In recent years, Florian Lipowitz has developed into a German figurehead in cycling. The 25-year-old has already proven several times that he can keep up with the elite riders. The two dominators Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard are still a step ahead. Lipowitz wants to close this gap soon.
“It’s obviously difficult. I hope that I’m not at my peak performance yet,” explained the man from Ulm around five weeks before the Grand Départ of the Tour de France in Barcelona.
Since 2020, Pogacar and Vingegaard have been doing the Tour of France between themselves. Last year, on his debut, Lipowitz was exactly eleven minutes behind the Slovenian in third place, Vingegaard was 6:36 minutes away.
“I’m now in my seventh year of cycling,” emphasized the German from the Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe team: “That’s why I hope that I have a few more years and can simply continue to develop through training.” However, he doesn’t put “too much pressure” on himself.
This season, Lipowitz made people take notice with three podium finishes in tours. In Catalonia he had to admit defeat to the winner Vingegaard in third place; at the Tour de Romandie only Pogacar was stronger. In the Basque Country, Lipowitz arrived behind child prodigy Paul Seixas.
Lipowitz would drive “one or two stages” for Evenepoel
Meanwhile, Lipowitz gives himself and his prominent teammate Remco Evenepoel good chances of a podium finish in the Tour. The German and the time trial world champion from Belgium will be competing as a double leader for Red Bull.
“We simply have to organize ourselves well as a team,” said Lipowitz: “I have no problem driving one or two stages for Remco. I think the start in Barcelona in particular could suit Remco well. Of course the focus will be on him. When it comes to the longer mountains, you just have to see what the situation is like overall – and then of course we have to support each other.”
