Antonia Niedermaier's sporting career began on the ski slopes of Germany. She won the U20 ski mountaineering world cup before transitioning to cycling full time in 2021. Just three years into her pro career she has a palmares that many would envy - two U23 titles in the time trial as well as medals in the U23 road race in Zurich this year - and to top that she won the queen stage of the 2023 Giro Donne.

She joins Bobby and Jens to discuss all this, her future in the sport and more!

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The team gave me the opportunity

to do something on this queen stage and,

2

they really trusted me and,

3

protected me and, but I never thought

that I could win a stage,

4

I just, wanted to to try something

and to to be brave.

5

Hello, everyone, and welcome back

to another episode of The Odd Tandem.

6

Today our guests started off in the sport

of ski mountaineering

7

and made a very quick transition

into the cycling world.

8

Winning the Queen stage of the 2023 Giro

9

d'Italia Donne Antonia

Niedermaier joins us today.

10

Andy, what a chat that was.

11

Absolutely.

12

And she's only 21 years old and already

twice world champion time trialing.

13

So I guess she must like time

trialling a lot.

14

Well, she's made a very rapid progression

in the sport.

15

We talked to her a lot about that,

16

and she has some great ideas for the next

generation of female cyclists.

17

So please sit back,

18

relax and listen to our great conversation

with Antonia Niedermaier.

19

Antonia Niedermaier.

20

Welcome to the odd Tandem. Hi, everyone.

21

So, Antonia, here we are in mid-November.

22

Where are you coming to us from today?

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I'm at my mother's place in Bavaria.

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But I'm coming today from.

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From bicep, from Tyrol.

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But, we couldn't record there

because the internet, was broken.

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So, now I'm here at my mother's place.

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Before we get further

into where you coming from?

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Into the sport.

What are your goals for next year?

30

We have a set of a few quickfire

questions.

31

Quick question, quick answer.

32

Just to warm up a little bit.

33

Okay.

You ready? Antonia? I'm ready already.

34

So what is better?

35

Floating down a mountain

on fresh powder, on skis

36

or descending on a bike?

37

Oh. Hard one.

38

Powder snow.

39

What's the future for you after the sport?

40

If farm animals or city penthouse

in Munich or Berlin?

41

Definitely a farm.

42

Which

43

of the three medals

at the world's in Turin you like the best?

44

You won a gold, silver and bronze,

which meant the most to you.

45

The gold medal under 23.

46

And what's better?

47

Elite TT title at the worlds.

48

Or a win in the women's tour?

49

Women's tour.

50

All right.

51

Cool.

52

Well,

I have to start because, you know, both

53

Jens and I have daughters

who are more or less your age.

54

That never really showed much interest,

to say

55

the least, in

in what we did in the sport of cycling.

56

How were you exposed to the sport

57

of cycling and and who got you into it?

58

So actually, I'm not from cycling.

59

I'm from, mountain sports, from mountain

running and ski mountaineering

60

and, you know, it's like, funny story,

because I never did cycling.

61

Yes. As main sport, just as training.

62

And then, then during the Covid times,

there were no, mountain runs

63

because it's not such a big sport,

but there were some bike races.

64

And then my father told me,

yeah, come on, to have some competitions.

65

During the summer,

you could do some bike races

66

just for fun, just,

to to have some races and.

67

Yeah.

68

Then, a team later, the junior team,

saw me at some races and they.

69

Yeah, immediately

saw the talent and, took me into a team.

70

So I believe you were

71

a junior world

champion in mountain skiing.

72

Correct. Yeah.

73

So you had a huge successful

start in the other sport.

74

Why did you change then, actually.

75

I still love ski mountaineering.

76

But, to be honest,

it's, like, not super big sport,

77

and you cannot really make a big career

because there's not a lot of money.

78

So I also wanted to try something.

79

Yeah, but I cannot do as a job

because in ski mountaineering,

80

it's always just like a not the main job.

81

You can maybe go to the police or

82

to the military and, to the sport sideway.

83

But, you can never do it, like,

as a full time job.

84

And, when I, got the opportunity

85

to go into a professional cycling,

I told myself that I want to try it.

86

And if it doesn't suit me, I will leave.

87

But, Yeah.

88

And so now I can say I really like it.

89

And, I want to say

90

it just a little explanation for

for all of us.

91

Bobby.

92

Just give me, like, a few seconds

93

when Antonia said, go to the police

or to the army,

94

to police forces

and to army forces are a big, big,

95

big supporter of German amateur sports,

especially units

96

where athletes can become

a police officer or a soldier.

97

And then you do probably

at least three weeks per month.

