July 2025: The otherwise sun-kissed Ortenau district is not spared the miserable July. It's raining cats and dogs. The vehicle fleet reveals where the fastest father and son team in Germany lives. Caravans and vans are labelled in large letters: KLAUSMANN.
The name that has characterised the German downhill scene for decades. A travelling family crest, if you like. The reporter presses the doorbell. The door opens. Levin Klausmann is standing there. Strong, alert eyes, hip youthful hairstyle.
His father, Marcus, arrives shortly afterwards - fifteen times German downhill champion, once runner-up in the world championship. A career spoilt by success that ended in 2016 - due to heart problems - atrial fibrillation. "Suddenly my body couldn't cope any more," Marcus recalls.
Now a pacemaker sets the pace in Marcus' chest and he can bike again. Instead of plunging into a midlife crisis, Marcus got his son excited about biking. And Levin? Just rode off. He quickly collected trophies in children's downhill races and won the German Junior Championship in 2024.
Time is pressing. The day after tomorrow we're going on holiday to Spain, says Marcus, and racing, says Levin. A mixture of both, says his mum. Everyone gets stuck in: Marcus runs a suspension tuning service. His wife Carolin does the bookkeeping, his father Klausmann - Marcus, that is - is in the workshop at home with his grandfather Klausmann, changing oil, pressing seals, changing cartridges. Son Klausmann, Levin, helps out.
The last orders have to be completed before they go on holiday. Marcus knows that customers attach particular importance to fast processing times. Preparations are underway. The reporter is right in the middle of it and unpacks his catalogue of questions.
Marcus, back then you were racing with your father, today you accompany your son Levin. Does looking back only bring back fond memories?
Marcus: Both good and not so good. I think that's quite normal. My father and I often had different opinions, and it's similar with Levin today. The question is always: where does the role of father end and the role of coach begin? It's a fine line. Levin is 17, so there are other things in life than cycling. There are two voices inside me: The coach's voice wonders whether it's really necessary now - for example, to go partying when there's a race at the weekend. The father's voice says: Yes, that's also part of it. My wife Carolin gives me feedback and draws my attention to it when the coach's voice dominates again. I'm grateful for that.
How good would you rate your teaching skills?
Marcus: Phew, I would give it a 4. There's definitely still room for improvement. I'm very direct and often just have to let things out - for example at the side of the track when it comes to line choice, basic speed or riding style. In hindsight, I then think to myself: you should have kept that to yourself, worded it differently or only said it after the race.
Levin, what's annoying about working with your father?
Levin: His advice - even if it is well-intentioned, of course. For example: I have chosen a certain line on the track, but he wants me to take a different one. Or I opt for dry tyres, while he thinks I should go for wet tyres. Situations like that. He usually gets his way.
Marcus, what habit annoys you about Levin?
Marcus: It drives me crazy that he leaves his stuff flying around everywhere and I have to carry everything after him.
Levin, what is your father good at?
Levin: He's great at organising - he takes care of the accommodation, the cooking (his tuna pasta is legendary) and of course the bike. We are a well-rehearsed team. Of course, there are occasional arguments. He often thinks he knows everything better - that can be annoying in the long run. Sometimes it takes me half a day to get my head round it - and then everything is the same as before.
What makes a good mentor and trainer?
Levin: Phew, I think a good coach should be able to read his rider well - in other words, recognise how he is feeling and what he can expect of him at the moment. And he should want success at least as much as the athlete himself.
The constellation "father was a professional and trains son or daughter" is considered promising. There are many examples - such as Mick Schumacher, Max Verstappen or Erling Haaland. Do you agree with that, Marcus?
Marcus: Yes and no. In terms of support, definitely. But the role of the father as coach has just as many disadvantages as advantages. The advantages: I know Levin like hardly anyone else. I have experience, contacts and technical expertise. I can also judge very precisely in training whether it is too much or too little - an external trainer often can't do that. On the other hand, an external trainer has the necessary distance, which can sometimes be helpful. But we both learn - and develop together.
What mistakes do you want to avoid at all costs with Levin that were made with you?
Marcus: Unfortunately, I've seen far too many teenage athletes being trained to destruction. It was similar for me. My father couldn't help it - it came from external squad coaches. And that's exactly what I want to avoid at all costs. I myself was completely at my limit for five months back then - not mentally, but physically. Classic overtraining. I was given daily infusions to replenish my stores.
Levin: Dad rarely has to motivate me to train. He tends to put the brakes on if I do too much.
Is your father disappointed if you get a bad result?
Levin: Sure, I can tell - especially when he thinks he could have done more. But most of the time I don't really notice because I'm annoyed with myself at the time and preoccupied with myself.
Talent and ambition play a big role for racers. Levin, how would you rate yourself on a scale of 1-10, if 10 is the maximum?
Levin: Phew! I would give myself a 6 to 7 for talent. In terms of ambition, it's more of an 8 - with a tendency towards a 9. My strength is sprint endurance. One of my weaknesses is that I sometimes can't keep a cool head - especially if I slip up during the race. Then I find it difficult to block out the stress.
