602nds with Stefan Denifl

Mar 3, 2011

602nds recently chatted with Austrian professional cyclist from the UCI Pro Team, LEOPARD TREK, Stefan Denifl.

Denifl is 23 years old and was born in Fulpmes (near Innsbruck), Austria. Beginning his career as a mountain/dirt biker he became involved in road cycling around 2004.

Riding as an amateur cyclist in 2006, for Vorarlberger and then Elk Haus-Simplon. In 2009 Denifl rode as a stagiaire for the Cervélo TestTeam and turned professional with the team in 2010. Known for his Time Trial and climbing abilities, Denifl will be a valuable rider for LEOPARD TREK in the 2011 season.

Denifl major win to date is winning the Austrian Individual Time Trial National Championship in 2008, also winning the U23 Rund um den Henninger Turm.

In 2009 Denifl won the prestigious Thüringen Runfahrt and in 2010 rode many races supporting Cervélo TestTeam’s top riders.  Throughout 2010 Denifl finished in the Top 10 at the Tour of Austria (Österreich Rundfahrt, 7th), Vuelta Castilla y Leon (8th), and the Bayern Rundfahrt (7th).

Stefan Denifl is known throughout the peloton as a genuine, trustworthy and down to earth nice guy.

His generous and compassionate nature was shown when he recently donated his own Leopard-Trek Jersey autographed by the 2011 Tour Down Under Team to support the Queensland Flood victims, the jersey raised over $600.00.

602nds is pleased to present our chat with Stefan Denifl.

602nds: What is your personal cycling goal for 2011?
Stefan: Try to help my teammates in any race situations as good as I can! If I get the change to do something in smaller races, I try to go for nice results!

602nds: What is your long term goal for your cycling career?
Stefan: Not lose the fun and passion for riding my bike!

602nds: What or who inspired you to get on a bike and race?
Stefan: My father was an amazing mountain biker! He did his last race 1996, the Olympics in Atlanta. He has always supported and still supports me as well as he can! He was a clean rider with a lot of passion for the sport! He is a man to follow!

602nds: What are your strengths on the bike?
Stefan: Climbing, sprints of smaller groups, and TT during a stage race…

602nds: If you had the chance to win one race then retire from cycling, what would the race be and why?
Stefan: The Tour de France! J No honestly, I don’t know it! But a stage win at the Tour would be really cool!

602nds: What has been your proudest moment on the bike?
Stefan: I had a bad injury 2008! I was training hard to get back and my 2nd race the National TT Championship, I won! That was a good moment and I was very proud.

602nds: Is there a current rider in the peloton that you most respect and why?
Stefan: I have more or less from every rider respect! I know how hard this sport is and how many work and discipline every rider puts in!

602nds: There are many inspiring riders in LEOPARD TREK. Is there a rider you hope to learn from, what do you hope to be taught and who is it?
Stefan: You can learn from many guys in the team! There are so many classy riders in all different conditions and races! There is Stuey, Fabian, Andy or Frank and a lot more! As a young rider you can only profit and learn from them..

602nds: What will be your role in LEOPARD TREK?
Stefan: My first role is to be a helper! I will support the guys with bottles; bring back groups or making speed on the mountains! For sure I also will get changes do perform for a personal results! It will get a nice mix of both I think.

602nds: Do you think there is a lot of pressure on you guys to perform this year?
Stefan: Not more than somewhere else! It’s like in a normal job, everybody expect that you are doing your best and if you do it, the results will come!

602nds: Is there one rider who is not a current Pro Rider that you would have liked to ride with? Who would it be and Why?
Stefan: My sports directors

602nds: Do you have a personal favourite mountain climb? And why?
Stefan: I like the mountains in north Italy, like the Dolomites! It’s near my home and I am often there for training….

602nds: Where is your favourite training place to go to when you are trying to escape the European Winter?
Stefan: There are some Gran Canaria,  North Italy (more in spring and summer) and LA. LA sounds like it is not good for riding, but in the hills around Santa Monica and Malibu it is awesome for training rides. Also from Adelaide, Australia I was surprised. Very nice for training and a good place to be!

602nds: If you could invite 5 past or present riders to Dinner at your place, who would you invite, & why? And what would you cook?
Stefan: I would take my teammates! We are so a cool group and there a great and funny guys! They are all actually present in my life… and I would add Bernie Eisel, he is a cool rider and one of my friends in the peloton!

602nds: If you had the opportunity to take a famous female actress/singer to dinner. Who would it be, why and where would you take her?
Stefan: Hmm, normally I don’t think about things that would not happen but in the lucky case it happened, I would take Kate Hudson! She seems to be a funny girl and she is too sweet! I like the comedy movies were she is acting together with Matthew McConaughey!

602nds: If your iPod was broken and it could only play one song continuously.. What would it be?
Stefan: Ah I don’t know, there are so many songs I like! Therefore I hope this situations never happens, haha

602nds: What do you do in your spare time?
Stefan: I try to do what non-sports people do, instead of much parties I like to drink coffee, hang out with friends, go to cinema, watch DVD,  enjoy the sun on my terrace (with a cappuccino) and surf on the WWW! It’s important for me to get the head free and not to speak much about cycling.

602nds: Are you a skinny latte, soy latte, full cream latte, flat white or double shot espresso type of cyclists?
Stefan: Something between a skinny and soy latte, but for sure with a flavour shot and a shot of good milk foam. J Before a race I prefer double espresso and yeah Italian cappucco is one of my favourites too!

602nds: You have many fans on Facebook & Twitter, how do you feel about the ‘I got fans’-situation?
Stefan: I use Facebook only for friends and people I really know! Twitter is different. Twitter is like my homepage and everybody can follow me… Its most about my sports life and a bit background stories… it’s nice to see your followers number increasing, so it seems the people like what I tweet and they are interested in the life of a pro cyclist…

602nds: You are fast becoming known for your hairstyle, do the guys in the team hassle you about it, and any intention to change it soon?
Stefan: Haha, that’s funny! Maybe it’s different or special, but it’s good to be different in a way… as long as people talk about you, you are safe! Hmm, in the moment I am happy with my hair, so no reason to change it…

602nds: What would you have done for a career if you were not a professional cyclist?
Stefan: I attended technical college and studied machine engineering! So maybe I would sit in an office and do some constructions and design of technical parts on CAD programs! I also love interiors and architecture stuff….

602nds: How would you like to be remembered by the fans, when you retire from cycling?
Stefan: As a cool, fair rider, open to the fans with a good style and some nice results!

602nds: What are your thoughts on the current doping situation in cycling? Is it improving and is there anything more you think can be done?
Stefan: We are on a good way! Media should start to talk again about the main thing, the sport, the races, the riders and background stories!

If you would like to stay tuned in what Stefan is up to throughout the year you can follow him on http://twitter.com/stefandenifl or you can check out any new team updates at the Official LEOPARD TREK website.

602nds would like to thank Stefan for taking the time to chat with us and wishes him a successful 2011.

Photo Credit Helen K (c)

Photo Credit Jarrod @  jxpphotography (c)

Photo Credit Andrew & Debbie Bagnara