98

You have time to train, and one week

is actually police or military service.

99

Oh, and amateur sport

would not exist in Germany

100

without the support of the army

and the police forces.

101

With this special sports group.

102

I was part of that

103

in my younger amateur years,

and now I think that's what Antonia meant.

104

When she said,

you can join the police or the army.

105

Just an explanation.

106

Yeah, it's a really, really amazing thing

they do for the sport.

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So I think, a lot of athletes

108

actually could not,

do the sports without them.

109

Okay.

110

Well, we've had a few guests

that have mentioned ski mountaineering

111

in the past, Quinn Simmons,

112

Sepp Kuss, even our buddy Dirk Friel.

113

But to our viewers and our listeners

that don't really know,

114

can you explain

what ski mountaineering is?

115

Yeah.

116

For sure.

117

Like, it's, going up with the ski,

the mountain in the snow

118

and you have, like, skins, under your ski

that you have to grip.

119

And then, on the top of the mountain.

120

So you just put off the skins

and ski down.

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So I also like the, the binding

where you are in, when you're skiing

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down, it's, like, flexible,

so you can close it and have it open

123

for, for walking up the mountain.

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You have to open it

that you can walk, that your heel is free.

125

And if you want to ski down,

you just close it

126

and then you're like, in your ski.

127

And then you can ski down.

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So that's like, the main thing.

129

And you cannot take off these keys.

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You cannot carry

the skis uphill in your backpack.

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That's not allowed.

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And you have certain fixed points

you have to like check

133

that there's like whatever,

like a, a referee that goes, oh, yep.

134

Antonia, pass my point.

135

You pass this point at this time

or how is that whole timing done?

136

Yeah, actually in competitions

is a little bit different.

137

So you have like three different

disciplines.

138

You have the vertical race.

139

It's just about the uphill.

140

So you're just running up. So it

141

to start this

142

down the mountain

and then you're just running up the top.

143

And who is first is first.

144

So, yeah, that's the,

the easiest competition.

145

Then you have, the individual race day,

you have like, up and down all the time.

146

So you walk up the mountain and ski down,

and there you also allow

147

to put your ski on the back.

148

You actually also have to

it's parts of the race.

149

So you have to put the ski on your back

and then climb up,

150

with a ski in the back

and then ski down again.

151

And it's like about one and a half

to two hours race

152

and, and about 3000, 3,500

vertical metres.

153

And then you have the sprint.

154

It's like a little bit

like a mountain biking.

155

That's like a parkour. You have to to run.

156

So the first time you do it alone

it's like about five minutes.

157

And then you come, yeah, to the heats.

158

So it's always five people

against each other.

159

And the first three people,

coming to the next round

160

and then the finals are coming.

161

So that's the,

the most, popular discipline.

162

And it's also becoming Olympic in 26.

163

Geez.

164

So I'm just thinking of, like, looking

at a heart rate file from something.

165

Like what? You just explained.

166

So it's basically threshold and above

167

all, the way to the top of the mountain.

168

And then you said you also ski down

after that in some of the events.

169

Exactly. And sprint.

170

And in the individual race

you also have to ski down.

171

So yeah,

172

it's really also technical

because you have to put the skins off

173

very fast

and put your ski in the back really fast.

174

And so it's, also a lot of,

technical training.

175

And you mentioned it.

176

I mean, I also did some research

and Google.

177

It's becoming an Olympic sport.

178

Do you ever did it

ever cross your mind to go double,

179

to try to win

a Winter Olympics medal in that sport

180

and try to win a medal

on a Summer Olympics?

181

Is that a dream of

you know that it's too much.

182

It's a dream to to go there and,

183

just have the experience

also with the winter sport.

184

But unfortunately, sprint becomes Olympic

and I'm not really a sprinter,

185

not in cycling

and also not in ski mountaineering.

186

So, well I think,

everything is still open and,

187

for sure

I will try to, to get there some somehow.

188

Okay.

189

So you start with ski mountaineering.

190

You start due to your father

participating in some bike races.

191

You mentioned that a junior team

noticed you.

192

But then tell us how you got hooked up

with the Canyon

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Sram generation team

because, you're only 21 now.

194

And this was, what, just a few years ago,

it seems like it was a pretty

195

a major fast

196

track going from ski mountaineering

to, to cycling.

197

Explain a little bit about that pathway

and how it works there

198

in Germany for, for for the women.

199

It actually was really fast because I,

200

came straight to the national team

as a junior and, did

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my first, European stand

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and became second place in the treaty.

203

And then,

after the European Championships,

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a lady came to me

and asked me to join the generation team.

