Nils Politt in a TOUR interview: "Second place at Paris-Roubaix still annoys me"
Daniel Brickwedde
· 20.03.2024
Nils Politt: About the person
- Nationality: Germany
- Born: 6 March 1994 in Cologne
- Size: 1.92 metres
- Weight: 80 kilogrammes
- Teams: Team Stölting (2013-2015), Team Katjuscha-Alpecin (2016-2019), Israel Cycling Academy (2020), Bora-Hansgrohe (2021-2023), Team UAE Emirates (since 2024)
- Greatest successes: 1 stage victory Tour de France 2021, 2nd place Paris-Roubaix 2019, overall victory Tour of Germany 2021, German Road Race Champion 2022, German Time Trial Champion 2023, 1st place Rund um Köln 2022
Nils Politt in a TOUR interview
TOUR: Nils Politt, the carnival season is already a few weeks behind us, but for you as a Rhinelander: Did carnival and preparing for the Classics get in the way again?
Nils Politt: That is indeed an issue. This year is the third time I've been invited by the Cologne festival committee for the Rose Monday parade. That's something very special. Unfortunately, it's never worked out for me so far, and not this year either, because I'm travelling to the Algarve on Rose Monday. That really hurts. But the job clearly comes first. As a professional cyclist, I have to cut back on carnival every year.
TOUR: During the season break, you regularly take part in six-day races, such as the Bremen Sixdays. Does the fun outweigh the excitement or does it also have an effect on your preparation for the season?
Nils Politt: I definitely enjoy it. I grew up on the track and had my first successes there as a junior, winning national titles and German championships. At that time, there were still many six-day races in Germany, including in Cologne and Dortmund. I went to many of them with my parents as a child - and then always wanted to ride there myself. Since then, I've tried to take part in at least one six-day race every year. I also enjoy being on the track in winter in general. It's a nice change from the rigours of training on the road. Riding behind the Derny with just one gear and high revs - I quite like that.
TOUR: Do you need the team's approval to start in the six-day races?
Nils Politt: Yes, I need the team's approval. Without that, I wouldn't be allowed to do it.
TOUR: Your team for the 2024 season is now UAE Team Emirates instead of Bora-Hansgrohe. What prompted you to change teams?
Nils Politt: The team had already knocked on my door once in a contract year. And in 2023, UAE contacted me again early on. The team has got stronger year on year. That's why I said to myself: that would really appeal to me - just from the riders who are on the team. They are many world-class athletes. Riding with them and being part of the team was definitely an incentive.
TOUR: What sporting arguments convinced you?
Nils Politt: There were many sprinters on the Bora team. From Sam Bennett to Danny van Poppel and Marco Haller to Jordi Meeus - they are all extremely fast riders. During the races, we were sometimes told that we should look to get into the sprint with this or that rider. In terms of my riding style, however, I'm someone who likes to go all out - a type of rider who is open and honest, as I always say. That suits UAE well. This team likes to show its strengths on the offensive. That's where I saw myself more.
TOUR: Boras team manager Ralph Denk gave an interview to the GCN portal in winter, which was published under the headline: "Politt's performance did not match his salary". Denk later toned down this formulation, but maintained his position: You would not have fulfilled expectations with the classics. How did you take these statements?
Nils Politt: In the end, I have to record it professionally. Of course, the results weren't there. But I didn't ride a bad Classics season in 2023 - apart from Paris-Roubaix, where I was so focussed that I fell ill beforehand and couldn't call on my performance. The problem is that you have to be 100 per cent fit for the five important races in the Classics season - nothing can get in the way in the two and a half weeks. That's not easy for a rider. In 2021, for example, I'm in with two top ten finishes at the Opening Weekend (Tenth place at Omloop het Nieuwsblad, seventh place at Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne; editor's note). started the season. I felt really good back then. But then it started again with corona: We were in quarantine for three days, not allowed to leave the hotel and not allowed to start at the E3 Harelbeke. The situation was pretty tricky. It was difficult to get out of that hole.
