Max Walscheid is a real all -rounder: cycling professional, medical student and podcaster. But how does he manage to successfully get it under one roof?
He has reached the top. Max Walscheid is part of the World Tour and runs on the very big bike races. A special race is his next goal: the Tour de France.
The 31-year-old has been a cycling professional for ten years. His skills can be decisive for success. Because the two -meter -tall man is there, for which the other drivers of his Australian racing team Jayco Alula lack the strength. “I’m too big, I’m too heavy. But I am very valuable for teams in terms of sprints when it comes to protecting overall classification drivers,” he describes his skills. He has also developed in recent years. Walscheid now has a very good race overview with which he can help his teammates.
The cycling professional runs up to 30,000 kilometers a year. He pedals up to 2,000 watts. Self -discipline is of great importance in order to master the clamped races. “My biggest weakness is the mountain,” admits Walscheid. But with every climb he bites his teeth. He knows that he only has to “withstand pain for a short time, then it’s over”. So far he has participated three times in the Tour de France (2020, 2021, 2022), this year the next participation is the goal.
Roads of cycling
In the World Tour it takes a lot of strength and courage. Because those who are inattentive risk their life. Max Walscheid says himself that cycling is “such a thing where you may not plan too much into the future. Because: We only wear a jersey, a pants and a 200 gram styrofoam helmet”. The headlines in cycling of the past few months were repeatedly shaped by falls, injuries or career ends. Cycling becomes faster. The level higher. But the road is not getting wider.
Paris-Roubaix and his pitfalls
One of the most brutal and demanding races is Paris-Roubaix. It is not without reason that it is also called the “hell of the north”. But it is also the most important day race for every cycling professional. Walscheid is also right in the middle of it. But what every cyclist wants to prevent: Walscheid falls on the difficult, paved surface. His bike breaks. But giving up is not an option for him. “For me, the thought does not exist because I have invested so much in preparation for the race in order to get into the position at all,” he explains. He continues with the much too small wheel of a teammate. But the fall has fallen back far. The catch -up fails, because chaos is too big on the race track. Anyone who is inattentive on cycling races like Paris-Roubaix quickly loses the connection. In the end, Walscheid lands in 59th place.
Max Walscheid after the bike race in Paris-Roubaix.
It depends on the right material
The right equipment is particularly important for such races. Max Walscheid regularly tests bike parts for manufacturers. Together with his buddy Chris, he also tinkers on the bike for optimal aerodynamics. The Australian team provides him with his material ready for racing, but in his workshop it is about the fine difference to save a few watts. The material for its suit can also be of great importance. “Depending on the area of the body, air flow and sometimes speed, our suits are built,” says the 31-year-old. “The choice of fabrics about the speed of the entire suit is crucial.”
Relaxation in leisure time
Walscheid can recover at home in Heidelberg. His wife Johanna is also waiting for him there. She has been accompanying him for 10 years. But together are precious and rare. Almost half of the year are separated from each other. “But I actually try to compensate for it by driving to the races myself and can then support him on site,” says Johanna.
Compensation in leisure time is particularly important in professional sports. Walscheid also attaches particular importance to “because sporty performance is totally suffering if you are not happy in your life overall.” For a change, he likes to play table tennis, mini golf or golf. He also runs a podcast with his two friends Tobi and Richie. Every week the three switch together and discuss everything related to the cycling world.
Plan B: Medical studies
Max Walscheid already has a plan B for his life after cycling: studying in medicine at Heidelberg University. He has already had the first state examination. A lot can happen in such a risky sport. Due to a fall and an injury, the career can be ended overnight. “If all the knits now tear, I will be normal at the university in two weeks. This may be a very blatant transition, but definitely a perspective,” explains Walscheid.
Walscheid: “I just enjoy the moment”
Max Walscheid has already made many stages in his life. Sporty and private. The next stages of the Tour de France will also challenge him: the nominations for this are still pending, many training sessions are still imminent. But he likes to live in the here and now: “Everything can happen. I just enjoy the moment that you can cycle in the beautiful Heidelberg in the best weather.”
