Marco Brenner in a TOUR interview: German top talent on Vuelta premiere & his future
Tom Mustroph
· 08.11.2022
Interview: Tom Mustroph
Interview with Marco Brenner
TOUR: Marco, you have experienced your first Grand Tour. How would you summarise it?
Marco Brenner: In the beginning it went okay, I was also in an escape group. Then, unfortunately, I caught a cold. I was able to use the second rest day and the time trial to recover. In the second week, I was in the breakaway group twice, finished fifth once and was at the front for a really long time that day.
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TOUR: At the mountain finish of the 12th stage in Penas Blancas, you finished just 34 seconds behind stage winner Richard Carapaz. What was it like to compete with an Olympic champion?
TOUR: It was definitely a great feeling. It gave me confidence - for the following stages and for the future.
TOUR: The decisive factor in the long stage races is usually how fit or tired you are in the third week.
Marco Brenner: I also felt quite good in the third week. But then my focus changed. As a team, we had the goal of keeping Thymen Arensman (his team-mate finished sixth overall; editor's note) high up in the rankings.
Profile Marco Brenner
- Date of birth: 27/08/2022
- Height: 1.78 metres
- Professional since 2021
- Current team: DSM
TOUR: The youngsters stood out at this Vuelta: 22-year-old Remco Evenepoel won, while Spaniards Juan Ayuso (19) and Carlos Rodriguez (21) were third and seventh respectively. How do you see your own performance?
Marco Brenner: I think I'm on the right track. I always have the odd day when I show my potential. But the consistency isn't quite there yet. But I also think that these riders are exceptions.
TOUR: You turned 20 during the race, your team-mate Arensman won the queen stage. Which party was better?
Marco Brenner: It's hard to say. We enjoyed both. Unfortunately, we had two coronavirus cases in the morning on my birthday. So I thought to myself: let's do something to improve the mood. I got some cava, this sparkling wine, and we had a toast. Celebrating the stage win with Thymen - that was also very cool. Thymen's party was probably a bit better.
TOUR: What is different about a Grand Tour compared to the shorter tours?
Marco Brenner: It's not really any different, just longer. The only unusual thing is that you have rest days. On a one-week tour, you simply ride for seven days. And here it's like riding three one-week tours in a row. This year I rode the Tour of the Alps and then on to the Tour de Romandie. There were four days in between, but with all the travelling days it felt like one big block similar to here.
I am on the right track
TOUR: You shared a room with John Degenkolb. What did John teach you during the race?
Marco Brenner: One important thing was that I have to stay calm when the final starts or when things get a bit more stressful. I might lose a few positions as a result, but I ride more evenly and save energy. He also taught me that I should behave wisely and not drive into teams, but always ride alongside or behind them or even past them.
TOUR: When you started school, you are said to have said that you didn't need to read and write because you would become a professional cyclist. Is the story true?
Burner: Yes, my best friend's father, who was with me, said at the time: "Marco, now you're learning to read and write." And I said: "Nah, I don't need that, I'm going to be a professional cyclist." I was already riding a mountain bike back then, then on the road at the age of seven or eight. I'd been on a bike since I could walk. And I always imagined that I would become a professional. That actually worked out.
TOUR: You skipped the U23 class and switched from the Bora junior team Auto Eder to the World Tour team DSM at the age of 18. Some people thought that was too early. Looking back, how do you rate your decision?
Marco Brenner: It was a good decision and has brought me a lot. Of course, you have to get used to the fact that you no longer win like you used to in the junior classes.
TOUR: What is your development plan as a professional?
Marco Brenner: I've developed well and am getting closer and closer to the best. I'm happy with how things are going. And it can go on like this. My next goal is to be able to ride one-week tours in the classification next year. Then we'll see how it goes. And I hope that I can take my first professional victory as soon as possible.
TOUR: And what are you aiming for in the three-week tours after your experience at this Vuelta?
Marco Brenner: The original plan was that I wouldn't do the Vuelta until my third year as a pro. Now it came a year earlier. Of course, I would also like to try for a Grand Tour classification. My prerequisites for this are quite good. For my height (1.78 metres; editor's note) I can time trial well, and I'm not bad in the mountains either. However, finishing a Grand Tour is very different to finishing on the podium.
