Looking back: Nico Denz delivered one of the great German successes in the 2022 cycling year. 28-year-old won on 17 June the mountain finish in Moosalp at the Tour de Suisse - in the photo finish after 177 kilometres and 4200 metres of climbing. In his biggest victory, he had to wait anxious minutes before he could really celebrate. Four years ago, he had won the Giro d'Italia narrowly missed out on a stage win in the battle against Matej Mohoric. He is moving from Team DSM to Bora-Hansgrohe for the new season.
Interview: Andreas Kublik
Nico Denz
Nationality: German
Date of birth: 15 February 1994 in Waldshut-Tiengen
Height: 1.83 metres; 71 kg
Place of residence: Albbruck
Professional since: 2015
Teams: Chambery Cyclisme Formation (2013-2015), AG2R La Mondiale (2015-2019), Sunweb/DSM (2020-2022), Bora-Hansgrohe (from 2023)
Major successes: Tour de Vendee (2018), Tour of Slovakia stage win (2020), Tour de Suisse stage win (2022)
TOUR: Nico, you rode for many years as a team assistant for the AG2R, Sunweb and DSM teams. What does 17 June mean to you?
Denz: It was definitely the biggest win of my career - by far. I showed flashes of my ability from time to time. Many years ago at the Tour de l'Avenir (the most important stage race in the U23 category; editor's note), I won the yellow jersey after the first uphill finish, so I've shown in the past that I can also ride uphill. But, of course, winning the Tour de Suisse was a completely different story.
Denz crowns breakaway attempt
TOUR: For a water carrier and team assistant like you, a lot of things have to come together to make such a success possible ...
Denz: I had clearly come to the Tour de Suisse as a helper. But then a lot of people were out of the race because of Covid - including those I should have helped in our team (including classification rider Thymen Arensman and sprinter Cees Bol; editor's note). There were only three of us left in the race at DSM. I said to myself: Go back into the group - that's a good effort that I can take with me for the season. I rode out of the peloton to the breakaway group and realised that I had really good legs. I just went with the flow, I didn't have to take any responsibility because I wasn't the favourite for the stage win. The conditions were in my favour: A headwind on the climb, a few flat sections on the final climb where I could catch my breath and it was flat at the top. I simply had the day of my life.
I was only racing against myself.
TOUR: You certainly weren't the strongest climber in the group, given the long final ascent to over 2000 metres above sea level. What was going on in your head - it looked like a big battle on TV?
Denz: I was just driving against myself. I no longer know what I was thinking. I was in the rhythm, I got everything out of me to keep going. I had put the elevation profile for the next few kilometres on my Wahoo (bike computer; editor's note) - with the gradient percentages in different colours. I said to myself: Until the next yellow colour. Or that's when it turns green again. I only rode in small segments, fighting my way up in small steps. And at some point the mountain was over.
TOUR: The water and sweat were pouring off your head - it was an extreme day ...
Denz: It was ultra-hot. But I had great support from the sports director. I only ever had one bottle on my bike to save every gram. I got fresh bottles from the car, always poured one over my head and kept myself cool with fresh ice. That was crucial in the final.
Almost missed the victory
TOUR: Then - unusually for a mountain finish - there was a thrilling sprint finish by a group of five riders.
Denz: I was actually sure that I would win because I was the fastest. But then I nearly mucked it up on the last bend. I thought: That's it again: story of my life. Very close - but nothing again.
Tour: You're alluding to the Giro d'Italia 2018. Back then, after a long escape, you narrowly lost the two-man sprint against Matej Mohoric to win a very difficult 244-kilometre stage. What was the mistake this time?
Denz: I wanted to turn right straight away onto the inside lane. But I was a bit too late. And then Champoussin took the racing line. I didn't give up and drove the long way round first. Thankfully, Champoussin opened the door for me and I was able to get back on the shortest line and came in with a lot more speed. To my advantage, the finish line was diagonal.
Huge joy
TOUR: It took a while for the finish photo to be analysed. When did you know that you had won?
Denz: I was at the finish line with my coach. Then the chaperone came and said I had to go to doping control. Then I asked: So I won? And he said: Yes, yes, you won. That was really emotional! Then all the tension fell away - it was just pure joy.
TOUR: Other racing cyclists are measured by the number of victories they win each season. For someone like you, with your role in professional cycling, victories are rare: It was your third in eight years as a pro. What has this victory changed for you?
Denz: I was finally able to show that I can win races - if I get the chance. Maybe this victory opened the door for me to switch to Bora-Hansgrohe - even if I don't know if that was the deciding factor. For me, this victory was hugely important after your difficult time: I had a lot of bad luck in 2021, it felt like all the crashes of my career. And last spring I fell ill with Covid.
When there's work to be done, I'm not above anything.
TOUR: Talking of opportunities: last September in Australia, you competed in a Road World Championship in the national jersey for the third time in your career. There, together with team-mate Miguel Heidemann, you sacrificially chased down a leading group that the German team had missed out on until you were at the end of your tether. Is that your typical role as a professional cyclist?
Denz: Definitely. If there's work to be done, I'm not above anything. If I'm told to do something, I do it. Rolf Aldag (sports director of Bora-Hansgrohe; editor's note) said to me: "They didn't bring me in to win ten races a year, more to improve the support squad. But there are always situations in which a man is sent to the front of a leading group for tactical reasons. And I've now shown that: I can also perform myself when everything fits together.
TOUR: What are your specific goals - for 2023 and beyond?
Denz: In the short term, I want to integrate well into the team and perform at a high level. My big dream is to be part of a Grand Tour victory and play my part.
Denz on time in France
TOUR: You are riding for a racing team based in Germany for the first time. You grew up in France with Chambery Cyclisme Formation, the junior team of AG2R La Mondiale. How did that come about?
Denz: At the time, I had a coach from Switzerland who asked the French teams whether there was still a place for me. I live in the south of Germany on the Upper Rhine - so it wasn't any further away than the German teams. I met with team boss Louis Varnet at the Junior World Championships in Valkenburg (2012). At the time, it was also important to my parents that there was a "double projet" in Chambéry, i.e. a two-track career, not just cycling. I said to myself: this is the junior team of a professional team - this is my chance, I have to do it. I loaded up my car and drove to France.
TOUR: Sounds simple ...
Denz: I ignored the risks. I didn't speak a word of French and moved out at the age of 18. I learnt a lot - including things for life: I lived alone, did my own laundry, cleaned the flat myself. I got to know wonderful people. It was a great time. I now speak fluent French. It was definitely the right decision.
Andreas Kublik
Editor