TOUR: How do you look back on your three years at Bora-Hansgrohe?
Nils Politt: I definitely wouldn't want to miss that time. Personally, I have taken another huge step forward. There were also some great successes: I became German champion on the road and in the individual time trial, won Rund um Köln and the Tour of Germany. Of course, the Tour de France stage win in 2021 is right at the top of the list, making a childhood dream come true. That's the accolade for every cyclist.
TOUR: In 2019, you were one of the top riders in the classics. That may have raised your own hopes and expectations. In the years that followed, however, you were unable to build on these performances. How do you deal with that?
Nils Politt: I've never done badly. In 2019, everything just went like clockwork. But back then I was considered the underdog - when I attacked, the others thought: let him go. When I attack now, some riders immediately set off alarm bells. That's why it's become much more difficult for me. Since 2019, I've always tried to do everything the same in terms of training and build-up. I've been able to achieve some top ten results since then, but I've never reached the level I was at back then. Unfortunately, corona also got in the way. But I tick something like that off relatively quickly.
TOUR: At Paris-Roubaix in 2019, you arrived at the velodrome together with Philippe Gilbert - you ultimately finished second in the sprint and missed out on the big coup. How often do you still think about the finish?
Nils Politt: Unfortunately, the finish sprint is often repeated on television. That's why I'm still struggling with it. Especially as I grew up on the track. My sprint was all the worse. As I was riding at the top of the balustrade on the railing, I more or less left Gilbert a gap - so the race was actually lost. By the time he tipped over to open his sprint and I was able to react, it was too late.
TOUR: Some riders avoid the Pavé classics, but not you. What excites you about it?
Nils Politt: That's relatively simple: I rode a lot in Belgium as a young rider and learnt to love the races early on. I also achieved my first successes as a junior at these races. When I turned pro at Katjuscha in 2016, the team also sent me to Belgium early on, including to the Le Samyn races and the Three Days of West Flanders. I achieved good results there straight away (Politt finished fifth at Le Samyn and third in West Flanders; editor's note). That gave me a taste of blood. However, Paris-Roubaix suits me best, as the profile is flatter there. And I can play to my strengths better than in the Tour of Flanders.
TOUR: What role does Flemish cycling culture and the history of the classics play in this?
Nils Politt: What football is to us in Germany, cycling is to Belgium. The culture surrounding these races is pretty crazy. When you ride up the Oude Kwaramont and you can no longer hear your own sports director on the radio, then you know what's going on. The way people cheer on the riders is crazy. That's why the races are so much fun. But I have to admit that I didn't pay as much attention to the history. That led to a funny situation with Katyusha. We were on a reconnaissance ride for Paris-Roubaix when a hobby rider came by, was greeted by everyone as a matter of course and rode along with us for a bit. I thought to myself: What kind of amateur can pedal like that? Afterwards, Torsten Schmidt, our sporting director, asked me: Did you know him? I really didn't know. He then told me it was Johan Museeuw (three-time winner of the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix; editor's note) been. Me: Who is Johan Museeuw? I really put my foot in it (laughs). I didn't know the name back then, but of course I know it now.
TOUR: How do you rate your new UAE team for the Classics? And what is your role?
Nils Politt: We are a good team. Tim Wellens, Mikkel Bjerg, Rui Oliveira, plus Marc Hirschi, who will also be trying his hand at the classics - these are some high-calibre riders. I will also take on a leading role, I want to ride as far up the front as possible and deliver my best performance. Then we'll see what comes out of it. However, we will start with an open tactic. That's the beauty of it. Because we are not tied down to one person.
TOUR: In 2023, your team-mate Tadej Pogacar won the Tour of Flanders in impressive style. This year he is skipping the classics. Are you secretly worried that he will go for the classics again in 2025?
Nils Politt: No, not at all. To be honest, I even hope that he will return to the classics in 2025. He's a lot of fun to work with. When you have a leader in the team who can win the race, it gives the whole team a significant boost. Even if he says he wants to ride Paris-Roubaix - then he should go for it.
