The king’s stage of the Deutschland Tour sent the riders up the 1,200 meter high Schauinsland. All eyes were on Simon Geschke, who plays a completely different role in the tour.
The whole day the Schauinsland was shrouded in dense fog, and to top it all off it had rained and thundered. However, the sun came out just in time for the drivers to arrive, complete with a rainbow. As if Freiburg’s local mountain had known that one of the city’s most famous residents, Simon Geschke, was approaching.
All eyes on Geschke
The stage was set for Geschke with the first mountain finish since the Deutschland Tour was reinstated; After all, the Freiburg resident made his mark in the history books at the Tour de France when he claimed the coveted mountain jersey over nine stages – which no German before him managed. Only Tour winner Jonas Vingegaard was better in France in the mountains classification.
Now the third stage of the Deutschland Tour led through Geschke’s home country, to which he had moved ten years ago. It wasn’t just his family who cheered for him on the side of the road, quite a few spectators found their way to the track despite the heavy rain and made a little difference Alpe d’Huez-Feeling. But local hero Geschke had his problems, just ten kilometers before the finish line he lost his strength. He finished the stage in 30th place, more than three minutes behind winner Adam Yates, the new overall leader.
The head wanted more than the body
“It was okay, but at that level, an average day just isn’t enough.”, so Geschke to the sports show after the race. He was still in top form in July, but didn’t take enough breaks afterwards. That would now take revenge. “I wanted more than my body could handle. I can not do magic.“
Immediately after the race, the 36-year-old was allowed to sign the city of Freiburg’s golden book. A great honor, says Geschke. But maybe the home advantage put him under too much pressure? “I was definitely more excited today than I would have been before a normal race. But it gave me wings, even if it wasn’t enough for the very top.”
Camper instead of team bus for Geschke
After the race, Geschke had to drive to the last row of the team parking lot, where his team’s camper was waiting for him. Not exactly luxury, because unlike in the WorldTour, the highest racing series of the world cycling association UCI, Geschke does not drive for his actual team Cofidis at the Deutschland Tour, but for the national selection of the German association. This is where young drivers gather, whose Continental teams were no longer able to get a starting place on the tour.
Simon Geschke is their captain. And provides his young teammates with advice, as Jannis Peter explains, after Geschke the best in his team in the overall standings. “He looks over our shoulder and if he sees that we could do something better, he gives us tips.” The 21-year-old from Gera drove in the national team last year, back then with John Degenkolb. “These are two great guys who are fun to drive with.“
On the road with the next generation
And by his own admission, Geschke also has fun in his motley team, even if it’s difficult to pass on all of his experience in so few days. “But of course I’ll try. The guys are super motivated and strong. It’s the next generation of German drivers, so it’s nice to be with them.” The sporting director of the national team, Frank Augustin, is also very enthusiastic about Geschke. This radiates an unbelievable calmness, Augustin told Sportschau.
So far, the young team has placed in the top ten. Tim Torn Teutenberg finished the first stage to Meiningen in a strong eighth place. They want to repeat that on the final stage to Stuttgart. In the overall classification, Peter, Teutenberg and Co. hold their ground ahead of cycling greats such as the 2019 Tour de France winner, Egan Bernal, and European champion Fabio Jakobsen.
Gessner makes the gift
But anyway, participation is very important for the young team, according to Augustin. “The Deutschland Tour is the biggest race in Germany and presenting yourself here is important. Also because cycling in Germany has not been as important as it used to be in recent years. So it’s all the nicer to see all the people along the route.“
By the way, Jakob Gessner was also one of the national selections for the Deutschland Tour last year. The 22-year-old from Erfurt surprisingly conquered the mountain jersey on the first stage. And didn’t have to give it up even after climbing the Schauinsland. “He is the gift of the Deutschland Tour, the parallels are there”, said Geschke before the race. After that, the two talked for a while, maybe Geschke would give a few tips again.