Interview with the German champion: Felix Engelhardt: “That was simply next level!”

Interview with Felix Engelhardt on the second rest day of the Tour de France

TOUR: Hi Felix, how are your legs holding up so far, and how’s the Tour de France going for you? Do you feel ready for the final week?

Felix Engelhardt: It’s actually going quite well so far. My legs are getting better rather than worse. But my preparation wasn’t quite ideal. So it was to be expected that the results wouldn’t be anything to write home about just yet. It’s definitely a tough tour, though – the last week in particular is going to be really gruelling. I’m already looking forward to it (laughs).

TOUR: Have you noticed any difference in media interest since you won the German Championship this year?

Felix Engelhardt: It’s certainly very different! Generally speaking, the German media have a much stronger presence at the Tour de France than at other races. With the leader’s jersey, it’s even more so.

TOUR: Before we head into the final week, you’ve got another rest day today. What do you get up to on a day like this?

Felix Engelhardt: I had a more or less proper sleep, then we went for a leisurely coffee and afterwards had a physio session and a massage. We need to check the spare wheels, and after that we’ve got meetings with the performance team and management. In the evening, though, I don’t have much to do – just have a meal and that should be it.

TOUR: Back to the action... Is there a particular smell or sound that springs to mind when you think of the Tour de France?

Felix Engelhardt: (laughs) Just a bit of tinnitus from the mountain stages. Joking aside, the fans and the noise along the route are simply unbelievable – you can’t compare it to any other race. Normally, we’ve got the radio in our ears just as we do now. But at the Tour, you can just forget about understanding anything; when the race enters the crucial phase, you can’t make head nor tail of it. I just ride on in a sort of tunnel-like state – it’s like that in no other race.

TOUR: And Le Markstein, with all their German fans...

Felix Engelhardt: That was just next level! The number of fans – and especially the German fans – I never expected anything like that. It really gave me goosebumps.

TOUR: Stages 19 and 20 are going to be really tough towards the end. What’s the team’s plan for those?

Felix Engelhardt: For Luke Plapp and Ben O’Connor, this is definitely a stage where they have the chance to break away with a group. I mean, Pogacar definitely wants to win at Alpe d’Huez – he’s already said so. And if he wants to win it, then he probably will. We haven’t missed a single breakaway as a team so far, so who knows.

TOUR: Stage 17 goes from Chambéry to Voiron – that could well be a stage for you, with that nasty climb just before the finish. Have you had a look at the stage yet and marked it in your calendar?

Felix Engelhardt: I’ve definitely made a note of it – this is another stage where I want to go all-in. I think a lot of people have marked the stage won by Mads Pedersen, the one won by Mauro Schmid, and the 17th stage as potential breakaway stages. It’s going to be another spectacular race on Tuesday!

TOUR: At the moment, the Tour of Germany isn’t on your race calendar – but when you’re wearing the champion’s jersey, it’s really a must...

Felix Engelhardt: Unfortunately, my team isn’t competing in the Tour of Germany. So there might be a chance I could race with the national team, but that depends a bit on what the team ultimately decides. It’s out of my hands at that point… but I’d definitely like to race there.

TOUR: Thank you very much, Felix, and we wish you every success for the final week of the Tour.

Felix Engelhardt: Thanks, and see you later!