German cycling. It's also great for the fans when they now have a race on their doorstep again and don't have to drive so far to watch it."
What is your role on the Deutschland Tour? Stages 2,3, 4 and XNUMX should suit you.
Simon Geschke: “Yes, I definitely get my freedoms. The first stage is more like rolling up. However, you have to be careful every day, because the round trip will definitely be decided by a few seconds. And of course we should also keep an eye on the overall standings. Then we'll see where we end up on Sunday."
You made the switch to CCC before this season, which came as a surprise to many. How satisfied are you with this decision and with how the team is developing?
Simon Geschke: “The team is developing really well. It wasn't a completely new team either, but emerged from the existing BMC team. You can tell that 80 percent of the team emerged from this structure and continues to exist. A well-functioning organization is simply very important.”
You eat mostly vegan. Is this diet difficult for a professional cyclist?
Simon Geschke: “Most of the time we have our own chef with us. He's handling it quite well. And at home it's no problem for me anyway. I think many people think that this is more difficult than it really is. It's only difficult when you're in public places like airports or train stations. But if you're a little organized, you can do it.”
You are also known as the "most beautiful beard in the peloton". How did that happen?
Simon Geschke: "I thought it up myself (laughs). No, nonsense. No idea. It just sort of evolved at some point. But I'm almost the only one."
What tips can you give a young rider who wants to go pro?
Simon Geschke: “You just have to stay on the ball. Especially when you are young you should skip one or the other party. But otherwise I can only give the tip to always have fun. It's not always easy to get everything done outside of school. At least I had my problems with that. And even in winter you sometimes don't feel like it. But you can’t do it without having fun in sport.”
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