“My profile’s kind of exploded” – Tour de France star Florian Lipowitz receives heroes’ welcome as thousands celebrate homecoming in Laichingen

Florian Lipowitz admits he is still adjusting to life in the spotlight. “My profile’s kind of exploded,” the 24-year-old smiled, reflecting on the weeks since his breakthrough ride at the Tour de France. His phone has been buzzing with messages and his Instagram following has surged, but for all the attention, the German remains as grounded as ever.

That was evident on Saturday afternoon in Laichingen, where more than 1,000 fans packed into the town square to celebrate the young rider’s third-place finish in Paris and his triumph in the white jersey classification. Banners and cycling jerseys filled the square, supporters queued for autographs and photos, and Lipowitz, true to his understated nature, described the whole scene simply as “something really special,” in quotes collected by Sportschau.de.

Lipowitz’s journey to the Tour podium is a rare story in modern cycling. Laichingen, a small town, is not accustomed to producing riders capable of troubling the very best in the sport. Yet the son of a cycling-mad family has quietly emerged as one of the most promising stage racers in Germany for a generation.

Despite his success, he insists little has changed. When he returns home, he still sleeps in his childhood bedroom. His grandmother Christa joked that after the Tour they found him stretched out on an inflatable mattress in the middle of Lake Garda, revelling in “pure recovery.”

Family has been central to Lipowitz’s rise. His parents and girlfriend Antonia followed him throughout the Tour de France, their presence providing what he called “huge support.”

“For me it was massively helpful that they were always there,” he said.

Antonia herself described the three weeks in France as “indescribable… you just can’t put it into words.” For Lipowitz, it took a holiday afterwards to fully absorb what he had achieved. “Originally, I just went there to get through the race and make it to Paris. To stand on the podium at the end – that’s something really special.”

That podium in Paris marked Germany’s most significant Tour de France breakthrough in years, and one that has shifted perceptions of Lipowitz overnight. Known to aficionados for his steady progression through the U23 ranks and his consistency in stage races, he had never before ridden a Tour de France. His third place overall, secured alongside the White Jersey, came against the fiercest competition imaginable.

“The last three days were really tough – not just physically, but mentally too,” he admitted. When the celebrations were over, his body demanded rest. The family street party in Laichingen was followed by quiet days away, with the phone firmly switched off. “I got so many messages – not just on WhatsApp, but on Instagram too. My profile kind of exploded.”

The sudden shift in recognition is something Lipowitz is still getting used to. “When I’m out in team kit, quite a few people notice me,” he said, “but it’s still manageable.” In Laichingen, of course, everybody knows his name. His parents are regularly stopped by locals, and this weekend the town came together en masse to honour their hero.

“It’s wonderful to be welcomed home like this,” Lipowitz said. “I’m delighted the city organised something, and that I could be here.”

The fans, many dressed head-to-toe in cycling kit, echoed the pride. “I think it’s amazing how far he got in his first Tour,” one supporter said. Another added simply: “I think it’s incredible – I’m blown away.”

For all the adulation, Lipowitz has made it clear that fame will not change his approach. He remains measured, modest, and quietly ambitious. His focus now will turn towards the next challenges, but the foundations are clear: a young German stage racer who has already shown he can compete with the very best over three weeks.

The Tour podium may have brought his name to global attention, but in Laichingen, the people who watched him grow up knew what he was capable of all along. Saturday’s celebrations were not just for a new star of German cycling, but for the local boy whose dream run in July brought pride to an entire town.