John Degenkolb in a TOUR interview: "I still have what it takes to be at the front in the big races"
Daniel Brickwedde
· 26.03.2024
John Degenkolb at Tirreno-Adriatico
This spring brings new impressions for John Degenkolb. For the first time since 2013, the Tirreno-Adriatico long-distance race was back on his racing schedule - instead of the usual preparation for Paris-Nice. This change is due to Degenkolb's new role in the dsm-firmenich PostNL team: In the autumn of his career, the 35-year-old is primarily in demand as a mentor and leader - for young sprinter Casper van Uden, among others. And this year, he started at Tirreno-Adriatico, so Degenkolb was also in the line-up there.
After stage 4 of the long-distance race, Degenkolb took some time to talk to TOUR about another topic: the Pavé Classics - in particular Paris-Roubaix, Degenkolb's highlight every year. In 2015, he won the monument in northern France, and in 2018 he also took a stage win at the Tour de France in Roubaix.
Last year, after a few years of poor results, Degenkolb was suddenly back at the front in the final of Paris-Roubaix - before an unfortunate collision with Mathieu van der Poel brought him down. In an interview with TOUR, Degenkolb talks about why he doesn't blame van der Poel, why he doesn't look at the competition during the races and what motivates him to continue as a professional cyclist for at least another year, even at the age of 35.
John Degenkolb in a TOUR interview
TOUR: Mr Degenkolb, your start to the season looked a little different this year: No Omloop het Nieuwsblad and no Paris-Nice, but Le Samyn and Tirreno-Adriatico instead. Was there a deeper reason for this?
John Degenkolb: There's no single reason for this, but it's a bit more complex. As a team, we decided that Nils Eekhoff and I would ride one less classic this year with Omloop het Nieuwsblad. This has already paid off in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne with Nils' fifth place. We then had a bit of bad luck with technical problems at Le Samyn. But I didn't feel quite as fresh after Kuurne either. I've only raced Tirreno-Adriatico once before in my career because I'm actually a permanent starter at Paris-Nice. Since the start of the season, however, I've been riding the races with our sprinter Casper van Uden. The team always makes sure that the group stays together. And since Casper rode Tirreno, I also slipped into the race.
TOUR: Does the new race planning make a difference in the preparation for the big classics in April? And was there an optimal route to the classics for you in the past?
John Degenkolb: That doesn't really make a difference. My situation as a racer and within the team has also changed quite a lot in the meantime. I'm now only in a protected role in the classics and someone who has to achieve results. In the other races, I'm the one who protects the others for as long as possible. That's why you can't compare it with previous years. Back then, I was often the leader at Paris-Nice and even wore the yellow jersey there once. That has already changed. For me personally, it's important that I have a relatively hard race block in the run-up to the race. At Tirreno-Adriatico there were several stages over 200 kilometres and sometimes with adverse weather conditions. This is therefore good preparation for the classics.
Degenkolb: Experience at Paris-Roubaix more important than at other races
TOUR: Last year, at least the preparation seemed to have worked well. At Paris-Roubaix, you were suddenly back at the front in the final. What conclusions did you draw as to why things went much better in 2023 than in previous years?
John Degenkolb: I simply had good form in the spring. Not just at Roubaix, the positive trend was already apparent in the races before that. Many things can influence your form: Being ill for a short time, missing a race and having to reschedule as a result - these are factors that are out of your control. Last year, however, I was able to capitalise on the momentum - in combination with my experience, which is even more important in Paris-Roubaix than in other races. That was ultimately the key to success. Whereby success is to be put in inverted commas ...
TOUR: In the final stage, you crashed in the Carrefour de l'Arbre sector after a collision with the eventual winner Mathieu van der Poel. In the end, you finished in seventh place.
John Degenkolb: More would have been possible that day. In the end, the crash was a stupid coincidence. I didn't want to brake, Mathieu didn't want to brake - and when you don't have any asphalt under your tyres, you slip. At that moment I couldn't really do anything and the next moment I was lying on the ground and had to wait for my spare bike. That was the end of the race. But I don't blame Mathieu personally. He didn't do it on purpose, but was pushed in my direction by his team-mate. It was simply an unfortunate chain of events. We didn't talk about it afterwards. But I'm not angry with him. It was a racing accident that can happen.
