What are we bothering you with right now?
I'm a goldsmith and was just soldering. It's my sister's birthday and I still have to finish her present.
How do you go from bike pro to goldsmith?
I wanted to learn a trade, like everyone in my family. During the school holidays, I once did an internship at a goldsmith's in Mittenwald. I had so much fun that I almost cried when the holidays were over. Today I have my own studio in the garden: a little witch's cottage with shingles on the roof.
Five years ago you were still on course for gold in the Transalp Challenge ...
Yes, that was my biking highlight. I rode the first Transalp with my husband when our son was not even a year old. We planned the whole thing more as a holiday and then won. That was great. You realise that your body can still do it, but your head accounts for more than 50 percent of it.
Was the race also a test for you as a couple?
No. Everything worked for us. You have to set off together and want to arrive together. If one person weakens, the other has to pull them along, but not overheat. Cohesion is the best thing about a tour like this.
How do you remember the World Cup?
Incredibly positive. I was lucky to ride at the beginning of the bike boom. Back then, it was still like a big family. Money wasn't the main focus yet. We still worked together on the bike or exchanged training plans.
What was your favourite experience?
That was in Garmisch at the Grundig Challenge. I was only 17 and still in my first year of training as a goldsmith. My boss always supported me and I could make good use of the 2,000 marks in prize money. Back then, I still had to borrow my bike and clothes from friends and relatives.
What don't you like to think back on?
Oslo. I won there too, stood on the podium and we were all cheering - the carers too. Then someone stole my bike. That made me really sad, because I was very attached to it. Even when I got the same bike back, it wasn't the same.
Do you still cycle today?
Yes, mountain bike. I didn't get my racing bike out of the cellar all summer. Times and placings are no longer important. I've done that long enough. Now I prefer to ride through nature and measure myself by whether I can still manage the routes I used to ride up and down.
