Hi dear fans, after my unlucky exit from the Tour, I have trained a lot in the last days and have been able to distract myself a bit. Right now I am home in Thüringen, where I can do that best.

As I have already written, leaving the Tour because of missing the time limit was a first for me. Many other sprinters suffered the same destiny and maybe that is part of it and makes my career as a sprinter really complete now. At any rate, I wish it hadn’t happened. But time to put it behind me and look forward.

I am very happy that tomorrow I will contest my first race after the Tour in Thüringen. At the Apres Tour Gera I hope to see many of my loyal Thüringer fans. It is always something very special to start in your homeland. So take some time off tomorrow and come to Gera. It will be worth it. In addition to me there will be a lot of other Tour stars, like Rick Zabel or John Degenkolb, at the start.

Photo: roth-foto.de