Cycling: The year 2023 is also the year of Georg Zimmermann. He won a stage at the Critérium du Dauphiné and almost clinched a stage win at the Tour de France as well. We spoke to him on the sidelines of the Germany tour.
You've made a decent leap in development this season. Did this come as a surprise to you or did you change important things?
George Zimmerman: “No, it didn't really come as a surprise to me and I didn't really change anything. I just stayed safe from injuries and falls for a long time. I attribute my positive development to this.”
At the Critérium du Dauphiné you won a stage in a curious way. Mathieu Burgaudeau was able to reestablish contact in the last kilometer. You sprinted him anyway. What was going on in your head?
“When I saw that he was getting closer, I deliberately took out. I figured it was better than trying to beat him like hell. I thought I'd better let him come back so I can sprint against him with full batteries."
At the Tour de France it almost worked out. Only Pello Bilbao was faster that day. What do you learn from such experiences?
“You learn that you just have to be strong and do everything right. Above all, I take away the fact that it is possible to beat such good drivers. For example, there was also a Ben O'Connor in the group and I was able to beat them all. But the most important thing is knowing that if I do everything right, I can win a stage on the Tour.”
Last year you finished fourth overall at the Deutschland Tour. Is your goal now to finish on the podium?
“Of course I will do my best again. In recent years I've always finished in the top 5. I definitely have the confidence to do that again.”
How do you approach a 2,3-kilometer prologue? Just go full throttle?
“You go full throttle. You don't let up. And then at the back you add a shovel to it.”