Return to the old team - cycling star Degenkolb hopes for a second spring

By Tom Bachmann, dpa

John Degenkolb has by no means given up on his dream of a second cobblestone. Germany's cycling star has returned to his roots so that the heavy trophy from his victory in the 2015 Paris-Roubaix classics doesn't have to stand around alone for much longer.

After five years, Degenkolb will be riding for Team DSM again from January. "I've always felt that the team is my home. The spirit is still the same, many riders from before are now in management," said Degenkolb.

The return to the Dutch team with a German licence certainly makes people sit up and take notice. In recent years, the team of detail-obsessed boss Iwan Spekenbrink has made the headlines more because riders have terminated their contracts prematurely. Tom Dumoulin was the best-known professional who no longer wanted to be told what to do, right down to the very last per mille. "I felt very comfortable during those five years, had the most successful time of my career and was warmly welcomed back," countered Degenkolb.

Degenkolb feels competitive

From 2012 to 2016, the Thuringian-born rider not only won Roubaix, but also Milan-Sanremo, Gent-Wevelgem, Paris-Tours and a total of ten stages of the Tour of Spain. Degenkolb celebrated 36 victories in the team jersey, with only six more wins in the years that followed.

That is now set to change - despite his age. "I'm 32 now, I'll soon be 33, but I'm not too old to still be competitive at the highest level and in the biggest races. It's not that I don't want to win bike races anymore," emphasised Degenkolb. Nevertheless, his role will be somewhat different from his first time at DSM. It is by no means guaranteed that he will go into a classics race as the clear captain.

Degenkolb has also been brought back to pass on his experience to the next generation. "Someone with John's experience is not only important in the hectic moments, but also helps to push yourself and get better outside of the races," said head coach Rudi Kemna. They believe Degenkolb can lead the team in the fight for good results.

The real balancing act will be to combine the task of being a classic dad with achieving results himself. "It won't be a sure-fire success, you have to do a lot for that," said Degenkolb. "To hold your own against riders like Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel, it's not enough to have a spearhead. You need team strength for that."

Motivated back to the old team

His own motivation, he says, has been "boosted once again" by his return to DSM. One example shows just how ambitious Degenkolb still is. Together with trainer Sebastian Deckert, he spent weeks poring over his race data, wanting to find out why things didn't go as well this year as they did in autumn 2020 after the coronavirus break. Back then, Degenkolb had finished in the top ten at Gent-Wevelgem and the Tour of Flanders and was on a par with the world's best.

He wants to get back there quickly. "I want to race for victories. Because this feeling is simply indescribable," said Degenkolb. He no longer has any pressure. As the only German Roubaix winner since Josef Fischer in 1896, he has long been in the history books. What is still to come is a bonus, so to speak.

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