Ben Zwiehoff: “Either you win races – or you help others to do so”

Ben Zwiehoff: Not at all. I did realise relatively early on that I probably wouldn’t be good enough to compete at the very top in mountain biking. My coaches told me: ‘On a good day, you might be able to finish in the top 15 or top ten in the World Cup, but you’re missing something to reach the very top.’ At the same time, though, I was a professional mountain biker, had long-term contracts and was able to turn my hobby into a career.

Ben Zwiehoff: You don’t just throw that security away. I knew from my training data that my fitness level might not be too bad for road racing. But nobody knew whether I could actually put that into practice in road races. So it was clear to me: if I take this step, it has to be under the right circumstances.

Ben Zwiehoff: My first proper WorldTour race was the 2021 UAE Tour. And on the first stage, after about 100 metres of neutralised riding, we were straight into a crosswind. The problem was: I’d never heard of wind edges before. We’d had a quick crash course beforehand – and then it was simply a matter of survival. I had absolutely no experience; I didn’t even know that I could take a breather between the cars. I just rode on sheer strength.

In the end, I still ended up in the second group and finished around 30th on the stage. I reckon that’s when some of the team realised: ‘OK, he might not have a clue yet, but he can ride.’

Ben Zwiehoff: It took a while. A key moment was my first Vuelta. Felix Großschartner was our team captain back then. On the 17th stage, he unfortunately crashed and I brought him back into the peloton after the final climb. Afterwards, I was told: ‘You saved his top-ten finish today.’ A Grand Tour lasts three weeks, but when you have a day like that as a domestique, you’ve made a huge difference. That was the first time I realised just how fulfilling this role can be.

Ben Zwiehoff: Not at all. I’ve always been a team player. That was actually one of the reasons why I wanted to leave mountain biking behind at some point. In that sport, you’re ultimately always on your own. Even in the national team, there’s a certain amount of competition amongst us. I missed having that shared goal. On the road, I can say: ‘We’ve achieved something as a team.’ That just suits me very well.

Ben Zwiehoff: As a good domestique, you have to be able to put yourself in your captain’s shoes. What does he need right now? What would help me in this situation? For that, you need empathy; you have to talk to each other and you have to be absolutely loyal. If you’re told: ‘You’re riding now’ – and you know full well that if you do that, your own day is practically over afterwards – then you still have to see it through to the end.

Then there’s experience. Positioning, reading the race situation, knowing which group is dangerous or how to put pressure on other teams. A good domestique isn’t just someone who can ride up a mountain quickly.

Ben Zwiehoff: I picture what could happen if I do my job really well. Maybe I’ll get our captain over the mountain; afterwards, there’ll only be ten riders left, he’ll attack and win the stage. Then I know: I’ve made a massive difference today.

These moments now give me almost the same feeling as if I were riding for the win myself on the final climb. It was partly the same at the Giro. You break the peloton apart at the front, the whole cycling world is watching – and you know why you’re doing it. Those are the perfect moments.

Ben Zwiehoff: No, not at all. I’ve also spoken explicitly to our performance department about this: over the next two years, I still want to win something. It’s not as if I’m saying: ‘I’m just a domestique now.’ Opportunities always arise. And after all that hard work, I’d certainly like to achieve something like that at some point – preferably, of course, on a big stage. You can’t plan or guarantee that. But the idea of being able to say one day: ‘I’ve worked on the road for seven years for this’ – that really motivates me.

Ben Zwiehoff: I’d love to win a Grand Tour with the team again. I’ve experienced for myself just how special that is. And then, of course, there’s the Tour de France. The competition in our team is extremely fierce; I’m fully aware of that. But after all these years on the road and with the experience I’ve gained, I’d feel ready to tackle the Tour. I wouldn’t be sad now, nor would I regard my career as a failure, if it never works out. But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to experience it at least once. I think that’s what almost every cyclist wants.

Ben Zwiehoff: Felix Großschartner has always been a great role model for me. A superb team player, extremely strong himself and incredibly clever, especially when it comes to positioning. You pick up a lot from riders like that. In recent years, I’ve also learnt an awful lot from Danny van Poppel. That ‘cunning’ in the race: how do you make life difficult for other teams? How do you control positions? How do you get your riders to the front? That’s crucial for me.

That’s why I still try, even today, to consciously step out of my comfort zone. As a domestique, you have to keep developing in all areas. The more versatile you are, the more valuable you are to the team.