205

And because you had, like,

this idea of, development

206

team for his Canyon Sram WorldTour team.

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And so we came in contact and,

and we were talking,

208

and I was not really sure because,

209

it was never my plan

to become a professional athlete.

210

So I was a little bit confused.

211

And it all happened really, really fast.

212

And,

sometimes I'm still a little bit, confused

213

with all this situation

because, as I said, it was never like

214

my plan to become an athlete

and professional athlete, and,

215

Yeah, but then I came to the generation

team,

216

2022 and, had a great season.

217

And,

I learned a lot because I think it was

218

I had, like 5 or 6 bike races

219

before and, came to this continental team.

220

Yeah, I'm really, really happy and,

221

really thankful that I got this

opportunity from, Ronny [Lauke].

222

And. Yeah, then, the journey started.

223

So now we describe it,

224

coming from ski mountaineering,

a bit of junior racing.

225

Five races

before you joined the bigger team.

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How do you feel?

227

I mean, obviously with, winning twice,

228

the world championships under 23 and time

trial.

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Right.

230

The the physical ability is there,

the talent is there,

231

the strength is there.

232

How do you feel on

the bike in the peloton?

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Is that still something

you a little nervous about? You got now?

234

It's. It's all good for me.

235

In the beginning, I was.

236

I was definitely really afraid,

of the peloton and all the other girls.

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And I always thought, oh, there's so much

experienced, more experienced in me.

238

And, also like the,

the girls that during the race, sometimes

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not really nice.

240

And I'm like a really sensitive girl

and so at some points

241

I was a little bit,

yeah, overwhelmed by the whole situation.

242

But I think I learned to deal with it

and, yeah, I have to say,

243

like the last, three seasons I had with

Canyon were pretty, pretty good.

244

And I every race

I got, more self-confident.

245

And I also know what I can and I also know

that the attackers know me.

246

And,

so I think it's just about confidence.

247

And I also know that I can always,

Yeah, be with my team-mates.

248

And they will keep me safe.

249

And I think that's a really big point

to tell me that I know when I'm

250

with my team, I'm safe.

251

Yeah, that that helps.

252

But I'm still trying to get my head

wrapped around the

253

how how quickly you were able to adjust,

because I read that

254

you graduated from high school in 2022.

255

On your 16th day of racing,

you won two stages

256

in the overall of the tour

de l’ardèche feminine.

257

Winning a stage race

258

without much experience to me

sounds almost impossible.

259

You know, maybe going and winning a stage

or one of the classement jerseys,

260

like the Queen in the mountain

or the points jersey.

261

Something like that.

262

Maybe.

263

Maybe one stage, but two stages

and the overall.

264

Tell us a little bit about that race

265

and how you were able to navigate,

266

I guess some uncharted waters

doing an eight day stage race.

267

Yeah.

268

It was, a really big thing for me because

it was my first ever long stage race.

269

And, I knew also that it was really hard

270

won with a lot of climbing

and descending and technical.

271

But from the beginning on,

272

we had a good team and,

I think the mood was really good.

273

And,

and this is the first stage that I won.

274

Yeah.

275

I wasn't really thinking about winning,

honestly.

276

It was just like I had good legs.

277

And then, I, I was riding on the front,

and then my team-mate was like,

278

why are you doing this?

279

If you feel strong, just go.

280

And then, yeah, I tried

and I think I was to the other girls,

281

they were like,

yeah, come on, let's let her go.

282

It was like,

I think 80km to the finish line.

283

And, yeah.

284

Then I did, really long,

so I am, I rode all these

285

80km alone and, had really good legs

and yeah,

286

I also was super overwhelmed and,

happy to.

287

Yeah, to come there and win a stage

288

and, I really wasn't expecting that.

289

I'm winning another stage, too,

and winning this whole GC, so it was like,

290

really it happened was so fast

I couldn't really realise it.

291

So. So you surprised yourself.

292

You did not see that coming at all

293

before in training

or in the races before where you.

294

I feel good.

295

I might be able to win the stage.

296

You were completely surprised

by by your own success?

297

Definitely.

298

I think we all were like it was

we came to this race and we were like,

299

okay, we we're doing our best,

but we're not here for the win.

300

We were like, okay, it's, for experience

301

and we just want to have

some some great days of racing.

302

But, I think nobody really expected that

303

we could win this race.

304

Well, you talk about unexpected

305

wins in 2023.

306

You won the Queen stage of the Giro

d'Italia

307

Donne on another solo move

308

and winning ahead of of Annemiek van

Vleuten.

309

Tell us about winning your first

310

Grand Tour stage, and especially at being

the queen stage of that year's race.

