Interview Lisa Klein
At the age of 25, Lisa Klein already has a golden career. She won world titles, weared the national champion's jersey and took gold at the Olympic stage as well. The classics season is underway and Canyon//SRAM will be more then ready to have a major impact on them. Lisa Klein will be ready to play again a key role in their success. The rider from Germany tells about her own ambitions, her team and about her unforgetable memories.
Last year you took the world title at the Mixed Relay event. How do you look back at that moment?
It was a pretty intense
race with a lot of pain but in the end I was happy and I could enjoy this
moment with thee whole team.
This was also the last
race of Tony Martin. Did he inspire you as a young rider to become a
world class time trial rider as well?
For sure he was an inspiration, especially when I was younger and I just started and I didn't even know that I would get a professional, he was the machine. For sure he was a great inspiration.
How big are your ambitions in the classic races?
Thos are my favourite
races and I think some of them suit me really well. I think they are
my biggest goals as well in road cycling
You became Olympic champion on the track last year. What did you experience that day?
It took me long to realize. This was the most emotional and adrenaline filled moment in my life so far. But also a lot of hapiness.
The first big goal is Roubaix. I will see afterwards how my Summer schedule wll look like. Home Europeans are a big goal. I want to qualify for that. Then for sure the individual time trial and also the worldchampionships in the time trial, in a country that I have never been to, Australia.
You have a really
strong squad for the classics. What can we expect of Canyon//SRAM?
I think we can expect
agressive attacking racing for the team. We have everything we need.
We can rely on climbers and sprinters also on ones who can go in the
breakaway. We can play our cards.
The Tour de France came back on the calendar this season. Are you dreaming of taking part in it and how would you like the race to develop?
Yeah for sure, that's a big dream and goal. It's great that finally for us, there is a Tour de France. I would like to have an individual time trial for sure but also the first stages are good. I hope I can go for stage results in the first stages and also support the team for the general classification. That would be awesome.
Do you also enjoy watching races on TV or do you prefer to use your free time for other hobbies?
It depends. Sometimes I do. When I need some rest, then I also need some rest but when I'm into it and into racing, then for sure I like to watch the fianls, also from the men, when I've been racing by myself and after my race, and the men are still on the course, I watch the final and so on. When I have time off, then I also take off.