Degenkolb: "Normally not so celebrated for seventh place"
TOUR: In the Roubaix velodrome, however, you couldn't hide your tears of disappointment at the outcome of the race. How long did it take you to come to terms with the outcome of the race?
John Degenkolb: That was a major setback. On the other hand, I also drew a lot of motivation from the race: I still have what it takes to be in the final of the big races. And it was good that I saved seventh place for the finish. But I had to really fight for it. When I drove into the velodrome, the atmosphere was crazy. That was really cool. Normally you don't get celebrated like that for seventh place. But on that day it was the story of the race. That's the beauty of cycling.
TOUR: You've been taking part in the big spring classics for over ten years. How have the races changed?
John Degenkolb: Today, the races open much earlier. Some of the favourites are no longer afraid to put their cards on the table 100 kilometres before the finish. You could already see that last year at Paris-Roubaix and other races. And this year it has been topped once again by Tadej Pogacar at the Strade Bianche (Pogacar broke away as a soloist 80 kilometres before the finish; editor's note) or Wout van Aert at Kurrne-Brussels-Kuurne (van Aert attacked 90 kilometres before the finish; editor's note). The performances that you have to ride definitely get higher every year. You have to be fitter to get through everything.
TOUR: What does this early, offensive riding style do to your head?
John Degenkolb: It's important to ride your own race. I never really thought about when Mathieu van der Poel or Wout van Aert would attack. You have to make a plan beforehand and think about how you can achieve your best result. Last year, for example, when Wout van Aert attacked early in Paris-Roubaix, I knew in that sector that I had to be at the front. And then it was a coincidence that I was on Wout's rear wheel. But then you also need the legs to keep up.
Degenkolb and the question of when to end his career
TOUR: Just a few weeks ago, you extended your contract with the dsm-firmenich PostNL team, which was due to expire at the end of the season, for another year. What was the deciding factor?
John Degenkolb: First and foremost, that I feel comfortable in the team. This is the team where I actually want to end my career. However, it would have been too early for me personally at the end of this season. That's why we started talking about an extension early on after last season. I think I'm at an age where you look from year to year and then decide early on whether you want to continue - or not. Being a professional cyclist is a big investment. Because I'm also a family man, have two great children and a wonderful wife at home who has to run the place on her own when I'm travelling. So it's always an issue that's on my mind: Can I still give this investment, throw everything into it and put the family on the back burner? Or has the moment come for me to end my career? But I'm not saying that 2025 will be my last year.
TOUR: In the autumn of your career, you found a new role in the team as mentor and road captain. To what extent was that also a motivation to continue?
John Degenkolb: For me, it's totally fulfilling when I can share my experience with a young sprinter like Casper van Uden and we benefit from it as a team. And when success comes along, it's really cool. That's what sport is all about for me. When I was Casper's age, Roy Curvers helped me as road captain - today he is the team's sporting director. I grew up with the fact that you get support from someone who looks at cycling with completely different eyes than a 22-year-old. That's why it's a dream for me to continue to be successful in the autumn of my career - even if I no longer have the explosiveness and agility in sprints and can no longer get the watts on the pedals. But I still know what I have to do and can help young people on their way.
TOUR: Let's get back to Paris-Roubaix. You have been an ambassador for the organisation since 2018 "Les Amis de Paris-Roubaix"who, among other things, is responsible for maintaining the pavé sectors. In 2019, you played a key role in saving the junior race. As the only active rider, you now have a pavé sector in the race that bears your name. Do people suffer less on this section?
John Degenkolb: Last year, at least, it was something very special when I was the first rider from the leading group to get there. Family and friends stood at the side of the track. That was definitely a goosebump moment that I will never forget. I was in the group with Mads Pedersen, who is now a good friend of mine. Just before the sector, I told him that I wanted to be the first to go in there. He just said: don't stress, it's yours.
TOUR: What goals have you set yourself for the upcoming Pavé classics?
John Degenkolb: Getting the maximum out of my tired and old legs (laughs). Joking aside. I hope that I can make the most of the opportunities that present themselves. Not just for myself, but also as a team. One or two top results would be my big wish. But the top priority is Paris-Roubaix. That is definitely the race where my main focus lies. But until then there are other opportunities and good races.
