Nadine Rieder has been sitting at her desk for hours. The 24-year-old works in the municipal office in tranquil Sonthofen. Rieder has been part of the bike circus for over ten years. She was German champion in the junior class three times. She was considered the successor to Sabine Spitz. Rieder had her best season in 2013. "I thought the knot would burst now. But then I completely burnt out," says Rieder: "I was empty. My body went on strike. When I had a blood test, it showed that I had nothing left in me. Iron, haematocrit - everything was in the basement." Rieder also has to work alongside her professional career because it's not enough to make a living from sport. She has a part-time job in sports and leisure management.
"The bike sector doesn't pay well. Especially not if you're travelling in a niche area. I work in the council office two or three times a week. I can really regenerate there on Monday if I've raced on Sunday. Just put on a pair of compression shorts and you're done," she laughs and strolls to the photocopier. "Now, these notes and then off to training."
However, the weather in the Allgäu really spoils the mood on this day. A five-degree cold easterly wind hisses through Sonthofen. Rieder gets behind the wheel of her compact sports car, which she has been given by the team but has to pay one per cent tax on. The engine howls. Nadine grins. "The car is awesome and by far the coolest team car ever. I was almost a bit embarrassed at first, especially when the turbo ignites and gets really loud," she says and turns left into a mountain road. Rieder shifts into the next gear, then another. The car continues to accelerate, faster and faster. Then it sounds, the short, loud turbo bang. Rieder laughs: "If only you had legs like that in a race. Let's see how it goes next year." She hasn't given up on her dream of becoming a full-time professional. She hopes to get back into shape and be able to make a living from the sport at some point. "Without my family in the background, none of this would be possible. I live cheaply in my parents' house and get equipment and travel expenses from sponsors. But the fact that I get on my bike every day and torture myself in training is not really paid for. The hourly wage for a bike pro is a joke. Even the best only earn high five-figure sums or a low six-figure sum. And if you're a real pro, that's all you do. You have to watch what you eat, train really well, regenerate and, and, and," says Rieder and parks up. Training time!
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