A heartfelt welcome to our latest edition of the Regulars' Gondola here in
Obergurgl-Hochgurgl. My first interview partner of the new year
is cycling pro Tony Martin. Hello, how are you? First question - like always
tea or mulled wine? What can I offer you? What do you prefer?
I would like to have tea, please. - Are you sure you want tea? - Yes, I'm a sportsman.
Oh, I forgot which one is the tea jug. I think the red one is filled with mulled wine.
Looks like tea. - Thank you. - You're welcome.
Actually, you are a policeman,
and now you are a professional race cyclist. How did that happen?
Is it the same as in Austria: everyone is in the army? Or at least all top athletes?
Or did you really work as a policeman? - No, it's similar to the military service.
I was lucky and enjoyed a training in the state police sports group.
It was longer than normal, four years instead of two, but only in winter.
So I could do my favorite sport all the time, I am really very grateful that
I could acquire a profession at the same time. Now I am not a policeman anymore
but a professional sportsman and
I am not standing on the street anymore. - That would have been my next question.
Out on the streets, there is no danger that you stop someone ...
No, at least you can meet me on my bicycle but not in a police car.
What is your biggest personal success?
You have a full list of great successes - First place, second, many other excellent rankings
in time trial cycling races. You are a time trialist, aren't you?
Tell me, which one is your biggest personal success!
I am very proud of my Tour de France stage win, afterwards I received the yellow jersey on the Tour de France.
That was an absolute highlight for me, to wear the yellow jersey at the Tour
de France for the first time! It was fabulous.
Of course, also my four Individual Time Trial World Champion titles, especially the
first one which I will remember forever in a very emotional way.
These are really my greatest highlights, also the victory in the
Paris-Nice race, the stage win at the Vuelta, the Tour de Suisse - there are countless beautiful moments.
But I think the Tour de France and the World Championships are my favorite highlights.
Great to hear that. It must be a dreamlike experience if
you achieve such an immense goal, especially now that you have such a superb team.
The whole Ötztal valley is very enthusiastic about road cycling. It's already time to register
for the Ötztaler Cycle Marathon, the deadline is in February. I am so sorry,
unfortunately I can't help you - the lot wins.
Nevertheless I always enjoy this special event, and I would like to say thank you
to all volunteers, assistants and helping hands, and to all participants
who guarantee a really cool event. I put on my Ötztaler shirt on purpose.
Hard - Harder - Ötztaler. I love to be in the broom car.
Do you have some useful advice for hobby cyclists?
On their exhausting way towards the Ötztaler Cycle Marathon held in early September.
Amateur cyclists who take part in such a long race for the first time
should really focus on their performance, especially right at the start
they should choose a low pace until they conquer the first mountain pass because one thing is for sure:
there is a second Alpine pass, then a third and also a fourth one. Try not to overpace
and eat enough, eat very much. Your body needs a lot of energy for such an incredible challenge.
Find your personal pace from start to finish and don't give up until the end.
It's like torture until the end. There is also a cycle marathon side event.
The fun-filled Ötztaler Moped Marathon for 50 cc mopeds
and the motto is: those who drive slower have fun for a longer time - it's exactly the opposite.
But the vehicles are worse than average compared to the cyclists.
What is your guiding principle, how do you conquer your weaker self day after day?
I guess you have to fight, too.
Yes, of course. I don't have a real guideline but I am very ambitious.
A want to look in the mirror every evening and say to myself that I really
did my very best. That I am satisfied with my work at the end of the day
when I lean back. I am not a half-hearted sportsman and
that's maybe the reason why I am made for time trial competitions.
I always want to struggle to the finish although it's a torture sometimes
I am fighting against my weaker self and I even like it
maybe that's also an essential part of my great passion for sports.
All or nothing! Normally, you do not wear glasses on TV.
But if you want you can wear your glasses, the sun is dazzling.
Yes, too strong for my eyes. Fabulous weather.
Your nickname is "tank", why?
My former sports coordinator gave me this name.
I guess it has something to do with my characteristics as a cyclist.
A certain level of toughness is associated with a tank
it never stops going, continuing its way towards a goal. Unstoppable,
I think that's how I am as a sportsperson, it describes my cycling style.
Over the years, it has become my nickname in the team
and later also the media got to know it, they focused on it more and more
finally also my fans called me "tank" and I liked it very much.
For me, this name symbolizes many positive characteristics describing my personality.
Fabulous, you should really be very proud of it.
We have already talked about before. Skiing is not an option for you,
you are not allowed to ski. Do you have any other favorite winter activities?
Maybe there is something less dangerous for you and
your legs. - Yes, it's a pity that I am not allowed to go skiing. I watch all
the skiers here on the slope and apparently they have great fun. In my case
the risk of injury is too high. If I had a skiing accident I couldn't start the season
in time. Nevertheless I enjoy the vacation here together with my family.
We are walking a lot and my little daughter
she is one year old, loves sledding which is a bit less risky
but promises great fun. We also enjoy winter walking to the countless
huts and mountain inns nearby. It's a wonderful reward if you sit
at a quaint mountain hut under bright sunshine, on the outdoor terrace.
It's magnificent. - I absolutely agree, a very special experience.
Although I live here, I don't go skiing every day.
If you live by the sea you won't go swimming every day, that's just normal.
You are waiting for the best conditions and the sunniest day, then you hit the slopes.
I guess you travel from one training camp to the next,
you have been to Mallorca recently. How does a cycling pro prepare for the coming season,
what is on your and the team's schedule?
Nutrition, workout plan, coaches, team. From A to B. Let's take a look behind
the scenes. - Okay, it's difficult to describe it in a few sentences, it's almost
impossible but - of course - I am a sportsperson who lives for sports 24 hours a day.
That means: training units are essential, nutrition
is important, you already mentioned it. In October / November
it's a bit more relaxed and quiet but already in late
November / December we start preparing for the first phase of
cycling competitions. We take it very seriously as we must earn a living.
The season will start again in about one and a half months.
A bit less, my first competition is on 10 February,
and I should be fit by then.
The season's first races are an excellent preparation for the challenges to come, the real highlights are scheduled
in March / April but I want to be as fit as possible by February.
Therefore I spend almost three weeks in Mallorca, I did some daily cycle training units.
Only now I can relax and wind down a bit here in Ötztal. Of course, I do sports
and also some training units but less than normal. Talking again about preparation schedules,
the training is less intensive in November / December / January.
The closer you get to the competitions, the more practical and race-oriented are the training programs.
Even more intensive, now the time has come to think about every little detail,
to adjust every single component, to focus on fine tuning. This week is the last chance
to breathe deeply and wind down. Then I start focusing on the first steps
towards the early competitions.
Oh we have reached the top already.
Thank you so much!
Watch out for the Regulars' Gondola Guestbook
such a long word, we will sign it just over there at Hohe Mut.
Thank you for joining us. I wish all the best to you and your team.
It was a pleasure. - You are welcome. And I really look forward
to watching and following the whole story on TV.
Thanks a lot!
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