Lennard Kämna: 'You need passion for cycling, otherwise it’s just a pain'
From being 'on the edge' to enjoying cycling again to winning at the Tour of the Alps
Not many people had a good 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, but Lennard Kämna did. With stage wins at the Critérium du Dauphiné and the Tour de France, the young German announced himself as a rider to watch, especially in days off the front. He looked like a key member of the new wave of youth talent coming through that year.
He started 2021 similarly, winning a stage of the Volta a Catalunya solo, but then after a break raced the Volta ao Algarve anonymously. Kämna then announced that he would be taking a longer break from the sport, announcing that he was looking to recover from a longstanding problem with an infection.
That break lasted the rest of 2021, with the Bora-Hansgrohe rider explaining in October to German outlet Weser-Kurier that his "stress increased and I could no longer manage it".
In 2022, Kämna has returned. He won a stage of the Ruta del Sol, again in a breakaway, and then on Wednesday confirmed that he was back with an impressive win on a hard stage three of the Tour of the Alps.
He has clearly repaid the faith shown in him by his team, but this is also an important year, the last year of his contract with Bora.
During his break, the German spent time mountain biking in South Africa, and with his friends and family.
Post-victory in Villabassa, Italy, Kämna said: "Last year was a great opportunity to get right back to rhythm and enjoy riding the bike. That's what we did, like in South Africa. I really enjoyed that time, super happy with it."
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
In October, he had said: "I felt that I lacked the opportunity to develop other interests. I lived my life wrong. I had missed the opportunity to open up to other experiences and when something unexpected happened my stress increased and I could no longer manage it. It was difficult for me to get out of that tunnel, but now I realise how much I have missed cycling."
Now, back to being a full-time professional cyclist again, the 25-year-old told the media that he is "more stable" in 2022.
"I want to be careful in the future. I think I am more stable. It opened up some opportunities to train a little bit earlier, rethink things, like what exactly I want to be as a rider. I think it helped me. I cannot explain it in detail now, but I'm really glad that I did it, I had a good winter. I was really happy to pin my numbers back on my jersey and ride some races."
His decision to take a break is redolent of Tom Dumoulin stepping back from cycling, although the Dutch rider ended up off the bike for a shorter amount of time. That, too, was related to his mental health.
Earlier this year, Australian tennis player Ash Barty retired aged 25, explaining "I just know that I am absolutely – I am spent – I just know physically I have nothing more to give".
Kämna certainly seems glad to have paused his career and then re-entered cycling, especially as his form still seems there.
"If you are in the same situation like I was, I would definitely recommend it," Kämna said. "You need to have the passion for cycling, you need to have fun, otherwise it’s just a pain to do it. Like everybody who’s on the edge, definitely take a break."
However, he still thinks he has a way to go to be back at his peak, and has room to grow.
"I don't think I'm better than ever," he explained. "I’m still going to my real level, I’m not at 100%."
"I think at the moment I’m not at a spot to be with the best climbers," Kämna said "I feel I have some power, but on the climbs I’m still missing a little bit... I knew I just had to crack the others properly and then I could take the win. I'm not regretting at all to not being in the GC."
As for his win breakaway win, the German said it was a case of attacking hard to get into the break in the first place, and then marking every move in the final.
"I knew there would be a good day for the breakaway," the escape specialist said. "But before I was at the Basque Country and I was not feeling in good condition to be honest. I feel now much better than two weeks ago. I knew if I was in the breakaway it would be super hard to actually win... It was more a case that I had the chance to try, and this is what I did."
Now Kämna will head to the Giro d'Italia with the knowledge that he is both stable generally, and in good form to show his Bora-Hansgrohe team that they were right to keep the faith. It is already a good 2022.
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
Adam is Cycling Weekly’s news editor – his greatest love is road racing but as long as he is cycling on tarmac, he's happy. Before joining Cycling Weekly he spent two years writing for Procycling, where he interviewed riders and wrote about racing. He's usually out and about on the roads of Bristol and its surrounds. Before cycling took over his professional life, he covered ecclesiastical matters at the world’s largest Anglican newspaper and politics at Business Insider. Don't ask how that is related to cycling.
-
7 steps you mustn't forget when preparing your bike for spring
Mechanic to pros and amateurs alike, Glen Whittington shares his tips for the successful de-hibernation of your bike
By Glen Whittington Published
-
‘To find out post-accident that I would be in a wheelchair… I felt like my life was over’ - How adaptive bikes give spinal cord injury survivors their lives back
The High Fives Foundation provides athletes with spinal cord injuries with adaptive bikes and bike camps across the country.
By Kristin Jenny Published
-
'I got left out' - How one contractless pro is fighting to get back to the WorldTour
Giro d'Italia stage winner Lukas Pöstlberger might be without a team, but he's determined to get back to the top
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'We're fighting all the time to be in front': Is cycling more dangerous nowadays? We asked the pros
'We need to show some good sense and realise that it's not worth winning at any price,' said one rider
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'I spent five weeks on the sofa': How Tobias Foss overcame illness and got back to winning ways
At the Tour of the Alps, the Ineos Grenadiers rider took his first victory since becoming time trial world champion in 2022. The 19 months in between proved a bumpy ride
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Tour de France stage winner in intensive care after being hit by car driver on training ride
Lennard Kämna in stable condition and able to communicate after incident in Tenerife
By Adam Becket Published
-
'You have to be open to everything' - Primož Roglič ahead of his Bora-Hansgrohe debut at Paris-Nice
Roglič up against Remco Evenepoel for the first time in 2024 as he gets set for a return to the Tour de France
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Red Bull and Bora-Hansgrohe partnership given 'green light to go ahead'
The 'joint venture' between the energy drinks company and the German cycling team has been allowed by Austrian authorities
By Adam Becket Published
-
Sam, but different: Bora-Hansgrohe get 2024 off to a flier at Tour Down Under
Sam Welsford powered to victory on stage one in Tanunda to give his team the perfect start
By Adam Becket Published
-
More money, more viewers for the sport: What Red Bull’s Bora-Hansgrohe acquisition could mean
The Austrian energy drinks company looks set to acquire a controlling stake in German WorldTour team Bora-Hansgrohe. What will that do for professional cycling?
By Tom Thewlis Published