What a start that would have been. 19 years old, only his fifth day of racing as a professional. And Emil Herzog was already celebrating at the Trofeo Palma on Mallorca. But then he realised that although he had crossed the finish line, he still had two laps to go. He meekly dropped back into the field and then had to shake his head as he was passed through the peloton.
It is unclear how this unconventional scene came about, whether it was communication problems or the spectators in the finish area and on the TV screen witnessing the "team christening" of a brash young professional. But either way, the scene provided a deep insight into the first season as a professional for the 2022 Junior World Champion, as Herzog repeatedly presented himself as aggressive, full of self-confidence and perhaps a little cheeky at times.
Good start to the season for Herzog in Spain and Arabia
After a year in the US talent factory Hagens Berman Axeon, Herzog, who had made the step across the pond from the junior team of Bora-Hansgrohe, Team Auto Eder, signed a contract with the only German team with a World Tour licence. This had been planned shortly after his junior days, said the Bavarian from Simmerberg in the Allgäu at a press conference at the beginning of the year. The almost wasted year in the USA, in which he was barely able to race, let alone perform, due to a protracted inflammation in his heart, did not play a role in his quick return.
This made it all the more important for the youngster, who wanted to test out where his strengths really lie in his neo-pro season, to get the season off to a good start. He was already in good form on Mallorca. And when he wasn't cheering too early, he was a good helper for Aleksandr Vlasov when he took his first podium places. Herzog then travelled with the team to Oman. At the Muscat Classic, he once again proved to be a breakaway rider. Only on the final climb, less than ten kilometres from the end, was he caught again by a hard-working peloton.
Herzog the youngest ever starter in Flanders
By then, the most important time of the year was already upon Herzog. The team and young pro had focussed on the classics. There he was to show what he was made of. Partly in a freelance role, as Bora-Hansgrohe 2024 did not have a real captain for this terrain. From the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad at the end of February to Paris-Roubaix at the beginning of April, Herzog had a complete classics campaign planned.
The monuments proved to be too long for Herzog with lengths of more than 250 kilometres. In Roubaix, he only reached the finish outside the time limit. At the Tour of Flanders, the 19-year-old and 177-day-old young professional - and therefore presumably the youngest starter in the history of the event, which was first held in 1913, or at least since 1960 - was one of the last to reach the finish line. But at least he finished both races and gained important experience.
But at the E3 Prize, the small Tour of Flanders, which leads over the same climbs but is a little shorter, Herzog was able to impress. Up until 40 kilometres before the finish, he was part of the strong chasing group that chased down the eventual winner Mathieu van der Poel and took the places behind him. And perhaps he would have got even further if he hadn't slipped into a ditch and crashed, under pressure from a rider from the Israel-Premier Tech team. Visibly relieved, he spoke afterwards of what was probably his strongest race of the season.
Top results for Herzog in the championship time trial and at Milan-Turin
A few days earlier, he had finished seventh in Milan-Turin, cycling's oldest race, and had thus achieved the best result of his career at international level. Medium-length climbs also played the main role in the north of Italy - a classic profile, even without cobblestones. Emil Herzog's only better result was at the German time trial championships, where he came sixth.
Shortly before the German Championships, Herzog was still travelling in Slovenia. During the tour there, Herzog once again showed himself to be offensive and aggressive, but not just with his legs. On stage 3, he once again acted as a breakaway rider, catching up with Mathieu Burgaudeau a good 25 kilometres before the finish. Burgaudeau subsequently no longer wanted to ride with him, whereupon Herzog clearly shouted at his established rider in front of the camera.
A clear message for a neo-pro, but one that he was unable to follow up with action. A few kilometres later, they were both caught together. Perhaps this falls into the category of lessons that Herzog has to learn in such situations. But if he can control his temperament and turn it into energy for the legs, this certain amount of boldness could also benefit him.
New classics faction at Red Bull should suit Herzog
In the second half of the season, Herzog remained rather inconspicuous. In the Italian classics autumn, the results showed an upward trend again, and even without absolute top form, he can already hold his own well on this terrain. This also suggests that the Allgäuer has already found his domain.
The fact that Red Bull Bora-Hansgrohe is significantly beefing up its classics squad for the coming season with Oier Lazkano, Jan Tratnik, Laurence Pithie, Gianni Moscon and the van Dijke twins Tim and Mick should also suit him, as he can continue to grow with them. The potential pressure of having to deliver results no longer rests on his shoulders. However, he may also lose his independent role. But that won't stop him from going on the offensive.
