It is not that easy.

After the hour-long immigration procedure and arrival at the hotel, Maximilian Schachmann had a relaxed lap on his bike.

Shake your legs, take in the first weather conditions with a view of the climate, course or road surface.

But residents reacted quickly and reported the case: Two Germans had been spotted on bicycles.

Since then everything has been running according to the Olympic Japanese order.

You register your training times and wait for approval.

Many Japanese have since greeted the cyclists from their cars, some even cheered them on, says Schachmann.

The German bike convoy is housed far away from the Olympic Village.

Not far from the famous Fujiyama volcano, on the slopes of which part of the route of the Olympic road race runs.

The professionals sent by the Association of German Cyclists have the sublime beauty of the 3776 meter high mountain in front of their eyes every day.

Big names

The course to be mastered this Saturday morning (4.00 a.m. CEST in the FAZ Liveticker for Olympia, on ZDF and Eurosport) demands a lot from the racing drivers: 4865 meters of altitude and 234 kilometers long. A terrain on which the chessman, the most consistent German professional cyclist for some time, is one of the medal candidates. Especially since the Berliner has been focusing fully on the Tokyo appearance for weeks. After winning the German championship title again in June, the 27-year-old did not go to the Tour de France, but to the high-altitude training camp.

By the time the men's street race starts, Schachmann has already been in the country for a week and a half. In his eyes this is definitely a significant competitive advantage. Schachmann considers an Olympic victory for a tour participant to be "not very likely". Because in his opinion you need those few days that the tour starters would have in Japan just for acclimatization. "But," says the German captain with a smile, "I wouldn't be surprised if Tadej Pogacar wins with a finger in his nose in Tokyo too."

The sovereign tour winner could form an energetic team with his Slovenian compatriot Primoz Roglic, who retired early in France after a crash.

In general, the field is peppered with big names.

For example, the Belgians send their “child prodigy” Remco Evenepoel into the race with all-rounder Wout van Aert, who has just won three stages on the tour.

The British are at the start with the brothers Adam and Simon Yates, and the squad of Colombian climbers is also impressive.

A trio of assistants

Schachmann classifies itself into this weight class. Why not? The Swiss by choice has long paired his self-confidence with class and results. With two victories in a row at the prestigious spring tour Paris-Nice, he stands out in local cycling - his ambition and expectations have increased again. Schachmann also impressed fourth in the mountainous Tour de Suisse.

Nikias Arndt and Tour graduate Emanuel Buchmann will assist him at the Olympics. Simon Geschke was also planned, but he has been the first Corona case in the German team since Friday and is canceled. Schachmann will also take part in the Olympic time trial next Wednesday. Once, however, his hopes for a medal got a blow during the training runs, says Schachmann. When he first took the Mikuni pass under the tires. "Extremely difficult," says Schachmann.

“The field will diverge there.” But punches like Schachmann could definitely make up some ground in the flatter final against the possibly escaped lightweights. Tactically, a lot is still possible on the undulating final kilometers. Schachmann says: "The Olympic champion is not necessarily the one with the best legs who just steps in." And by that means: Perhaps a cunning racing driver like him will reach for gold.