Former professional cyclist Jens Voigt sees cycling in a historically unique phase. "We are living in the golden age of cycling," explains the 53-year-old in the "Domestique Hotseat" podcast, basing his assessment on the exceptional quality of the current generation of riders: "I mean, you go to races and you see Wout Van Aert against Mathieu van der Poel line up, you can see PogacarVingegaard, Remco Evenepoel. We are experiencing a really good time for cycling, for spectacular cycling." Voigt describes "the luck of being an outstanding athlete" as a rare gift that only a few receive. His reflections on talent and hard work illustrate the complex nature of elite sport. The combination of genetics and mental strength determines success or failure, he says. He emphasises that today's generation is not only exceptionally strong physically, but also mentally. Dealing with media pressure and commercial expectations requires new skills.
Jens Voigt and the art of fighting
In the podcast, he also looks back on his own career. "I was not a sprinter. So unfortunately I always had to take the hard road to win. But when you try to win like I did, you fail a lot more often than you actually succeed," he explains in the podcast. "I probably failed nine times out of ten, but those 10 per cent chances shaped my life." In the podcast, he also talks about how he motivated himself not to give up in a breakaway when he was at the limit. Sometimes he only saved himself in his thoughts until the next bend or the next tree and hoped to shake off the chasers. He also always encouraged himself: "Okay, I'm a very good rider. If I'm suffering like this, it must be even harder for the others, because they can't be better than me. I've trained, I'm in top shape. I was prepared for this race. If I'm suffering like crazy, the others have to suffer at least twice as much. And when nothing works, it just makes you incredibly angry and annoyed with everyone and everything in the world. Negative energy is a super powerful boost, but it's poison for the soul. You can't use it all the time, only in small doses. But when you make yourself incredibly angry and furious, it helps you to keep going."
Jens Voigt dreams of a bookshop
Voigt's thoughts on his own legacy in cycling reveal a thoughtful character. "Kindness is just as important as toughness in elite sport," he says, summarising his philosophy of life. His dreams beyond cycling, including his desire to own a bookshop, show the former professional's wide-ranging interests. The "Domestique Hotseat" podcast makes it clear that Voigt has a variety of plans even after his career ends and wants to pass on his experiences to the next generation. His dream of owning his own bookshop is surprising: "I would like to have a small bookshop with a good coffee machine. I'd like to sit there and drink my own cappuccinos. That would be my dream job."
Modern challenges for drivers
Voigt takes a critical view of the current pressures on professional riders. The anti-doping reporting system and the constant public pressure present new challenges that his generation did not know in this form. As a former athlete, he is concerned about the balance between necessary control and privacy. Voigt emphasises that the sport still owes the current generation of riders a lot. Recognising their achievements under difficult conditions is important for the credibility of cycling.
Birth of a legend: "Shut up legs"
The famous saying "Shut up legs" originated from Voigt's pragmatic approach to dealing with pain during the race. "Suffering is part of cycling," he explains the philosophy behind his trademark. This mental attitude helped him to persevere during critical phases of the race and became his characteristic feature. The origin of the saying illustrates Voigt's direct way of dealing with physical limitations. The Domestique podcast recalls how Voigt achieved international cult status with cool sayings about suffering.
Kristian Bauer
Editor
