John Degenkolb eyeing Tour de France ride as contract up for renewal
German John Degenkolb is hoping for Tour de France selection despite having only raced 10 days since a horrific training injury
Giant-Alpecin frontman John Degenkolb has raced less than 10 days this season but is determined to make Tour de France selection in what is a contract year for the champion sprinter linked to Trek-Segafredo for 2017.
Up until last month, the 27-year-old was sidelined from competition following a horrific January team training camp crash with a motorist, which he is still handicapped from.
Misfortune has not appeared to impact Degenkolb's market value. He has solicited interest from multiple teams including current stable Giant-Alpecin, whom he rose to prominence with.
“Nothing is decided yet and we still are in talks, but also talks in my current team. I have to say I’m not unhappy in this team here so still everything is possible,” Degenkolb told Cycling Weekly.
>>> John Degenkolb to Trek-Segafredo 'a done deal'
Giant-Alpecin set an uncompromising selection standard last year when it opted not to take its marquee sprinter Marcel Kittel to the race. The eight-time Tour stage winner, whose season was heavily disrupted due to a virus, had missed less racing then than Degenkolb has now.
Degenkolb was recently named on a Tour team long-list and has said selection is not yet off the table as he continues his comeback at the Critérium du Dauphiné.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
“Absolutely I want to go to the Tour,” he said. “It was, from the accident, my goal to come back to the Tour and hopefully win a stage there.”
Degenkolb said he has spoken to team management about competing at the race, which would serve as his third this season after the Tour of California and the Dauphiné.
“We have had conversations about this and they’ve given me the signal that they’re also willing to take me to the Tour,” he said. “We’re still trying to stick to the plan and I hope that there’s no change to the Tour. The plan was to go for sprint stages in the Tour and so far everything looks fine from my side, and I hope also from the team’s side.”
The former Milan-San Remo and Paris-Roubaix champion has been improving at the Dauphine and finished eighth in a bunch sprint at the end of stage four on Thursday, which Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data) won.
“I feel I’m not on the highest level to compete on WorldTour 100 per cent so it’s just a matter of patience. We have to stay calm now and wait. This week will be really important to go towards the Tour de France, and then we will see,” he said.
>>> John Degenkolb describes the extent of his injuries after Giant-Alpecin training crash
“When you see from how many race days I have now, I mean, I have 10 race days in my legs and the others have minimum 40. There’s a big difference and you can also feel that.
“The level is pretty high here this week, much more than I expected actually. Everybody wants to go to the Tour so that’s why. The difference between California and here is pretty huge, the ground speed is just much higher on the climbs.”
Watch: John Degenkolb's Tour de France bike
The German almost completely severed his left index finger in the January crash and is still wearing a brace as the bone heals.
“I have no pain, it’s just a different way of handling the bike,” he said. “I’m only using four fingers basically to hold my handlebar, to pull on the handlebar, to pull in the sprint and that’s the difference. The process to adapt new skills is not finished.”
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Sophie Smith is an Australian journalist, broadcaster and author of Pain & Privilege: Inside Le Tour. She follows the WorldTour circuit, working for British, Australian and US press, and has covered 10 Tours de France.
-
Pro cyclo-cross rider disqualified and fined after stomping on opponent's bike
Eli Iserbyt apologised for 'rage of anger' at event in Beringen
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'I don’t think the people around Tom help' - Geraint Thomas on the Tom Pidcock and Ineos Grenadiers situation
Pidcock was "deselected" from Il Lombardia on Saturday, with the rider taking to Instagram to discuss decision
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'It's not worth risking his long term health': DSM-Firmenich withdraw concussed Romain Bardet from Tour de France
DSM-Firmenich enact their concussion protocol to withdraw the Frenchman from the race
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
'This is insane': Alberto Dainese comes back from illness to triumph in photo finish on Giro d'Italia stage 17 sprint
DSM rider finished last on Sunday's stage with a stomach bug, but bounced back to take win in his home region
By Adam Becket Published
-
‘I couldn’t quite believe it’ - Charlie Quarterman on his rags to riches Giro d’Italia selection
The British rider spent a year at amateur level with Philippe Wagner Cycling before heading back to the top with Corratec
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
‘Giving up the Giro breaks my heart’ – Trek’s Giulio Ciccone forced out of home tour by Covid symptoms
Italian was relishing leading Trek’s challenge at Giro that starts in his home region
By Peter Cossins Published
-
‘It’s been nice rubbing shoulders with the big boys’ - Great Britain’s Max Poole shines at Tour of the Alps
20-year-old won the best young rider classification at five day stage race in Austria and north east Italy
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Lizzie Deignan to return to racing at Flèche Wallonne, is a possibility for Liège–Bastogne–Liège
Trek-Segafredo finalise roster for Wednesday's Ardennes Classic, with Deignan returning for the first time since 2021
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Jumbo-Visma set to use adjustable tyre pressure systems at Paris-Roubaix
The Dutch team and DSM will both utilise different systems on the cobblestones of the ‘Hell of the North’
By Tom Thewlis Published
-