Ms. Brennauer, you are one of the most successful racers in the history of German cycling. On Wednesday you announced your retirement at the age of 34. Why?
It just feels right now. The great successes of the past few years don’t make it that difficult for me to leave. I have so much positive energy to take with me into whatever comes next. Now the European Games in Munich near my home in the Allgäu, that’s a wonderful conclusion.
Her record on the track and on the road is extremely impressive: Olympic champion, multiple world and European champion, 14 German championship titles. Which trophy holds first place in your memory?
This is the Olympic victory from last year in Tokyo. Emotionally and in terms of value, that was my greatest success. But of course it’s mean to reduce a long career to a single day. There have been many great successes. 2014 was a very special year in Ponferrada, Spain, when I became world champion twice and runner-up once within a few days and also won my first world title in an individual discipline in a time trial.
Ronny Lauke, your former sporting director, said that you initially had doubts about whether you would make it to the top. Is he right?
For a long time it was okay for me to be good. But at some point I got the switch and said I want to win. How did I grow? To tasks that have been given to me. There is an experience that I remember, at the La Course race, a predecessor of the women’s Tour de France, Ronny Lauke said to me the night before, Lisa, everyone will drive for you tomorrow, you are ready, or? That was the first time that a whole team had to drive for me in a big race. I looked at him and thought to myself: Oh God! And I said: Yes, of course! These are days when you grow. In the races, I’ve always made myself aware that they’re all working for me now, and that’s why I want it even more now! Seeing how others trust me was never a burden for me, but pure motivation.
Women’s cycling has made great strides in every respect in recent years. Will young drivers have it easier in the future than it was when you started?
It is true that a lot has happened, and a great deal is still happening. The introduction of minimum wages in the World Tour, or the women’s Tour de France. A solid basis has been created. I went a different way. After graduating from high school, I got the chance to join the army. I am still there today, since last year as a professional soldier. The Bundeswehr was always my anchor, my financial backing. The riders who are now coming up and finding new systems in women’s cycling will perhaps have it a bit easier, but with the innovations and improvements the whole level has risen so much that it is becoming more difficult to achieve success again. It wasn’t easy for us and it won’t be easy for the boys.
