"It feels good to see progress again" - Max Schachmann solves mysterious injury and immediately fights for top-10
CyclingThursday, 13 August 2026 at 09:00
Even though he's gradually growing into the role of experienced veteran rather than the promising rider he has been before he left Soudal - Quick-Step in 2018, the returnee Max Schachmann still remains the Belgian team's key piece in pursuit of one-week stage race GC results. Or... at least that was the plan; however 2026 was not the year for the 32-year-old German.
Struck by a mysterious injury, Schachmann had to navigate an uneasy feeling in leg while still in a full competition. The discomfort was immediately reflected in his 61st place at Tour de Romandie and 49th at Tour de Suisse - two races where Schachmann could normally aim for top-10.
"The season hasn’t quite gone the way I had hoped so far, and for a long time I couldn’t really understand why I wasn’t feeling or performing like myself," Schachmann opened his Instagram story.
Ultimately, an explanation to his condition emerged last month: "In July, I finally found out that I’ve been dealing with a tendinopathy at the proximal hamstring insertion. Having an explanation for what has been holding me back was an important step, and since starting treatment things have been moving in the right direction."
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A clear answer and recovery path were just what Schachmann needed to make a full recovery one month later. Some rest fixed most of the German riders' problems who already appeared in much better shape at the Tour de Pologne where he claimed an overall 17th position after a seventh place on stage 6.
The only downside that could've been drawn was a sub-par time trial result - 52nd - which cost Schachmann what would otherwise be a good shot at final top-10.
"Racing in Poland, I already felt significantly better, even though the issue is not gone yet and I’m still in the middle of the recovery process. Especially in the time trial position, I’m still struggling and definitely not where I want to be."
"But it feels good to see progress again and to feel more like myself on the bike. I’ll keep working hard, taking it day by day, and doing everything I can to get the most out of what’s left of this season," he concludes.
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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