Wednesday, September 22, 2021
Dream farewell for the professional cyclist
Martin’s gold coup in the very last race
A career couldn’t end better: Tony Martin wins gold again in his very last race. At the world championships he is faster than any other nation with the mixed relay. The jubilation of the 36-year-old and his teammates is correspondingly great.
Tony Martin watched the furious ride of the Golden Girls from Tokyo in front of the monitor, then he fell into his teammates’ arms. In the last race of his glorious career, veteran Martin led the German cyclists to the world championship title and thus set a final highlight. The German sextet with Martin, Nikias Arndt, Max Walscheid and the Olympic champions Mieke Kröger, Lisa Klein and Lisa Brennauer left all other nations behind in the time trial mixed in Flanders and secured the first World Cup gold since 2016 for the Association of German Cyclists (BDR) On the 44.5 flat kilometers from Knokke-Heist to Bruges, the Netherlands and Italy completed the medal ranks.
“It is a dream to go with World Cup gold. We were hoping for gold, now the dream has come true. Now is the time to celebrate,” said Martin after his last coup. Lisa Klein added, “We’ve all pushed the limit. It’s breathtaking. It’s such an honor to ride with Tony. It’s a gift for him.”
For Martin, who became world champion in the individual time trial four times in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2016, it is a dream farewell to professional sport. “The chance of gold in particular is much greater. There should be a medal,” the 36-year-old had emphasized before the World Cup event, which was introduced only two years ago. At that time there was silver behind the Netherlands, which in the mode with two trios can mainly rely on their superior women. For the BDR it is the second medal in these championships after Antonia Niedermaier took bronze in the junior women on Tuesday.
“Armored car” is true again
Martin, plagued by serious falls, announced on Sunday morning that he would end his career after the World Cup and thus no longer fulfill his contract with Jumbo-Visma, which was valid until 2022. In order to give himself the opportunity to have a shiny finish with precious metal, Martin also refrained from racing on the road. The plan worked: he sat on the asphalt, completely exhausted and sweaty, and only then did he embrace his teammates after setting the fastest time.
On a glorious September day, the flat course from the coastal town into Bruges showed what makes Martin so valuable even at the age of 36. The nickname “armored car”, which refers to Martin’s impressive time trial skills, was justified until the last professional competition. The Cottbuser and the three women Klein, Brennauer and Kröger were already part of the silver team in England in 2019, and the strong women’s trio also recently won gold on the track at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. In the previous year, the mixed was deleted from the World Cup program due to corona.
Martin, who was overwhelmed by his emotions in sixth place in the individual time trial, left nothing to chance in the very last chapter. Even in the morning sun, the German trio of men had stomped through Knokke-Heist parallel to the coast. Led – of course – by specialist Martin, who has no concrete plans for his future.
After already two World Championship medals, the road cycling team around captain Nils Politt has also been relieved of some pressure. In the most important of all World Cup races, the German team has not won a medal since André Greipel in 2011. Other players will also be favorites on Sunday.