TOUR: Almost exactly a year ago, you fell ill with coronavirus in the middle of your pre-season preparations and never really found your feet afterwards. For a classics specialist like you, the illness came at the worst possible time. So how much are you looking forward to the spring races this year?
Jonas Rutsch: Last year, my season went down the drain during this period. I wasn't able to ride the opening weekend, even though I had started the season well and had good results. Then I couldn't do anything for two or three weeks, which meant I missed the most important moment of the season for a classics rider. Now the most important preparation for the big races begins, everyone has done their homework. Now it's all about collecting the races and getting into the race rhythm. If you're in the Italian one-day races or even later, it's too late.
TOUR: You were still fit for Paris-Roubaix. But then you suffered the next setback in the Hell of the North ...
Slide: I had managed to maintain a decent level to some extent. But after Arenberg I had to (due to a defect, editor's note) four minutes waiting for the support vehicle. Then that was also over and the next stage. I then pressed the reset button with an altitude training camp and a good Tour de Suisse.
TOUR: Where you won the last starting place in your team for the Tour de France.
Slide: But nothing worked in France. I suffered like never before in a cycling race and hoped from rest day to rest day. We now assume that I had corona a second time after it had almost eliminated the whole team in Switzerland.
TOUR: That sounds as if you want to settle a score this season.
Slide: I don't want to say anything. But I'm in good shape both mentally and physically, I hope I stay healthy and get off to a good start in the classics season.
TOUR: Like many other teams, your EF Education-Easy Post team battled against World Tour relegation in the pre-season. How much did this issue affect you mentally, as your legs sometimes didn't want to do what you thought they would?
Slide: Of course, that was omnipresent. I first had to make sure that I did my job as a driver, because the existence of the team depended on it. I believe that the situation at the time helped the whole team. Everyone knows that they can rely on each other and have to score points. You only have to look at the current results.
Over the past three years, I have already shown that I am a force to be reckoned with. Now it's time to turn that into a result.
TOUR: Your team has already won more races this season than in the entire previous year. What is your personal goal?
Slide: I also want to win a bike race this year (laughs). Over the past three years, I've already shown that I'm a force to be reckoned with. Now it's all about turning that into a result. I've worked hard for this and I'm looking forward to it.
TOUR: Every classics specialist wants to be the first to cross the finish line in Roubaix. You made people sit up and take notice with your 11th place two years ago. What's in it for you this year?
Slide: My focus is on the spring races. With the opening weekend in Belgium (Omloop Het Nieuwsblat on 25 February and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne on 26 February, editor's note). and Paris-Nice is when things really get going. That's the end of the fun and you have to deliver. Paris-Roubaix is perhaps a lofty goal, but of course I already have ambitions for the race because I fit in quite well as a rider.
Jonas Rutsch - about the person
The 25-year-old is entering his fourth season as a professional for the US team EF Education Easy Post. The Odenwald native, who has lived near Miltenberg in Lower Franconia since last year, celebrated the greatest success of his young career to date with an eleventh place at Paris-Roubaix 2021. The 1.97 metre tall dross is about to be appointed police commissioner. "It was always important to me to have a second mainstay alongside cycling," says Rutsch. After starting at the Tour Down Under (35th place), the classics specialist will begin the spring race season on 25 February with the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad in Belgium.
Julian Schultz
Editor
