Paris-Roubaix winner John Degenkolb is part of a real renaissance in his home country and the sport just cannot get enough of him right now (Photo: Sirotti)
It’s remarkable to think John Degenkolb is just 26 years of age.
He’s already won 10 Grand Tour stages and last Sunday he added the most famous one-day race of all to his palmares, Paris-Roubaix.
The German powerhouse is amongst the best sprinters in the game at the moment and is helping in no small way to improve the sport’s image in his home country.
Degenkolb is part of a group of German riders winning back the public and media at home after years of doping scandals, including those involving compatriot Jan Ulrich, right.
From the time when the sport was front and centre in the country, Jan Ullrich was a national hero and T-Mobile were arguably the best in the business, cycling quickly lost its appeal; Ullrich helping in no small way there, though he certainly wasn't the only doped German rider.
Advertisement
But on the back of Tony Martin, Andre Griepel and Marcel Kittel has come Degenkolb.
And we think the Germans could have produced another golden boy in the man known as Dege.
Here are five reasons why we love him.
1) He’s German
They love their cycling in Germany, as over 150,000 members of their national federation would attest to.
But it’s a sad indictment that they’ve no major national tour. However, the sport is making a comeback in more ways than one.
On the back of their star riders’ successes the media there is being won over again, with national broadcaster ARD set to televise the Tour de France this summer.
Degenkolb has helped in a major way with that welcome turn around.
2) He’s a born winner and never (ever) gives up
One thing Degenkolb doesn’t do is give up easily.
If he did, he’d never be where he is now – and he’d definitely not have won what was arguably the best of his career, before yesterday….
Have a look here:
Related News
3) He’s afraid of nothing
Call him reckless or call him ballsy, Degenkolb is afraid of absolutely nothing.
That stage of the Tour of California was the day women and children cowered in disbelief when they realised the video below is what grown men do on a Sunday afternoon for fun, and a few quid if they’re lucky…
4) He rode the 2010 FBD Rás and won two stages
Degenkolb shows a clean pair of wheels to the bunch on the final stage of the 2010 FBD Rás (Photo: Rás Tailteann)
Yup, in 2010 a fresh-faced Degenkolb arrived in Ireland as part of the Germany Thuringer Energie team and took stages six and eight.
He was 21 at the time but showed no fear when sprinting into Gorey from Carrick on Suir on stage six and two days later from Kilcullen to Skerries.
He also won the Points competition.
Chris Coyle from the Mayo Castlebar Western Edge Team was 10th on that stage, in the same time. Chapeaux to him for that.
5) He’s a very normal down to earth guy
On his way to his biggest win yet; riding solo across to a late dangerous escape but still having enough to win the sprint.
He’s a qualified policeman so when this cycling lark is over - though not for a while we hope - he has something to fall back on; not that he'll need it.
When asked last year about superstitions before races he gave this reply: “Yes I am superstitious. For example with the green jersey that I won in La Vuelta I always liked to wear the first one.
“After the stages they gave me new jerseys but I preferred to wash it and wear it again the next day, when I wear a distinctive jersey I do this.
“Another thing I always do before a race is taking a look at my ring to remind me of my family and my wife. And since this year also my son.”
Oh, and here’s what he got for his day’s work on the pavé.
Topics
