Frankfurt cycling classics: Degenkolb's big bang at home

John Degenkolb has reached the highest level in his sport.

He belongs to the illustrious group of professionals who have already won stages in the Tour of France, Italy and Spain.

The triumphs at the cycling monuments Milan-Sanremo and Paris-Roubaix 2015 are highlights of his career.

And yet Degenkolb's career has been shaped in no small part by a much smaller racing event on the doorstep: Eschborn-Frankfurt, the former Henninger race.

Eleven years ago, on May 1, 2011, a young boy was the first to cross the finish line in front of the Alte Oper, who at first couldn't believe his luck.

It was like the big bang in John Degenkolb's career – at the most important German one-day race.

Shortly thereafter, the Frankfurt cycling classic became a real home race for Degenkolb.

With his wife Laura, who works in the organizer's office, he initially lived in Frankfurt's Westend - just a few meters from the finish line.

The couple, who have two children, later moved to Oberursel – just a few meters from the racetrack.

Between Degenkolb's victory at the 50th and second place at the 60th edition of the traditional event last year, there were quite a few disappointments and missed opportunities on the home pavement.

Between 2014 and 2021 alone he was on the podium four times at the award ceremony on the Opernplatz thanks to three second places and one third place.

"Every time I was so close, I thought afterwards: How should I have behaved differently in the sprint, should I have started powering up earlier, should I have hooked onto a different rear wheel?" the 33-year-old tells in an interview the FAZ

While Degenkolb campaigned with all his might for the sporting favor of his home race for years - the spectators are in large numbers on his side anyway - it became Alexander Kristoff's favorite race.

The likeable Norwegian triumphed four times in a row.

Degenkolb is particularly reluctant to think about 2017.

“That was a huge opportunity, I felt really good there.” But in the final race he had technical problems with his bike – third place.

In the last two editions, “Dege” was in second place.

In 2019 he was sprinted over by compatriot Pascal Ackermann, last year (2020 the race was canceled due to corona) the Belgian Jasper Philipsen sprinted away from him.

"I was often close.

But it doesn't help to look back with nostalgia," says Degenkolb.

So here’s to a new 2022. “I’m very positive and optimistic about this May 1st.

My motivation to repeat the victory from 2011 is unbroken, the dream of being at the top again in front of the Alte Oper has not been given up.” Perfect knowledge of the course and solid form should prevail in the expected mass sprint against some of the best sprinters in the peloton.

It would be best for him if the race in the Taunus were made so difficult that the pure sprint specialists would be left behind and could no longer be escorted back to the top on the journey to Frankfurt.

“We have a cool group together”

At the beginning of the year, Degenkolb returned to Team DSM and signed a three-year contract.

He had his best time with the Dutch team with the big victories mentioned at the beginning – but he also experienced the serious accident there in 2015.

At an advanced age as a racing driver, he should no longer only be responsible for top results, but also instruct the young teammates in races.

But Team DSM, like many other WorldTour teams, was recently plagued by illness-related absences.

Born in Gera, he was also affected by an infection that cost him Milan-Sanremo.

And yet the hopes in the most important classic races were again mainly on Degenkolb's shoulders.

Getting all the pressure on the important Tour of Flanders "was something I actually wanted to prevent," says Degenkolb.

"I'm happy that I was able to manage that well and get a solid result with 18th place." Things were a little different in his declared favorite race, Paris-Roubaix.

18th place as the best German professional falls more into the category: "I had expected more and there was more in it," says Degenkolb.

Overall he was in good shape during the classic season.

"But next year there should be a few more top results in the spring."

With a coup at home near Eschborn-Frankfurt, a lot would have been straightened out.

As a local hero, he is not only in the focus of the spectators, but also of the other drivers in the field, who like to stay at his rear wheel so that Degenkolb can chauffeur them to the race finale.

His team provides him with a number of German racing drivers who are to put themselves entirely at Degenkolb's service.

"We've got a cool group together," says Oberurseler, whose program includes another high-altitude training camp in May.

There the view falls towards the Tour de France, in which Degenkolb is to be used.

He recently had no luck with the Tour of France.

Not nominated last year, in 2020 he had to return home after the first stage due to a fall.

Degenkolb still has a score to settle with the tour – just like with Eschborn-Frankfurt.

For eleven years.