Apr 24, 2011
A few days before Paris-Roubaix 602nds had the opportunity to chat with German professional cyclist from the UCI Pro Team BMC Racing Team, Marcus Burghardt. Marcus is 27 years old and was born in Zschopau, Saxony, Germany.
Marcus has ridden professionally since 2005 having contracts with T-Mobile, Team High Road/Team Columbia (2008), Team Columbia-High Road (2009) & joining BMC Racing Team in 2010.
A strong classics rider and all round tour rider, Marcus has shown his abilities in the one day races by winning Gent-Welvegem in 2007 and also finishing 3rd E3 Prijs Vlaanderen, 4th Dwars door Vlaanderen, 7th Ronde van Vlaanderen and winning two stages at the Tour de Suisse.
Marcus also has a TdF stage win in his Palmares’ winning the 18th stage, Bourg-d’Oisans – Saint-Étienne in 2008, also taking the Most Combative Rider for the same stage.
Marcus is also known for a crash that he had at stage 9 of the TDF in 2007 when he hit a Labrador dog that ran across the road during the stage. The front wheel buckled on impact, sending him tumbling over the handlebars on to the dog. Luckily Marcus wasn’t to badly hurt and he finished the stage.
Another Trademark that marcus is well known for his his wearing of the Mavic Yellow Shoes which stand out dramatically against the BMC red and black kit, but makes it very easy to identify him when riding in the peloton.
602nds: How are you feeling after finishing Flanders on Sunday? Is the body OK after crashing during the race?
Burghardt: Yeah, I am feeling really tired after the race, it was a really hard race. My back isn’t feeling the best after crashing during the race, I have a lot of pain and also I was twisted on the bike cause my pedals were broken, I hope I can fix this for Paris-Roubaix.
602nds: Paris-Roubaix is next, BMC has many strong riders such as Ballan, Hincapie, yourself even Van Armaet, will it be the strongest man at a certain point is the protected rider or is the decision already made.
Burghardt: No, the team hasn’t made a decision as yet, but I think for sure we will have George Hincapie and Alessandro Ballan in really good condition and I think the team will ride for them, but we haven’t decided on the tactics for the race yet.
602nds: What are your goals for the 2011 season?
Burghardt: Firstly, I hope I can help George and Alessandro in Roubaix, I hope we can have a really nice result. I think we did a really good job in Flanders with the team and we represented the team good there. The team only needs a little bit more luck and a good result, yeah it would be perfect. For me I want to go back to Switzerland and win a stage there.
602nds: Who or what inspired you to become a cyclists?
Burghardt: My mum inspired me to become a cyclist.
602nds: You have one a stage of the Tdf and Gent-wevelgem in 07, is there one race that you still dream of winning and why?
Burghardt: Yes there is a race, for sure I would like to win Tour of Flanders or Paris-Roubaix, but now in these kind of races you have so many guys who also want to win and that makes it not so easy.
602nds: How do you want your fans, supporters and peers to remember you when you retire from cycling?
Burghardt: I’m going to say “it’s a shame he didn’t ride one year more”.
602nds: BMC this year has a very strong team 2 former world champions, national champions, TdF stage winners and the list can go on.. Is there one rider that you hope to learn from, if so who and what will that be?
Burghardt: George has a lot of experience, I think the team can learn a lot from him, he also gives us a lot of good and important information before the races. I think he is a really important part of the BMC team.
602nds: What do you think you can teach the young riders that have joined BMC?
Burghardt: : I think, especially in the classics races, I can teach them where it is important to be in the front, where you can sit up a little bit more at the back and relax, and also when it is necessary to to go the front to make a really good move..
602nds: Do you find it hard when you have to move from one team to another throughout your career?
Burghardt: Yes I do, you are always going to find some friends in the teams you are riding with, you have the staff and riders who you have a friendship with. It’s nice to be with these guys, but at some point you have to think can I maybe get better in another team from a sporting aspect and can I move forward and I think you have to look towards your future.
602nds: What has been the biggest difference since joining BMC from the other teams?
Burghardt: You know in these big teams there is not so many differences anymore, I think we have a lot of fun. We had a lot of fun in my former teams but I also have great fun in this team. I really like to ride for BMC, it’s really nice, we have a nice atmosphere always in the race, before the races, at the tables for breakfast, lunch, dinner and that’s nice, and if you have fun during the races you can make good results.
602nds: Do you have a favourite training ride, where is it and how many kilometres is it?
Burghardt: For me, my favourite place to ride is at home in Switzerland, I enjoy training there.
602nds: What do you do in your spare time away from cycling?
Burghardt: When I’m not cycling, then I’m spending time with my family.
602nds: What would you have been doing for a career if you weren’t a Pro cyclists?
Burghardt: : haha, I don’t know, what I would always like to try was a cross country skier, maybe I could become a professional cross country skier
602nds: You have raced in Australia at the TDU, what do you think of the race and will we see you back racing in Australia?
Burghardt: The TDU is a really nice race, it has good organisation. I like the race but for me there is the jetlag, down under is a big difference with the time and for me I found it a problem.
602nds: Do you have a tip for someone who is just starting out in cycling and dreams of being a pro rider?
Burghardt: There is not one line I can say that you have to do this, this and this to become professional. I think at first you need to have physical qualities which you get from your parents, that is for me an important point. If you don’t have this you can train as much as you want, but you won’t become professional. It is then important to be focused and to train; you need to work out a model to train yourself. As a cyclists that it is really important; as you always have a trainer behind you or a director saying you have to go now or do this, do that or telling you go in ten.
602nds: Coffee seems to be the drink of choice for riders, How do you take your coffee?
Burghardt: Honestly, I don’t really like coffee. I always drink hot chocolate in the morning.
Stay tuned on what Marcus is doing throughout the 2011 season by checking out his Official Website and the Official BMC Racing Team Website.
602nds would like to thank Marcus for taking the time to chat and wishes him a succesful 2011 cycling season.
Photo Credit TDWSport.com (c), Photo Credit PASCAL PAVANI/AFP/Getty Images
