Tourist
After ten racing days, the Tour de France in Toulouse your first day of rest. For the German cycling professional Florian Lipowitz (24) there is a two -hour, quiet training trip with smaller loads. Then lunch and “A little one Powernap“. In the afternoon the parents are visiting.
“I think the day passes faster than you think”says Lipowitz, who takes the time for an interview in the morning. The conversation is about the first impressions of his tour debut, his role in the team Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe and the outlook for what is still coming on the tour.
Sports show: Mr. Lipowitz, if we had told you before the tour, you are in 8th place in the overall classification on the first day of rest with around three and a half minutes behind the yellow jersey and 3,05 minutes on the big favorites Tadej Pogačarwould you have signed it like that?
Florian Lipowitz: Yes definitely. Especially after the first stages, I didn’t feel that good. I doubted myself a bit of my preparation. But it has now been shown that the shape is good. I’m more than happy to be there at the front. But I’m also happy about the day of rest today. Ten days at a time are exhausting.
Sports show: It is your first tour of France. Describe the impressions of the first ten days. What is different from other bike races?
Lipowitz: For one thing, there are many media. The attention is super big in this race, also from the fans. I have never seen so many spectators on the route: Of course that gives you extra motivation, but you can also feel that in the field: everyone is in top shape, everyone gives their best, wants to do results somehow. And it becomes all the harder, more stressful and hectic. We can be happy that we got through well in the first week.
“I would call myself a noble helper”
Sports show: Your team has repeatedly emphasized that they are here to learn. The goal is to achieve Paris. Is that still your goal after ten days or do you have other ambitions now?
Lipowitz: So, my main goal remains to arrive in Paris. There are still eleven days, a lot can happen. But of course, I’m glad the legs are good and hope that I Primoz (Roglic, note d. Red.) In the mountains, we can support that we are a good team of two. We are well positioned.
Sports show: Primoz Roglic support, that sounds like noble helpers or are you more of the co-captain?
Lipowitz: I would call myself a noble helper. The roles are very clear. We just have to watch day by day. Primoz has shown that he is doing better from day to day. Yesterday he was also super strong and the longer mountains lie. Then I try to support him as well as possible.
Sports show: On Thursday it goes to the Pyrenees for three days. Have you already prepared for this?
Lipowitz: Yes, there are three super hard mountain stages ahead of us. To be honest, I have only scanned the stages. But I am definitely looking forward to it and hope the legs stay like now after the day of rest. Then I am very optimistic.
“I can still learn a lot”
Sports show: They are currently seven seconds in front of their captain in the overall ranking. Assuming it turns out in the Pyrenees, they are better in shape than Primoz Roglic. Do you then have free travel and the full support of the team?
Lipowitz: First, it has to get that far. And then we are a team in which we will discuss it together. But so far the distribution of roles is so, and I am more than satisfied. It’s my first tour. Just coming to Paris is already successful. And then we have to see how things go.
Sports show: How would you describe your relationship with Primoz Roglic, he gives you tips and maybe tells you on the way where you have to be or do you know all of this yourself?
Lipowitz: It is only my sixth year on cycling, I have been in this team for two and a half years. I think if I would say now, I already know a lot … I can still learn a lot, especially from a driver like Primoz. He has already won so much in his life, so he definitely has one or two tips. We get along quite well. We both come from winter sports, maybe that also connects a bit.
“It is brutal what the two do there”
Sports show: Your sports director Rolf Aldag said after the 10th stage at the finish line that you sometimes have to reins a little so that you don’t jump on every occasion or try it yourself. Is that impatience or lack of experience?
Lipowitz: Probably something of everything – inexperienced in any case. But I think I’m just from the driver’s type who prefers to try something. Even if it is perhaps unnecessary or I will waste energy unnecessarily. Just wait until Jonas and Pogacar do something, and then try to go after – then you get to fifth or ten somewhere. I am someone who prefers to risk something and then maybe lose.
Sportschau Tourfunk, July 14, 2025 7:45 p.m.
Sports show: The touring victory is very likely between Jonas Vingegaard and Tadej Pogačar. How do you experience the two and their teams here at the Tour de France?
Lipowitz: Everyone knows or assumes that the tour between the two is decided. You leave it a little too. Each other team looks at them and probably focuses on third place. It’s already brutal what the two do there. But I think it is nice to see on TV that there is such a fight between two drivers. As a team, we just have to focus on ourselves, play our strengths on long mountains and fight for third place.
“I feel that there is an expectation”
Sports show: You went to the public spotlight in Germany with third place on the Dauphiné tour shortly before the tour started in the public spotlight in Germany?
Lipowitz: Yes, I definitely feel that there is an expectation. I try to hide this as much as possible. In the end you can’t give more than your best. On the one hand, it is also nice to see that you can do something for German cycling and you can inspire one or the other to get on the bike. This is also the job of us professionals somewhere, which is definitely something nice. But of course you also put more pressure on yourself and want to prove yourself.