Tour de France stage winner bids farewell after 16 years: “The sport got less fun”

After a 16-year career, 38-year-old Simon Geschke of UCI WorldTeam Cofidis is hanging up his wheels. Known for his relentless spirit and determination, Geschke, who famously won a Tour de France stage in 2015, recently reflected on his journey and the evolution of cycling with Rouleur as he prepares for retirement.

Geschke openly shared his feelings on how the atmosphere within professional cycling has shifted over the years. “For me, the feeling is that the sport got less fun and there’s less fun between the riders,” he remarked. Acknowledging that the sport has grown faster with advancements in equipment, training, and mentalities, he noted a shift in the culture of the peloton.

“It’s no secret the sport has gotten faster and faster, material, bikes, training and rider mentalities have changed with more altitude camps, but there are also less parties, less alcohol, less fun.”

The increased intensity and pressure within professional cycling have changed how riders bond and unwind, according to Geschke. “Everything's super serious: everyone’s under pressure for contracts, teams are under pressure with the UCI’s relegation system; sponsors need to be pleased," he explained.

"Of course, we enjoy racing at the Tour de France and the big Classics with all the attention and spectators, but fun is not the number one priority anymore. In my first years, we had endurance rides and did a little bit of intensity during the December training camps and then we would have some drinks every night. We wouldn’t get super drunk, but we’d stay up a while. We were bonding. Now in December we train super hard and maybe have a beer on one evening only.

“Everyone’s realised that if you want to stay on the high level, you can’t go out anymore. And, anyway, there’s no-one who will go out with you so you’re forced to stay in the room!”

Reflecting on his career, Geschke has much to be proud of. “I can be proud of a lot of results,” he stated, with his Tour de France stage win standing as his crowning achievement. “Winning a Tour de France stage is what everyone dreams of. It’s the greatest achievement for any pro cyclist and it’s my stand out, personal highlight, the result I am most proud of.”

Geschke also commented on the modern-day dominance of riders like Tadej Pogačar, Jonas Vingegaard, and Remco Evenepoel, as well as Classic specialists Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert. “You see a lot of races are raced differently now, and I have a feeling a lot of guys are happy to race for lower places because they know when Pogačar, Vingegaard, Remco are there, if they follow them they will blow up. It’s the same in the Classics with Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert.”

Despite his observations on the culture shift, Geschke believes that the sport is heading in a positive direction. “The sport is in a better place. You look at what was going on in 2009 with still some doping cases, today there are no scandals and I absolutely believe it’s not because riders are hiding better, but because the sport is cleaner. The Tour is back on TV in Germany and cycling’s getting the attention it deserves because it’s a beautiful sport.”