Marcus, what is your assessment of Levin?
Marcus: 7 to 8 in terms of talent, ambition: 15. He wants it, sometimes too much. Speaking of talent: everyone in the World Cup has talent, but in the end it's all about ambition and hard work if you want to get to the front. Sometimes Levin himself doesn't know what he's capable of. That can be a blessing and a curse. When he's really motivated, he's incredibly capable. Physically, he's an animal - his wattage figures show that.
Marcus, you were considered particularly ambitious when you were active.
Marcus: My wife Carolin once said: "Your ambition is your greatest enemy." And she's right. I often got caught up in a perfection loop - that made me tense up. I remember a race in Todtnau - I can't remember any race outside of the World Cup that had such a strong line-up: Barel, Gracia, they were all there. And I beat them all. After the race, Greg Minnaar came up to me and asked: "What's wrong with you, Marcus? Why can't you do that in the World Cup?"
What did you say to him?
Marcus: I could only shrug my shoulders, because I didn't have an answer and I don't have one today. How important do you think looseness is, Levin?
Levin: Important. I don't always manage that either. Racing means tension. Of course, this makes sense to a certain extent, but you often lose too much of your relaxed attitude.
Marcus, can you still remember the moment when Levin was faster than you?
Marcus: Yes, I remember that quite well. Levin was racing U15 at the time. He was a whole two seconds faster than me in the race - and I definitely had a good run. From that day on, he had me in his pocket. Today, I'm happy if I manage to stay two corners behind him.
Surely there's still a racer in you? Doesn't that bother you at all?
Marcus: Maybe it would bother me if Levin wasn't my son. But like this? Certainly not. I'm happy about it - and how!
Levin, your father is considered a tech nerd, are you similar?
Levin: No, not that intense. I'd rather concentrate on riding than on whether the shock has 2 or 3 psi more or less. However, I am now realising that I am becoming increasingly fussy when it comes to setup.
Levin, you've been racing since you were eleven - and this year even in the World Cup. Were there moments when you would have liked to quit?
Levin: There were, yes - but they didn't usually last long. I know that I can make a difference and I don't want to miss out on this opportunity.
Marcus: At 13, he preferred jumping on the trampoline. I let him do it and shortly afterwards he wanted to go biking again.
Levin, what is as much fun as biking?
Levin: Cycling is number 1, then comes volleyball, then trampolining.
As a professional athlete, you need a certain amount of ego. When is it too much?
Marcus: Phew, when is too much? I have no idea. But you need ego. Ego is absolutely necessary to pursue your goals. Everybody's darling rarely makes it to the top. At the end of the day, you stand alone in the starting gate and have to deliver your performance if you want to remain a professional.
Where is ego important as a racing driver? In line scouting?
Marcus: No, that used to exist - or at least some of it still does here in Germany. Today it's superfluous. There are no more secret lines. Racing teams have several line scouts, everyone has a smartphone and films, Pinkbike superimposes line rides on top of each other - nothing goes unobserved during training. That's why I often advise Levin: train with others, chat to each other and swap ideas. That way you benefit from each other. But when it gets serious, everyone has to do their own thing.
You were accused of a certain arrogance during your active career.
Marcus: True - but wrongly, or at least that wasn't my intention. Some people need time to focus before the race, others joke with each other just before the start. I was one of the former. I needed my space to focus.
Who is your role model in the World Cup or who do you like to watch?
Levin: In the elite, that's Amaury Pierron for me. He rides very aggressively and clearly stands out from many others. I also like to watch Asa Vermette and Kade Edwards.
Marcus: Loic Bruni impresses with his powerful, controlled riding style. For me, Loris Vergier is the scalpel among the racers - precise, clean, almost surgical. Amaury Pierron, on the other hand, looks like he's chasing his bike down the valley with a knife between his teeth - uncompromising and aggressive. And then there is Jackson Goldstone: he has characterised a completely new riding style.
Is the World Cup much more spectacular today than it was in your day, Marcus?
Marcus: Definitely - especially because of the speed and the enormous power density. The times are incredibly close together. I think the World Cup has become incredibly spectacular. The rule change with the lack of protected riders also makes the whole thing extremely exciting. The qualification day is now often more exciting than the final.
Marcus, you have set your son on course for a professional career. You also have two daughters (14) with whom you ride road bikes. Do you have ambitions to train them at professional level?
Marcus: They recently mentioned that they would like to join the club. Their level is good, if they want to, then I'm happy to support them. But that has to come from them.
UPDATE after the German Championships in August: Levin starts as the defending champion at the German Championships in Ilmenau and dominates the U19 qualification. Everything goes according to plan in the racerun - but he crashes on the last bend, breaking his ring finger. In the end, it was enough for 5th place in the U19 classification. "That's racing," comments Marcus.
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Laurin Lehner
Editor
