Maximilian Schachmann has no time for a break. Even a severe fall including a broken collarbone and 3,484 tough Tour de France kilometers cannot prevent the German all-rounder from tackling the World Cup road race in Imola, Italy, a few days later – as captain. “I am still the man for the final, I think,” says Schachmann confidently in the run-up to the arduous 258-kilometer torture around the famous “Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari”, where the start and finish are.
His explosive acceleration and the ability to master short climbs confidently should suit Schachmann on the circuit with a total of 5000 meters of altitude to be mastered. “In the end, the course probably suits me best,” says the 26-year-old. Schachmann allowed himself exactly one day at home between four weeks of torture on the tour and the World Cup, and on Wednesday he traveled to Emilia Romagna to rehearse the hilly course in a solo unit on site.
Schachmann will have to do without his teammates Emanuel Buchmann and Lennard Kämna as well as classic specialist Nils Politt as helpers and co-captains on this Sunday. The trio saves a trip to Imola in the packed autumn cycling after a four and a half months Corona break and has instead set other goals in their sights.
The sporting director Jens Zemke is happy that he has a secret favorite in Schachmann for the tough elimination around Imola. “Ambition really sets him apart. It is amazing the courage with which he drove the tour. He is still very motivated now. I really take off my hat, «praises Zemke.
The German men around chessman and veteran Simon Geschke finally want to end their years of misery in the street race this weekend. There hasn’t been a top 10 place since 2014, the last medal was won by sprinter André Greipel nine years ago.
Schachmann is one of the representatives of the new German generation in cycling: modest and reserved in appearance, ambitious and courageous on the track, with clear words in the anti-doping fight. He is calm about what the restart of the World Tour demands of the drivers. “We shouldn’t get infected now, of course, not walk into Berghain in Berlin every day. I also have to honestly say that I don’t see the major restrictions in my life because my life is not characterized by long party nights, ”says the professional from the Bora-hansgrohe team.
In terms of sport, however, the past few years have been characterized by a steady upward trend. Last year Schachmann took third place in the spring classic Liège-Bastogne-Liège, this spring he won the traditional Paris-Nice tour. These are races whose profiles are comparable to the course on Sunday. “He’s definitely ripe for the big wins. I also trusted him to win a Tour stage. He’s already knocked several times, «says Zemke. The functionary predicts that it will not fail at Schachmann’s head. “The question is, do the legs play along?” dpa / nd
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