Brennauer interview on the end of her career: "I was so lucky"

Around 15 years of cycling at the top of the world are enough for Lisa Brennauer. After a super year in 2021 with an Olympic victory, World Championship and European Championship titles, the 34-year-old from the Allgäu is retiring at the peak of her career.

• Brennauer announces end of career

In an interview with the German Press Agency Brennauer talks about her motivations, the inspiration of Kristina Vogel and women's cycling.

Question: Lisa Brennauer, you want to end your career as an Olympic, world and European champion. Why is that?

Lisa Brennauer: I was always told: at the end of your career, you feel when it's the right moment. I never understood it like that, but now I do. It's the right time. I had a lot of conversations after my great successes last year. That also made the decision easier for me. It didn't happen overnight, it's a process. I'm glad that I was still able to take part in the Tour de France. I think it's great that I can leave the sport with this positive energy and that I was able to choose the time myself and wasn't forced to. I could have continued doing sport for a long time. Both mentally and physically, I haven't reached the end.

Question: The 2024 Olympics were no longer a goal?

Brennauer: Paris was always incredibly far away for me, even though it's a short Olympic cycle. It never really sunk into my head that I wanted to defend the title there. Now I know why.

Question: The European Championships in Munich should be the final event?

Brennauer: Yes, I'll take everything there again. I'm also nominated for the road races. And competing on the track beforehand was a big goal of mine after I didn't know what goals to set myself last year. I'm motivated to do something in Munich.

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Question: What successes do you particularly like to think back on?

Brennauer: The really big highlight last year was the Olympic victory (in the track cycling four), which was also my biggest victory emotionally. But last year's successes in general were the most successful year of my career. What I really like to remember is the 2014 World Championships in Ponferrada with two titles in the team and individual time trial and second place in the road race. That's a week I'll never forget. The 2018 European Games in Glasgow were also a highlight because things hadn't gone so well before that.

Question: What else remains?

Brennauer: Looking back, I realise that I had relatively few setbacks due to health and injury. I'm incredibly grateful for that. Not many people have that. I once injured my finger badly or broke my upper arm on the track. But as risky as our sport is, it's actually nothing. I was so lucky.

Question: In terms of successes, you are on a par with Judith Arndt or Kristina Vogel. What does that mean to you?

Brennauer: These are people I looked up to. I always thought: If I was there ... If I were Kristina Vogel: I remember all the pictures of her cheering around the track. I just never won anything. And when I got my first international victory on the track in Glasgow, I remember that I got in touch with her straight afterwards and told her: 'I wanted to race around the track cheering like you. When you're put on the same level as people like that, it makes you proud.

Question: You mentioned the revitalised Tour de France for women. What were your impressions?

Brennauer: It was a really tough week, but also really cool. The atmosphere and so many spectators - I've never seen that in my entire career. Even when you were 15 minutes behind, people were still cheering for you. It was very special.

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Question: Will this give women's cycling the push it needs?

Brennauer: It was a great platform and a huge step forward that took place there. It's a format and a boost that women's cycling needed. But we are still a long way from where we could be. A lot is still possible. A lot has already been done with the infrastructure in the teams, but it's not the end yet. There is still a lot of room for improvement. But women's cycling is no longer an exotic sport. You can feel that.

Question: Is it possible to make a living from women's cycling?

Brennauer: That is now possible. But I'm glad to have the Bundeswehr at my side. There are really big steps if you think about the World Tour teams with their minimum salaries. But there are also surveys that show that not everyone can make a living from the sport. There are still ways to go.

Question: Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz suggested equal pay at the European Women's Football Championships. Would that also be conceivable in cycling?

Brennauer: It would be desirable. At the moment, the differences are huge, whether it's salaries or prize money. There's no need to draw comparisons. But at least the minimum salaries in the World Tour teams are pretty close. Big steps have been taken there. The prize money is an issue. In the Tour, we rode a third of the time and kilometres of the men. But we only got a tenth of the prize money.

Question: With regard to the European Football Championships or the Tour, it seems that women in sport have moved more into the spotlight.

Brennauer: That's a huge development, and it's also right and important. Also how people react to it and accept it.

Question: What does your future look like?

Brennauer: I became a professional soldier last year in the top sports promotion programme. I've been in the Bundeswehr since I left school and will definitely stay in. I'm not sure what position I'll take up. I hope that I will have the opportunity to pass on a lot of my knowledge and experience.

Question: Would you be interested in a role as a trainer?

Brennauer: I can imagine it. I have to see what options I have. It would be important for me to stay as close to the sport as possible.

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