311

Yeah, it was also really special

312

because I had a really, really hard year.

313

I had a surgery in February on my knee,

and then my grandma died in March,

314

so I was like, really at a really stupid

start to the year.

315

And, you know,

I was also really frustrated

316

that I could not start my season.

317

Right. And, with training and so on.

318

So I came to this Giro

and it was also my first Grand Tour ever.

319

So I was like,

I was really nervous anyways.

320

And, yeah.

321

Then also the team gave me the opportunity

to, to do something on this queen stage

322

and, they really trusted me

and, protected me, and.

323

But I never thought

that I could win a stage.

324

Just, wanted to to try something

325

and to to be brave and, Yeah.

326

And the end was

I was dropped in the beginning

327

and then came back, and then I was like,

okay, what should I do now?

328

And and nobody was moving at all.

329

And then I was like, okay, if,

330

if I want to do something, I, I did it,

I try it now.

331

And also from the car

they gave me the advice to attack

332

and yeah, I could not really realise

what I am doing.

333

I was in my head,

I was like, what are you doing?

334

I was so

335

confused with this whole situation and,

336

being in the front alone.

337

And I knew that Annemiek

was chasing after a while.

338

And then I knew that the last kilometre

were like,

339

just flat, and it was just like,

340

so my head, I was switching

341

to, to program and I knew, okay,

342

it's going to hurt the last 20 minutes,

but it's worth it.

343

And, yeah, in the end, at the finish

line, I couldn't believe that.

344

I just won a Giro stage.

345

So it was,

I think, it took me really long to

346

to realise what I just done.

347

Well.

348

And you beat Annemiek van Vleuten,

and she is,

349

you know,

one of the superstars of women's cycling.

350

And if I remember right,

you were second in the overall

351

after that stage for that day.

352

Yeah, exactly. Yeah.

353

Well, as we know in this sport, one day

354

you're on the top of the heap and one day

you're on the crap pile, right?

355

There was an unfortunate incident

356

that happened the next day

which forced you to abandon,

357

can you explain to us

and our listeners and viewers like what?

358

What happened there?

359

Because this sport is so brutal.

360

Sometimes you you go from one extreme

361

to the other, but just curious about that.

362

That next day's event.

363

Yeah.

364

And the next day was like,

also a hard stage, but not too hard.

365

So everything stayed,

more or less together

366

and, I think, I don't know, I,

we had not that much kilometre to go

367

and it wasn't a feeding

and I was a little bit behind

368

because I wanted to grab a bottle

and then, Yeah,

369

just a girl crashed into me

from the side, and I just fell over her,

370

and I wasn't expecting it,

and I was unprepared for a crash,

371

so I really fell on my face.

372

And, yeah, I unfortunately,

373

I lost two of my, teeth and, Yeah,

374

I had really bad bruises on my face

and on my knee and, everywhere.

375

And. Yeah, first day I wasn't.

376

It had such a shock

377

that I was just standing up

and wanted to grab my bike and move on.

378

But then the ambulance came and they were,

379

they took me out immediately

and, told me I cannot.

380

I cannot move on.

381

And then I just realised that

I don't have my teeth anymore.

382

So I was, so shocked and.

383

Yeah, then I had to to go to the hospital

384

with the helicopter, and,

they were really worried that I broke

385

maybe my neck or something, but,

luckily I had.

386

I was really lucky that there was nothing

broken.

387

Just, like, in my hand, a little bone.

388

But it was all right.

389

And just the teeth, but nothing else.

390

So I was really lucky I to stay.

391

Well, I believe then you

392

needed some replacement for 40

some more operations and surgery.

393

How long did it take to recover?

394

Like physically?

395

How much time

until you were back on the bike

396

and I believe in your young career,

that was your first bigger

397

or heavier crash.

398

How long did you had

needed to get over that?

399

And I'm ready to go back.

400

Yeah.

401

Physically I was really fast

back on the bike.

402

It was just like I needed more for my

head to take a week completely off.

403

But then I went back on the bike

and it was okay, just, my hand,

404

I could just go on my bike because it was,

Yeah, a little bit hurting.

405

But the teeth actually

took really long to recover, so it's,

406

really long thing

that the heals and, in later.

407

Yeah. That I accepted it from the body?

408

It's really, really long journey.

409

So I, I think I finished my

treatment in March this year.

410

Yeah.

411

Mentally

was such I was really hard to come back

412

because it was my first big crash,

and I was so disappointed

413

because I was second in the GC and,

just the day

414

before I won the stage and was so happy.

415

So it was at this moment

I realised how cruel sport can be.

416

And, it took me long to.

