Call him a jersey collector. After having worn the Austrian champion's hat until the end of June, Felix Grossschartner has given himself another one, that of best European climber on the San Gottardo, which he will probably never wear in the race, but which has testified to his good condition after the Tour de France.
Used to being the captain of the Bora-Hansgrohe, at this year's Grande Boucle the twenty-nine year old from Wels has carved out a new role of gregarious with the jersey of the UAE Emirates, a valuable pawn to help Tadej pogacar e Adam Yates to climb onto the podium in Paris. During a well-deserved day of rest, Felix told us about his French campaign and then told us about his future plans.
What did the victory on the Gotthard Pass mean to you?
It was great to win the title of best European climber, But I know the level wasn't quite up to WorldTour standards. Coming first is always a pleasure, and I hope this race grows in the future and becomes more famous and popular. However, there was a bit of pressure. because I was coming from the Tour and there were many young people who wanted to beat me, so it was a great satisfaction to be able to arrive with arms raised.
Did you also receive a best climber jersey?
They gave me a jersey, but I don't know if I'll be able to wear it in professional races. I don't know if the team will make one specifically, but at most I'll sign up for some amateur competitions in Austria so I can wear it: we have national climbing championships. Jokes aside, maybe it's a little early and it's better if I dedicate myself to professional cycling for a few more seasons.
Returning to the Tour de France, how was your experience as a domestique?
It was the first time, especially serving a champion like Tadej, one of the favorites for the final victory. The hard work always fell to us or to the Jumbo Visma, so you always had to be ready. When you run for a team that doesn't have these goals, sometimes you can give yourself a little rest, but for Pogacar or Vingegaard's gregarious it's a whole different story and you always have to be on top of things, push on the final climbs and try to always remain among the top fifteen of the day.
Satisfied?
It was a great experience, and I'm happy I contributed. In the end, we didn't win, but getting a double podium is still a great achievement. Without a doubt, we will fight to take back the yellow jersey.
As team manager Matxin had anticipated in Sestriere, Yates was the second captain, not just any rider: can you tell us about the race from behind the scenes?
It was nice because both Tadej and Adam are very helpful people. Also, Both of them know how to ride a bike very well and this is fundamental for positioning within the group, because it means much less work and less stress for us teammates.
You told us how easy-going Tadej was in training. Were you also surprised to ride alongside him as a teammate at the Tour?
It's incredible, because you're in the most important cycling race in the world, yet with him everything seems so normal. There are tactics, you follow them, and very often you win thanks to him.
Can you tell us about the funny radio team that's been making the rounds on the web about tigers and crocodiles?
We had a lot of fun too. Our Danish comrade, Mikkel Bjerg, made it up from scratch. And we improvised, because he didn't really mean anything, just for fun. The funniest thing is that he doesn't plan these things, but just blurts them out, which made it even better.
The atmosphere in the team was very high and you could see it in the way you celebrated the double podium in Paris, knowing all the work that went into it, right?
Exact. Morale was always high, even when Tadej lost ground on the Col de La Loze, even though at that moment we realized we no longer had a chance of winning the Tour. Tadej was disappointed, but we are a team and we supported him even in that difficult moment. It was tough, but we started again and learned from that situation too.
What are your plans now?
I was supposed to do the World Time Trial, but I didn't feel great on Monday and Tuesday, so I withdrew. I think the fatigue of the Dauphiné and the Tour has taken its toll, and then the added effort at the Gotthard. Now I'll take a bit of rest, then I'll get back to it next week, nothing. ReturnI'll do the classic GP of Plouay at the beginning of September, then the Tour of Luxembourg and a few small races, then I'll close the season in China, with the Tour of Guangxi, which I've already done twice.
Will we see you at the Giro d'Italia next year, maybe with Tadej?
Who knows, I can't tell you yet. We'll see, we haven't talked about team plans yet, you'll know in a few months.
What are your hobbies when you're not cycling?
Spending time with my girlfriend, or playing golf. In winter, however, I go ski mountaineering.: an hour from my house there are all the mountains I want.
