Hermann Pernsteiner without a team for next season: "It is very difficult mentally"

Hermann Pernsteiner will not receive a contract extension with Bahrain Victorious. The Austrian, who raced for the team from the Middle East since 2018, said this in conversation with radsport.

The 33-year-old rider was told the news after the Critérium du Dauphiné. Since then he has only contested the Austrian Championship and the Vuelta a Burgos. "It is very difficult mentally," says Pernsteiner. "Together with my management, we have contacted a few teams, but so far without success."

Pernsteiner has a background as a mountain biker. In 2018, at the age of 27, he finally switched to the road. He got a contract with Bahrain Merida, as Bahrain Victorious was then called. In his debut season, the climber won the Gran Premio Citta di Lugano. In 2018 and 2019 he rode the Vuelta a España, in 2020 the Giro d'Italia.

"I think my qualities should be known. That's why it would be bitter if my road career ended here," he said. "I really hope something will happen. The last few years have been a lot of fun, the atmosphere within the team was very good and we had a good mix of experienced riders and young, emerging talents."