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Ex-cyclist Bernhard Kohl: 'Letting go was never an option'
🇦🇹 Austria /Sports

Ex-cyclist Bernhard Kohl: 'Letting go was never an option'

From Die Presse · () German

Translated from German, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

Interview Named sources Context piece
  • Former professional cyclist Bernhard Kohl discusses his significant weight gain and increased muscle mass since retiring from the sport in 2009.
  • Kohl, who weighed 57 kg during his peak performance, explains how weight loss impacted his hormonal balance and performance, necessitating a higher weight for sustained effort.
  • He continues to cycle and play tennis, maintaining a high level of fitness due to his extensive professional training, though he notes that technical skills in sports like tennis are harder to retain.

Bernhard Kohl, a former professional cyclist, has gained ten kilograms since retiring from the sport in 2009, a change he attributes to increased muscle mass rather than fat. During his peak racing days, Kohl maintained a lean physique of 57 kilograms, a weight he found crucial for peak performance. He explained that dropping even a kilogram significantly impacted his hormonal balance and reduced his performance by 50 percent, forcing him to maintain a slightly higher weight for endurance.

I have ten kilos more now than when I was a professional cyclist.

— Bernhard KohlDescribing his current physical condition compared to his professional cycling days.

Kohl described his professional cycling career as all-consuming, with his childhood dream of competing in the Tour de France driving his life choices, including an apprenticeship as a chimney sweep chosen for its flexible hours that allowed for extensive cycling training. He would begin work at 6 a.m., finish by 1 p.m., and be on his bike by 2 p.m., dedicating his life to the sport.

With one kilo less, I delivered 50 percent less performance, that was quite blatant. Then the hormonal balance went completely haywire.

— Bernhard KohlExplaining the critical impact of weight on his performance and hormonal balance.

Since ending his career after a positive doping test at the 2008 Tour de France, Kohl has continued to engage with sports, primarily cycling and tennis. He notes that his professional background provides him with a fitness level far beyond that of an average hobbyist, allowing him to easily outperform recreational cyclists. However, he acknowledges that technical skills, particularly in sports like tennis, are not as easily maintained or regained as endurance.

If you were once a professional athlete and trained to that extent, you have such a high level that a normal hobby athlete can never achieve.

— Bernhard KohlOn maintaining a superior fitness level due to his professional training.

Kohl's career highlights include competing in the Tour de France twice, a dream realized despite the doping controversy that led to his retirement. He emphasizes that transitioning from cycling 30,000 kilometers annually to zero was physically unsustainable, highlighting the profound impact the sport had on his body and life. His experience underscores the extreme physical demands and dedication required for professional cycling.

You can't just go from 30,000 kilometers to zero. The body can't handle that.

— Bernhard KohlReflecting on the physical difficulty of abruptly stopping professional cycling.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Die Presse in German. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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