Ackermann: "I have never experienced anything like this"
TOUR: Pascal, you've disappeared from the scene for some time now - you haven't been seen in races since your withdrawal from Paris-Roubaix in mid-April. What has happened?
Ackermann: At Paris-Roubaix, I got such muscular problems in the neutralisation phase (the race phase before the actual start; editor's note) that I couldn't pedal any more. I was already out before the race started. I've never experienced anything like it - it was pretty depressing for me too. Further examinations then revealed that I had a hairline fracture in my coccyx.
TOUR: Where did this fine bone fracture come from?
Ackermann: I had a fall at DePanne (on 23 March, five days after his first win of the season; editor's note), where I fell on my back. We did an X-ray afterwards - but you couldn't see anything. So I assumed that it was bruised - which is pretty much the same in terms of pain. I then fell on it again at the Scheldeprijs. But after a week's break I was able to train everything. During the recon for Paris-Roubaix (route inspection on the bike; editor's note) it shook everything up again - that probably wasn't the best thing for the coccyx.
"I don't want to risk anything"
TOUR: What does a broken coccyx mean - in everyday life and for a cyclist who has to sit in a racing saddle?
Ackermann: It doesn't affect my everyday life at all. I couldn't sleep on my back, but I only ever sleep on my side anyway. It would only be a problem if I spent the whole day lying on the couch watching television. I didn't even notice it for four weeks. Sitting on the saddle isn't the problem, as I'm leaning forwards on the road bike - so there's no load on the coccyx. But when I want to put power on the pedals when cycling, I notice a slight twitch. That's why I don't want to take any risks.
TOUR: You made your grand entrance at the Giro d'Italia three years ago. Back then, you won two stages and the Maglia Ciclamino, the lilac-coloured jersey for the best points scorer. What memories do you still have of that race?
Ackermann: The Giro d'Italia is still one of my favourite races - simply because I've celebrated some of my greatest successes there by far. That's why I'd love to be there now!
Winning the stage was the goal
TOUR: What were the special emotions back then at the Giro?
Ackermann: The goal at the time was to win a stage. But I didn't know how it would go over three weeks. It was then a surprise effect that it worked right at the start and continued like that.
TOUR: It was your first three-week tour as a professional cyclist and you won the first bunch sprint of the race. How does a sprinter experience a Grand Tour? From a purely topographical point of view, there are many ups and downs due to the many high mountains...
Ackermann: Basically, I have to say: I'm not the sprinter who doesn't want to ride mountains at all. I'm happy when there's a mountain stage. But three weeks is tough. You go through all the emotions - from the best day of your life to nothing at all. There was one day when I fell off right after the start on the mountain and the team had to wait for me to get back into the peloton.
"I couldn't get away from the television"
TOUR: Do you watch the Giro d'Italia on television?
Ackermann: Yes, I'm also a bit of a cycling fan! I watched the stage where Lenny (Lennard Kämna; editor's note) was in the leading group. I'm really good friends with Lenny - I couldn't take my eyes off the TV. I won't be watching the sprint stages in full, just the final.
TOUR: After the successes at the Giro d'Italia and the following year at the Vuelta a Espana, where you also won two stages, it looked like you had lost the thread of your career a bit?
Ackermann: I lost touch during the corona period - I don't know why. I trained really well - maybe a bit too much. After that, I was exhausted. And in 2021 I was in a really good mood, I rode better than usual. But I was missing the results.
"What he can do, I should actually be able to do too"
TOUR: Mark Cavendish recently made his comeback as a top sprinter. And Lennard Kämna also had a few crises behind him as a cyclist before he celebrated his stage win on Mount Etna at the Giro d'Italia. What can you learn from this?
Ackermann: When I saw Lenny, I was so happy for him - after last year! I thought to myself: what he can do, I should be able to do too.
TOUR: You want to win a mountain finish on Mount Etna as a sprinter?
Ackermann: (laughs) Maybe not that. But I definitely want to be really fit for the European Championships and the Vuelta. I have to take the positives out of it and tell myself that the crash was quite good for the rest of the season.
Ackermann: "We still have a bone to pick with the EM"
TOUR: You mentioned the European Championships in Munich. What appeals to you about road racing?
Ackermann: Firstly, that it's a home European Championships. I also have a bone to pick with the European Championships - I've already finished third there twice (2019 in Alkmaar and 2020 in Plouay; editor's note). I really want this jersey. I think the course is perfect for me - there are a few mountains at the start and it gets flatter towards the end.
"I'll be back sooner than most people think"
TOUR: Have you spoken to the German Cycling Federation about the European Championships?
Ackermann: We haven't spoken in concrete terms yet. But for me personally, it's a huge goal. I think I'll be in such good shape by then that they won't be able to get past me. There are more sprinters in Germany. But if I'm not the strongest in Germany, then I wouldn't be in contention for the title anyway.
TOUR: You have your long-term goals in sight. What's next for you?
Ackermann: I'm waiting for my coccyx to say: you can start again! I think I'll be back sooner than most people think.
Andreas Kublik
Editor