417

Yeah, to recover from that mentally.

418

But yeah, I think now I'm fine.

419

I, I work with, psychologists

and Yeah, I'm, I'm

420

not too afraid anymore on the bike,

but I'm more,

421

careful, I have to say.

422

Earlier in the interview,

you mentioned your team

423

and, you know, the support of the team,

the way that they look out for you.

424

I mean, it's.

425

No, it's no shock that your team

is one of the biggest in the world,

426

and you have Kasia Niewiadoma,

who is the defending

427

tour de France Femmes champion,

Chloe Dygart that won an Olympic medal.

428

I mean, you know, Tiffany Cromwell,

the the list goes on and on and on.

429

Tell us a little bit about how you ladies

work together and support each other.

430

Even maybe when you're not

at the same races together.

431

Yeah.

432

I think, over the last years

we just grew together.

433

We have like, one family

and always caring about each other.

434

And if someone is not feeling good, yeah.

435

Just really, really supports them.

436

And, Yeah, it's it's really nice to see

how how we grew together as a team.

437

And we are really like a team.

438

Not everybody is fighting for it

for itself.

439

So I it's it's like, like a big family.

440

So it's really nice

and also after, after the crash, I had,

441

I experienced a day a recurring and,

442

especially with young riders stay.

443

They really want you to give the knowledge

they have to the young, young girls

444

and support them and help them to

445

to absolutely

get the best results they can.

446

And when is the next time you see them?

447

You have, to next a training camp

or come together camp

448

talking about the next season

when you see your team again.

449

Yeah.

450

In the beginning of December,

we have, team camp

451

and, yeah, really looking forward

to see all the girls again.

452

And also the new ones.

453

I think we have a couple of new riders.

454

I'm really curious to see.

455

And, Yeah, I'm.

456

I'm really happy that,

I will meet the girls in.

457

So. So this year

you had a pretty busy schedule.

458

You did the the Vuelta Feminine.

459

The Tour de Suisse,

the Giro d'Italia Feminine.

460

But you did not do

the tour de France Femmes.

461

Is that something

that you are looking forward to doing?

462

I mean, you're you'd be going in

with the defending champion next year.

463

Yeah.

464

For sure.

465

I think it's, the biggest race and it's

super important for women's cycling.

466

So, for sure, I hope that I can

I could do it next season.

467

This season we decided not to do it

because I already had a lot of races.

468

And I also was a little bit

sick after Olympics.

469

But yeah, for sure, the upcoming season,

470

I hope we can go there

with a strong team.

471

And,

I hope I'm part of it, but, yeah, I'm

472

I'm, I think they

they can use me for this race.

473

Pretty good.

474

And did you had a quick

look at their profile already?

475

Did you pick a stage where maybe I can go

476

for a solo breakaway idea

or is it too far ahead for you?

477

I think it's, far ahead.

478

And also, like, I think for the,

479

Yeah, for the whole to the force.

480

It's like waiting and also seeing

what Kasia is feeling like.

481

And, so it's, I think

482

for me, it's, not to come there and win

something.

483

It's more to support, the team.

484

Well, the tour de France Femmes in 2025.

485

In case you haven't looked ahead.

486

Yens and I have,

it's a total of nine stages this year

487

without a rest day

and with without a time trial.

488

You mentioned quite a few times

about time trialling.

489

It seems like you're very good at time

trialling,

490

being the under 23 world champion at it.

491

In the future, what would you like to see?

492

Would you like to see a time trial

in the tour de France Femmes?

493

Because this year

they have two flat stages.

494

Three rolling stages.

495

They call it two medium mountain days

496

and then two big mountain days,

but no time trial.

497

Would you like to see a time trial in

the tour de France Femmes in the future?

498

Yeah, definitely.

499

I think it's a very nice discipline

because it's really honest.

500

Like, it's just you against the clock.

501

So I think it's.

502

It's a nice discipline and it's, pity

that they, they forget about it.

503

And a little bit.

504

So I yeah, I hope that in the future they,

they will Yeah.

505

Do some stages with time trial at least.

506

Yeah. Like one day.

507

Well, you be, two times world

508

champion,

in a time trial with the under 23.

509

Is it just a talent or you work

hard on it, you work on your position,

510

you do wind tunnel testing,

or you have some experts looking at you,

511

telling you about your position.

512

You do special efforts,

to become good in time

513

trialling or is it just given to you?

514

I think the more or less it's

just given to me.

515

Honestly, I just did, aero testing

516

once last year, but,

I like my position at.

517

I think it's fast and also.

518

And, and the track where we tested it,

it was a good position

519

and,

never really changed big things about it.

