I may be a German officially on the face of my passport but I am a world traveller at my core. In 1998 I "escaped" the familiar and set out to start exploring the WWW - the Whole Wide World. I have not stopped since and do not intend to ever do so. Via full athletic scholarships at Boston University and one of the United States' top NCAA Track&Field programs, University of Arkansas, as well as two university diplomas (BSBA and MBA), coincidences led through an exchange semester at the ESC Toulouse and getting-to-know my former coach Marion Clignet.
The result of it all become my Life as a Pedalling Nomad: I packed up my stuff and moved to France (Limoux) in December 2004 to become a professional cyclist. A month after my first-ever cycling race I became member of the German national team. The first time on a time trial bike I was able to beat several current and former World & Olympic champions in the prologue of the Tour de l'Aude 2005. The road to the track was pre-determined to become an individual pursuiter... my second race ever on the track I won the bronze medal at the UCI Track World Cup in Manchester 2005. My third race was the World Championship in Bordeaux (2006) where I placed a disappointing 10th with 3 weeks of no-training in the legs. Another bronze medal at the 2006 World Cup in Moscow later and another World Championships, I found myself at a crossroad fall 2007:
After an injury and problems with the national federation, I was kicked out of the national track cycling team. Olympic dreams having been busted within an eyewink, I quit the sport temporarily before fellow cycling mates and the team director of one of the world's top pro road cycling teams, Jens Zemke of the Equipe NÜRNBERGER Versicherung, persuaded me to continue the sport and jump on the road bike instead. Old sport, new challenge: the Ghetto for 2008! ;)
As it is almost impossible to live above the national poverty line as a female professional cyclist in Germany, I decided to retire from cycling after the 2008 season. No public recognition, no sponsors, no money, no social security - the vicious cycle of women's cycling! Even though it is a beautiful sport that will hurt to give up on, approaching 30, I am afraid it will be time to let sensibility win over passion.
Do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or comments or whatever else may lie on your heart to throw at me. ;-) So long take care over there, enjoy, relax , and get the most out of life you can! Don't take anything for granted.
Avec Courage mais Sans Chutes,
Larissa Kleinmann