After a year with a horror accident and Corona, Max Walscheid feels fitter than ever. The 29-year-old dreams of the tour and the Olympics.
Max Walscheid was born in Neuwied, Rhineland-Palatinate, but lives in Heidelberg, where he is studying medicine. He currently trains mostly in the Odenwald, where the temperatures are often still frosty. With the end of the preparations, the anticipation of warmer climes and an eventful season is also increasing.
“This year there are some highlights, the upcoming spring classics are the first, then the DM, especially the time trial, hopefully the Tour de France afterwards,” says Walscheid in an interview with SWR Sport.
Walscheid feels stronger than ever
At 1.99 meters and 90 kilograms, he is one of the tallest and heaviest drivers in the field. The steep mountains are therefore not his terrain, his strength is power. Sprinter, time trialist and a man for the classics. Strength training is therefore an important part of his preparation.
Max Walscheid is entering his eighth season as a pro and feels stronger than ever. “I’ve never been fitter at this time of year. Luckily I didn’t have any problems in winter. No fall, no illness, nothing at all,” said the 29-year-old.
Max Walscheid is doing great. And he knows how to enjoy life. Especially since his accident last spring. When he was hit head-on by an oncoming car. His bike was a total loss, but miraculously he suffered no life-threatening injuries. “I think it’s normal for something to get stuck, that was also an extreme near-death experience. That would be unusual if you didn’t even think about it and then didn’t affect it at all.
Walscheid dreams of Paris
In general, the past year was a year full of ups and downs. During the fifth stage of the Tour de France, Walscheid crashed spectacularly and still finished the stage in 12th place. Then Corona stopped him and he had to give up early. He definitely wants to reach his destination in Paris again in the summer. There, where in 2024 his dream of the Olympics should also come true.
“Although I don’t know the course in Paris yet, I do know that the finish line for the individual time trial will be on the Champs-Élysées. I’ve ridden there a couple of times through the various stages (of the Tour) in Paris and that means the reverse: the course can’t actually be so difficult that it wouldn’t suit me.”
His way to Paris 2024 starts on Sunday. With the first spring classic, the long-distance journey from Paris to Nice. A race that could suit him.
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