520

And,

I think, yeah, I, I'm, more like a person

521

when something is, going well, like,

it is and I, I will not change it.

522

So. Yeah, I think I'm more talented in it.

523

So yeah.

524

But maybe it's also

525

from ski mountaineering because it's more

or less at the same time.

526

So it's also 20 minutes about and.

527

Yeah,

528

I that

529

I was going to ask that

it has to come from ski mountaineering.

530

I mean, that's by yourself pacing

yourself, knowing your limits, etc., etc.

531

but, you know,

being so young to the sport,

532

I think you're you're very blessed

to have grown up these

533

last couple of years with women's cycling

just going to a totally different level.

534

We've seen some huge advancements

in, in women's racing

535

compared to back

when Marianne Vos started, when,

536

when Kasia started, when Tiffany

Cromwell started, you know, when,

537

when all the older generation

of female cyclists started.

538

But do you see this progress

539

continue in,

and what would you like to see

540

get even better than what

you've actually been exposed to so far?

541

Yeah, I think it's crazy to see how fast,

542

the women's cycling grew in the last,

2 or 3 years.

543

And it's amazing to see how, how much,

544

publicity we also have and how much fans.

545

And yes, it's really nice

and I'm really happy that, now

546

just in the cycling world and for sure,

I hope that,

547

we keep on growing and,

reaching more people, especially

548

young girls, to,

to show them that they have to be brave

549

and that they can, can, reach their goals

550

and to have, big dreams.

551

And then they can reach them. So I think,

552

yeah, for sure.

553

It's, it's going in a good way.

554

And also with, the tour de France

Femmes, it's, it's really good that,

555

we have it now and that it's also growing

and getting bigger for sure.

556

There's, space for improvement.

557

But as it always is and,

I think we also have

558

to give the whole thing

the whole cycling time

559

to develop itself.

560

So, when we talk about the development

of, of women's cycling,

561

how fast it went in the last year, now

it's he's

562

daring question for you, do you think

do you want, in ten years from now,

563

a tour of France, about three weeks

time for a woman like the same as two men.

564

Three weeks with tourists and like, really

do the entire lap around France.

565

Honestly, I

566

don't know if it's possible physically,

because, for sure,

567

female body is built different

than the made a body.

568

For me, I think,

569

nine days is totally enough, but,

for sure, if they maybe would make a rest

570

day, then it's also okay to do it

like ten days or 12 or maybe two weeks.

571

But I don't know if it's, like,

super smart, to do it

572

because as I said, a female body is,

is really built different to a male body.

573

Well, you hit that on the head.

574

Women are not just smaller men.

575

That's that's for sure.

576

But you've given us the women's

peloton has given us

577

some of the best

racing, of of the year as of late.

578

What really gets you

579

excited to take the start of

of a race, regardless

580

if it's a one day or a a stage race,

what really is that motivation

581

when you're out there training to

to make those sacrifice races?

582

Yeah, I think for me the main motivation

is to be the best version of myself.

583

And, even if it's not to win a race

584

to support my team

and see my team-mates winning.

585

And for sure, it's

always the greatest moment

586

when you do cross the finish line

and your plan works and,

587

you or your team-mate, won the race,

and you have just like this

588

pure joy and happiness and,

589

yeah,

you're just thankful for for every person.

590

And also the stuff behind us.

591

So, yeah, I think it's this,

this whole social thing

592

around cycling

the emotions that makes it so special.

593

I guess you have to have a

594

good team spirit because you spent

a lot of time on the road, right?

595

And team buses

in the team hotels, in training camps.

596

So I believe it is really important

to have a good team spirit.

597

Is there in women’s cycling

598

sometimes, like, like in training camps,

599

they do things to increase the team

spirit, like do little adventures together

600

or have a, like a mental coach

talking to them about team spirit,

601

about teamwork,

or is that something that's

602

that doesn't really it's not done in

women's cycling.

603

Yeah. We we do this.

604

And last year

we did this, training camp in America

605

where we did these gravel rides.

606

Unfortunately, I was sick and had Covid,

so I was not taking part,

607

but, it was more or less a team building

608

and, yeah, also, I think some us

609

girls, we always going to drink coffee

together in the morning.

610

We, we walk together.

611

So I think and we do it together

612

ourselves, not from the team,

but we also want to do something together.

613

It's not like everybody is just going in

their rooms and not talking to each other.

614

We are,

I think, are really social, people.

615

So we are always doing something together.

616

That seems to be

617

a little bit different than the

618

the male peloton,

because a lot of the guests that we have

619

had on say that, you know, at night, guys

just go back up to their room,

620

you know, they've got their recovery

boots on or they're watching Netflix,

621

they're on their phones

or on their devices.

