Simon Geschke is partaking in his final cycling excursion
Simon Geschke is wrapping up his final World Championship race this weekend in Zurich before hanging up his cycling career for good. Post-Switzerland, he's got a trip to the Münsterland region lined up, and that's a wrap. The up-and-coming talents are ready to take over. Having called Berlin home, Geschke takes one last look back before facing an unexpected reality.
The 38-year-old German is feeling content as he journeys to Zurich for his swan song, his nostalgic thoughts casting a warm glow on the occasion. With World Road Race drawing near in Switzerland on Sunday, Geschke, the bearded mountain specialist, is bidding farewell to the main stage. "I'm glad I can still race," he said.
Geschke, the elder statesman of the otherwise young German team, has Lukas Pöstlberger, Nils Politt, Tony Martin, and Tiesj Benoot as teammates. This time around, most of them – Marco Brenner, Georg Steinhauser, and Florian Lipowitz – fall into the 2000s birth year category. Achieving feat at the Tour de France in 2015, the veteran Geschke is riding off into the sunset, while Lipowitz and co. are just starting their journey.
Recently, Lipowitz has become a household name after placing 7th overall in the Vuelta in Spain, a key factor in Slovenian teammate Primoz Roglic's triumph. At the World Championships, the Germans are the underdogs, but Lipowitz is leading the charge. "If he can maintain his Vuelta form, he can rise to the top," said Geschke.
Two decades of cycling is enough
When Lipowitz reaches new heights and whenever his career progresses, the road ahead remains a mystery. Whether he'll focus on classics, whether he'll become the next big thing, is to be seen. Rest assured, Geschke is hopeful. "There's a lot more to come," said the Berlin native, relishing the impending future of cycling.
The sport has witnessed exponential growth over the 20 years of Geschke's career. "Professionalism and science have swallowed up professional cycling," said Geschke. Currently, every aspect is meticulously planned – nutrition, training, even aerodynamics. It's all an obsessive pursuit of perfection. "It's become quite extreme," said Geschke, with a tinge of nostalgia.
In the past, Geschke had to commit fully fifteen months in a year, from December to October. "There isn't any room to take it easy," said Geschke. Post-retirement, Simon Geschke can pick and choose his workload. After October 3rd, when Münchenland Giro follows the World Championships resounding finale, the curtain falls. "It'll only feel truly odd in November and December when I won't train again," said Geschke, anticipating reckless abandon. "Then, I will undeniably enjoy hanging up my bike."
During this World Championships in Zurich, Geschke, the bearded mountain specialist, is preparing for his final race before retiring. As the World Road Race approaches in Switzerland on Sunday, the veteran rider from the young German team is reflecting on his achievements, such as his feat at the Tour de France in 2015.
Following his retirement, Geschke will be eagerly watching the progress of his younger teammates, like Lipowitz, who has recently become a household name in cycling after placing 7th overall in the Vuelta in Spain. At the World Championships, the Germans may be underdogs, but Lipowitz is leading the charge with his impressive form, hoping to rise to the top.