TOUR: Doesn't that harm your chances? Pogacar should then be the undisputed captain.
Nils Politt: Sure, that's true. But you also have to look at the team. The better rider should win. On the other hand, Tadej can also make life much easier for a second rider, as everyone is only looking at him.
TOUR: As Pogacar's team-mate, how quickly do you realise that he's an exceptional guy?
Nils Politt: Oh, you can feel that relatively quickly in the training camp (laughs). When he rides full throttle with us, it's not easy. He then starts pedalling and is happy when we are sweating on his rear wheel. But Tadej is a cool team-mate, absolutely cheerful and easy-going. He takes time for you and you can just tell that he enjoys cycling. That also gives him the odd extra percentage point, is my impression.
TOUR: At 30, you are now firmly established in cycling. What are your plans for the end of your career?
Nils Politt: Second place at Paris-Roubaix still annoys me. It would be great to win there. Of course, the competition is fierce, but you need an incentive. To be on the podium again in a classic would be a great dream. I would also like to win another stage in a Grand Tour, but I don't really care which one. So far I've only competed in the Tour de France. I would like to tackle the Giro d'Italia once. But at some point you have to be realistic with your ambitions. The years of my career are melting away. It feels like yesterday when I turned pro in 2016 (laughs). There are also a few older riders at UAE, but sometimes you're sitting at the team table in the evening and at 30 you're the oldest in the group - if Rafal Majka isn't there. I do worry about that.
TOUR: With a high-calibre team like the UAE, isn't there a great danger that you will be used mainly as a helper?
Nils Politt: I will definitely be given my freedom. The team knows about my strengths. At the Tour de France, however, I am clearly there as a helper. I am happy and grateful to take on this task. Because with this team we can win the Tour. That's another thing that appeals to me: To be there when a team wins the yellow jersey. My job will then be to keep Pogacar out of the wind, especially on the flat stages.
TOUR: Your new team UAE is sponsored by the United Arab Emirates, which is often criticised for human rights violations. Did that concern you when you changed teams?
Nils Politt: Of course I've given it some thought. Nevertheless, it has to be said that the Emirates are also involved with all the big football clubs. And they invest in sport. That's extremely important for us athletes. Otherwise we would lose another team. And new sponsors are difficult to find. In Germany, we have enough big companies that could set up their own World Tour team. Unfortunately, they don't do it. In that sense, you have to give the Emirates credit for their commitment.
TOUR: The Austrian company Red Bull will be involved with Bora-Hansgrohe in the future. A big name. Could this be a door opener for other sponsors in cycling?
Nils Politt: That in any case. Red Bull is a strong signal for cycling to the outside world. Maybe it will make a big company from Germany want to do something of their own. There are enough companies that could do it. Many sponsors are slowly getting back into cycling. Lidl, for example, has joined Team Trek.
TOUR: The number of so-called "Superteams" in cycling is growing - in other words, teams whose budgets are significantly higher than those of other teams. Your UAE team is also one of them, and soon Bora-Hansgrohe with the support of Red Bull. How do you rate this development?
Nils Politt: You can see this above all in the drivers that these teams buy. In recent years, you've seen how many world-class riders UAE and Visma | Lease a Bike have in their ranks. That's great for the team, and for me too. However, if the good riders were divided up a bit more between the teams, it would be even more attractive. Nevertheless, I'm looking forward to the Tour de France with excitement. Bora-Hansgrohe will now be sending a strong team to France with Primoz Roglic, Visma | Lease a Bike with Vingegaard, and we also have a strong team. It's going to be an extremely strong Tour.
TOUR: The Tour de France is immediately followed by the Olympic Games in Paris. Is that also a goal for you?
Nils Politt: The Olympics play a relatively big role for me. I could have competed in Tokyo 2021, but then the birth of my son intervened (laughs). I've always said to myself: I want to take part in the Olympic Games once in my career. The course in Paris could suit me well. However, the time trial takes place one week after the Tour de France. That's extremely tough. Nevertheless, it's one of the biggest sporting events you can take part in. I'm really looking forward to it.