622

They're talking to their families.

623

So it's great to hear that,

that that spirit, that camaraderie

624

which obviously comes out in, in the bike

racing for, for you ladies.

625

I mean, that's,

that's what you want that that creates

626

that atmosphere,

that longevity, that, that fun.

627

But you know, you

I was actually surprised

628

that you are not the youngest girl

on Canyon Sram.

629

You even have younger girls.

630

So you're 21.

631

You have 2 or 3, young ladies,

especially, Zoe Backstedt.

632

That's like a year younger than you.

633

You know, Tiffany Cromwell,

you know, she's a little bit older.

634

The new recruit, Cecile

Uttrip Ludwig is coming.

635

She's she's almost 30.

636

You know, is 30.

637

Is there a

638

disconnect between the 20 year olds

639

and the 30 year olds

in, in women's cycling?

640

Because I never really felt

that age was a determining factor in that.

641

But,

you know, I was in the men's peloton.

642

I don't think so.

643

I think it's,

644

Yeah, in some points, like,

we can learn a lot from the older riders,

645

but it's, personally, it's like everybody

646

is acting the same, and, we, Yeah,

everybody is the same.

647

So it's not like,

oh, I'm older, so I, I'm.

648

Yeah,

I know more or I have more knowledge.

649

It's not like this is like,

they know they can

650

they can learn, you know, something

and then they can give you some knowledge,

651

but it's not like,

it makes them a better person.

652

So that's really nice to see.

653

And, I think, yeah, we can,

we can talk about everything.

654

And also to the older riders, if we have

some questions, we can go to them

655

and ask them, have some problems and they

they would never be like,

656

oh no, I don't want to help you

because your, your young younger,

657

you could maybe take something

from my success or anything.

658

It's not like this.

659

I think it's, really like

660

we are a big family and,

the age doesn't really matters.

661

In the male

662

peloton, it looks like nutrition is,

the part where the sport has developed

663

the most over the last year

to take a lot more food within the race.

664

Hydration and literally

665

the weight their food

right before they eat.

666

They have little like tiny little scales.

667

And we the food is that craziness

already arrived and woman

668

taking as well or whatever you eat

what looks good

669

I think it's different for every bride.

670

Some girls like to weight their food

and really specific about.

671

And, some are not.

672

But, a big thing is that the nutrition

in the race, that it's really important.

673

And we also have to, uploaded

and tell them what we ate

674

and drank and race and they will,

tell us what to do better if it's good.

675

Yeah.

676

So that's,

that's a really important thing.

677

But I think also that there's, for sure

678

some, some space for improvement

still and in women's cycling,

679

but yeah, I for me, I have to say

680

I'm, I'm not, yeah.

681

I'm not really into such things, so I'm.

682

Well, yeah.

683

I don't not

684

I'm too lazy for that.

685

Maybe.

686

But but since we're in the offseason

and you are very new to the sport,

687

let's, let's get a little bit

more specific to, to you.

688

Obviously you have an amazing

aerobic engine you can climb.

689

You can time trial.

690

What do you feel that you personally need

to work on this offseason

691

to set you up for the 2025 season?

692

I think for sure,

my recovery is a big thing.

693

I could do more with that

694

because I'm, really active person

and I can never sit still.

695

So, I think I can do more in stretching

696

and, yeah,

I don't know, strength training and so on.

697

And, also recovery itself, nutrition

and so on.

698

Yeah.

699

But, I'm working

with, on that with my coach and,

700

he's also in really close

contact to the team.

701

And,

I think it's just going to work out well.

702

Well, when you

703

look at the season, ahead of you,

you also have to look back

704

at other seasons to learn

what went good, what went wrong.

705

Right.

706

So that Giro d'Italia, after the stage

when you were second overall without the

707

crash, just in theory, where do you think

would you have ended up?

708

You think you could have hold on

to podium, maybe top ten, or maybe you

709

go, look, I was 20, 20 years old back

then, I would have completely exploded.

710

Honestly, I think I could have

kept the good position because it was not,

711

really hard stages coming up.

712

So it was just like it also was together

in the peloton, more or less.

713

And,

714

I think if I just did not have this crash,

maybe I could have ended up on podium.

715

But it's always hard to say because, yeah,

you never know.

716

Everything can happen in a race.

717

Then you have a puncture or something

and then it's not so different again.

718

So, yeah,

but maybe I could have ended up a podium.

719

So yeah.

720

Makes it even even harder to think about.

721

Yeah, I can imagine, I can imagine.

