"Has the team changed
with the arrival of Picnic and PostNL? Yes and no. We have always been quite
international, but also a combination of many Dutch and Germans. Now, not many
Germans are left, only Nikias Märkl and myself, so you can see a trend."
With Romain Bardet set to retire in June, Degenkolb remains
a key figure in the team’s spring classics and sprint efforts. "We
understand each other. That also has to do with the fact that we have all
stayed together as a team. We can all trust and know each other's strengths and
weaknesses."
Degenkolb also addressed
Fabio Jakobsen’s difficult first
season with the team in 2024. "It's not up to me to motivate Fabio. It was
a combination of several things that didn't go according to plan. I still
believe he is well on his way to being competitive again and that he can win
races." He elaborated, "It's a combination of things. He is more
focused than in recent years, and I hope we can support him in the best
possible way."
Despite his veteran status, Degenkolb embraces his
leadership role. "Sometimes it is made out to be more than it is because,
in the end, I am just John Degenkolb, and I try to be authentic and share the
experience I have gained over the years. It is a role that I also really enjoy.
And don't get me wrong: I never tell anyone they have to do something because I
say so. And it helps me feel young and fresh with those young guys around me.
I'm already 36 and have two years left in the sport."
Looking ahead, Degenkolb remains determined to perform at
the highest level. "I still believe that - if I am healthy - I have the
level to compete at the highest level. This spring will mainly be as a
domestique, and then I can still take my chances occasionally.
"That way, I can
focus on helping and preparing guys like Pavel Bittner and Nils Eekhoff, with
whom I have a lot of faith. The gap to the top is still big in the classics,
but that is not the main goal. One of these days, we just have to give it our
best shot."
One race stands out in his mind. "If there is one race
that I truly believe in, it is Roubaix. It is already marked in my
calendar."