Cycling highlights: John Degenkolb won two monuments in 2015. After his success at Milan – Sanremo, the German also struck at Paris – Roubaix. We look back on two first-class races and on the career of the likeable exceptional athlete.
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Degenkolb wins in Sanremo & Roubaix
After Rudi Altig, Erik Zabel and Gerald Ciolek, John Degenkolb is in the year 2015 at Milan – Sanremo as the fourth German to win. Having entered the race as one of the favourites, many spectators were surprised that the then 26-year-old was able to leave cycling greats Peter Sagan, Fabian Cancellara and Alexander Kristoff behind. But it should only be the beginning. If he was beaten in seventh place at the Tour of Flanders, he caught up in the same year Paris - Roubaix to the next big win. As part of a strong group, he entered the prestigious Velodrome and ultimately won the sprint in front of Zdenek Stybar and Greg van Avermaet. And with that, John Degenkolb wrote history. Because the last German victory was celebrated here 199 years ago. Because Josef Fischer won the very first Hell of the North in 1896.
As a thank you, a pavé section was named after him
After his extremely successful year 2015, John Degenkolb had to go through a difficult time. He was part of the team that was hit by a car at a training camp in Spain in early 2016. The Brit drove on the wrong side of the road and seriously injured the pros. So Dege had to sit out for a long time and fight back. He did this in an impressive way by finally having his first in 2018 stage in the Tour de France could win - and the whole cycling world cried for joy with him. In addition, he received a special honor in early 2020. Because he saved the Le Pavé de Roubaix junior race from cancellation a year earlier with donations, the organizers named one Pavé section near Paris – Roubaix after him. John Degenkolb and the mother of all classics will remain connected forever.
John Degenkolb after his win at Paris – Roubaix:
"For years I had worked for this moment, now you have the moment and I can't even grasp it yet. Everything I gave for it paid off today.”
https://youtu.be/molidE7UCic?t=2371