Interview Ricarda Bauernfeind: "I've shed more tears this year than I have in my entire life Sweat"

TOUR: Ricarda, fans and experts had high hopes for you this year - after your stage win at the Tour de France last year and sixth place at the Vuelta in the spring. But then there were no more results from you after the Itzulia at the beginning of May. When did you realise that you would have to write off the 2024 season?

Ricarda Bauernfeind: I can still remember the day at the beginning of July: I wanted to cycle for two hours with my brother Gabriel. I was already wet-eyed at the start and had extreme knee pain on the bike afterwards. My brother (he competes in the 2nd Bundesliga triathlon; editor's note) then stopped, stood in front of me and said: Rica, that doesn't make sense! I realised that day: There's no point in fighting against my own body. That also made it clear that the season was over.

TOUR: What happened?

Ricarda Bauernfeind: After my last race, the Itzulia (Tour of the Basque Country), I was at home and the knee pain started during a normal basic training session. 2024 was an important year for me with the Olympics and Tour de France. I didn't want to give up on my dreams and goals just like that, so I gritted my teeth. I first went to Hansi Friedel and tried to get the problem under control with physiotherapy, I also tried to continue training, but it was nothing half and nothing whole. At some point, it's all over. And in the end, several MRIs (magnetic resonance imaging; can show soft tissue injuries; editor's note) showed that the plica (fold of mucous membrane in the knee joint) was causing the problem.

TOUR: How did you solve the problem?

Ricarda Bauernfeind: The week the tour started, I had arthroscopic surgery on my knee. After the operation, it started with the other knee, which I probably overloaded. I then decided to have surgery on the second knee at the beginning of October because I just wanted to put an end to the whole thing and didn't want to have to deal with the same problem again next year.

TOUR: You should have been at the Tour de France, which was won by your team-mate Kasia Niewiadoma. How did you follow the race?

Ricarda Bauernfeind: I sat at home in front of the TV with a freshly operated knee and watched everything from start to finish. I actually imagined it would be more difficult to have to watch. I would have loved to have been there. But because my team was so good, it was still fun.

I would have imagined it would be more difficult to have to watch the Tour. Because my team was so good, I enjoyed it

TOUR: You have a plan B for your cycling career. You already have a bachelor's degree in home economics and sport for teaching. To what extent did that help in the difficult situation?

Ricarda Bauernfeind: I started my Master's degree in spring. I actually didn't want to do so much during my studies because of the Olympics and the tour. In the first few months, I wasn't even ready for that. But then I was able to register for a few things at short notice and take exams that I hadn't actually planned. In other words, I was able to make good use of the time during the injury. It was also good that I was able to continue with my studies - that I could go back to university and meet people, which gave me some variety.

TOUR: Let's take another look at the sport: What's the situation regarding your comeback at Christmas 2024?

Ricarda Bauernfeind: I'm still limited and still have a bit of a problem because my first knee was so damaged and my muscles have deteriorated so much. I've been back on the bike for about six weeks now and am trying to get back into shape.

TOUR: In the current situation, are you confident enough to formulate goals for the 2025 season?

Ricarda Bauernfeind: The primary goal is to be fit to compete again, to be able to cope with the strain, to be able to push myself to the limit and to be fully resilient again. It will take time to build up my form. My goal, my dream is to be able to ride the Tour again.

>> Ricarda Bauernfeind: A career on the second educational path

TOUR: Your team Canyon//SRAM zondacrypto has now gone from hunter to hunted with Tour winner Kasia Niewiadoma. How does that change your role?

Ricarda Bauernfeind: Due to the injuries, my role in the team has changed a bit - I can't be the helper on the mountain at the moment. But I really want to be again so that I can be part of the team that defends the title at the Tour. Kasia's success has given her confidence - she now realises that she can win races.

TOUR: Team boss Ronny Lauke has strengthened the squad considerably - including with Danish Tour stage winner Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig. Her young German team-mate Antonia Niedermaier has established herself as a climber and time trial specialist.

Ricarda Bauernfeind: With the new additions, we have a really good team. We are generally an aggressive team. With Kasia and Sille (Uttrup Ludwig) we are even better positioned in the classics - but now we are also good in the sprints with Chiara (Consonni) and Maike (van der Duin). And then there are the climbers with Neve (Bradbury - Giro stage winner on the Blockhaus) and Antonia (Niedermaier - sixth overall in the Giro). I think next year will be good for us. The other teams definitely have us on their radar.