722

But, you know,

given that your first training camp with

723

the team is just a few weeks away,

this that's normally the time

724

where the directors pull you into a room

725

and tell you about your race schedule.

726

In a dream scenario, what would you see

727

your race schedule being next year?

728

Let's see, I just hope that I can do

a lot of state races

729

and, the, the hard ones,

with a lot of climbing.

730

Yeah,

but I don't really have, like, a razor.

731

I want to do, it's like,

I just want you to learn in the season

732

and to to become better in stage races

and, just improve there.

733

So I guess when Bobby asked

about in theory your dream season,

734

I got a follow up and asked

what would be your dream result?

735

What's that one secret win

736

or performance you want to have?

737

Maybe a medal at the elite TT?

738

Another under 23 title,

part of the tour de France team.

739

What's what would be your dream result?

740

I think, one of my dream results

741

would be to be, on the podium

from the elite, World Championships.

742

Because I also think that, next year was

743

would also be pretty hard

from what I saw until now.

744

So that would be a big dream for sure.

745

Yeah.

746

I don't care

if it's in the, TT or the road race,

747

it would be would be great above.

748

I'm quite curious

because you're so new to the sport,

749

and you probably didn't know much about it

when you started,

750

and you've been kind of thrown

into the deep end of the pool.

751

And guess what?

752

You were able to swim right away.

753

But I'm always curious

when somebody comes into the sport

754

who was their idol

or who became their idol.

755

So I'd like to ask you

756

that question of who you really look up

to in in the women's peloton.

757

And it's

758

it's a really hard question

because I don't really have an idol.

759

It's like

I think everybody is pretty impressive

760

and everyone who is doing the sport

and such a level is, and ideal for me.

761

So, yeah,

I think there's so many impressive girls.

762

I can look up to,

but I don't really have a specific one.

763

Now,

764

we talked so much about your racing

and focusing on the training and so on.

765

What do you do in your off time?

766

Actually,

I mean, you cannot train 20 hours a day.

767

There's a few hours

left for yourself. Right?

768

What do you do there?

769

Yeah.

770

I really love nature.

771

And, being outside in the mountains.

772

And I also have a dog, and she's

always happy to try me in the mountains.

773

So I really love that.

774

And, Yeah,

I love to spending time with my

775

loved ones and,

so I'm doing this, like, every, every day

776

I'm with my boyfriend, with my mother

and the dogs and, Yeah, I think that's,

777

the thing that makes me the happiest.

778

Well, we're getting towards

the end of the time that we have with you.

779

So my my final question would be this,

780

how do more young women,

whether it be in Germany,

781

US, anywhere in the world,

how do we motivate more young women

782

to get into the beautiful sport

of cycling?

783

Yeah, I think, we should.

784

Yeah.

785

Teach the,

especially the girls to to be brave and,

786

to dream big and, yeah, to to

787

to still be strong enough or brave enough

to to chase after their dreams.

788

I think that's,

I think we can, can learn the young girls

789

that they should not care

what others were thinking.

790

And, Yeah, just should be

791

strong enough to, to reach their goals.

792

So I think that's an important message

to to tell the girls that you can reach

793

everything you want if you just want it

enough, and you are just brave enough.

794

And is it still important

to have a network around your family,

795

a boyfriend or partner

that supports you and works with you?

796

Or how is that situation? For now?

797

I think it's different for everyone.

798

For me, it is really important

because I'm, really a family person

799

and I really, really like to be at home

800

and, just have to, to come around

me and my family around me and,

801

so for me it's important,

but I think also girls they,

802

especially if they are like from

maybe Australia was something like this

803

and it's harder for them, but I think

they are also like more independent maybe.

804

But yeah, I think it's really, really up

to, to the girls,

805

what they like,

and if they need it, yeah, whatever.

806

Well, Antonia,

807

it's been great

having you on the show today.

808

We wish you all the best in the 2025

season.

809

Both for you and and your team.

810

It's going to be exciting to see

because, man, you know, you just hockey

811

stick your progression in this sport

and it'll be really exciting

812

to watch because, you know,

you've been touted as one of the, the

813

the biggest up and comers

in female cycling.

814

And it'll be just fun to watch you.

815

So thank you for coming on the tandem

today.

816

Yeah. Thank you so much.

817

Well, that's everything for this week.

818

Now remember to follow us

@OddTandem on TikTok,

819

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and wherever you get your podcasts.

820

Thanks to Antonia for joining the podcast,

and please remember, if you want to see

821

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822

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823

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824

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825

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826

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827

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828

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829

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830

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831

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832

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833

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834

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835

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836

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837

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838

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839

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840

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841

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842

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