Julian Schelb is one of the best mountain bikers in Germany. The 33-year-old comes from Münstertal near Freiburg and trains where others go on holiday: on Schauinsland, Belchen and Blauen. "I go out the door here and I'm on the trail. It doesn't get any better than this."
Since his silver medal at the U23 World Championships in 2016, Schelb was seen as a beacon of hope in cross-country. But the breakthrough in the elite failed to materialise. Allergies, respiratory infections, team changes, frustration: "Without fun, there's no point - and I'd lost the fun." He thought about quitting. He got out.
And came back. First in a small team from Münstertal. With success: European Championship silver in short track (XCC), World Championship bronze in Olympic cross-country (XCO), top ten places in the World Cup, podium finish behind superstar Tom Pidcock in short track, participation in the 2025 Olympics.
In 2026, he will be part of the KMC Nukeproof Racing team. His goal: a World Championship medal in Val di Sole.
We met Julian at home in Münstertal and talked about respect, the pressure to perform, 42 degrees without water, doping and the carnage at the back of the field.
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Snow, hunters and turf wars
BIKE: There's snow up in the Black Forest. Do you also go biking in the snow?
JULIAN SCHELB: Either cross-country skiing or biking in the snow. Even if that can cause problems.
BIKE: Problems?
SCHELB: With hunters. I recently had a run-in with one. A friend of my father's, his son rides a mountain bike himself. He chased me and confronted me.
BIKE: Why?
SCHELB: I cycled through his territory in the snow. His argument: you don't cycle in the snow. What should I say to that?
Olympics and suddenly respect
BIKE: I would have thought you enjoyed hero status in the Münstertal.
SCHELB: Oh, these little frictions happen, but they are rare. Here in the valley, everything is quite harmonious and chilled out. The Olympics also changed a lot. For me, Paris was simply a race. For people, the Olympics is the Event. People used to say: "He just rides a bit of a bike." The Olympics gave me respect.
BIKE: The Badische Zeitung wrote about you.
SCHELB: Oh yes. If it's in the newspaper, it works.
Downhill, cross-country and the classification of the disciplines
BIKE: Is the Downhill World Cup the Formula 1 of the sport?
SCHELB: Oh, I think it's pretty balanced. We stand by the track and cheer for the downhillers and the cross-country racers. I always watch the downhill race. But it's not like I'm going for a beer with Loic Bruni. The World Cup is far too hectic for that.
BIKE: What is the balance between short track (XCC) and Olympic XCO?
SCHELB: I came second in a short track World Cup last year, but would much rather have come second in XCO. XCO is worth more. Maybe 70/30. My big goal remains a World Championship medal.
Silver, expectations and early offers
BIKE: You were U23 World Championship runner-up in 2013 - after a crash.
SCHELB: Exactly. Crash at the start, last position, then from the very back to the front. Impossible really, but it was my day.
BIKE: Without the crash you might have become world champion.
SCHELB: Maybe. Or I would have come fifth. You never know. For me, it wasn't wasted gold.
BIKE: After that you were regarded as the great German mountain bike hope.
SCHELB: Yes, that stuck with me. But I didn't let it put me under pressure.
BIKE: Really not?
SCHELB: Immediately afterwards, I received offers from Merida, Specialized and Scott, the three biggest teams. At the time, I decided in favour of Multivan Merida. Looking back, perhaps not the best choice.
Team selection, Cape Epic and the body
BIKE: Why not the best choice?
SCHELB: I was 22 years old at the time, was given a VW bus, had nice team-mates, but somehow I remained the "little one" in the team. But it would have been no different in Team Scott with Nino Schurter. You can hardly get up next to a Nino Schurter.
BIKE: Please explain.
SCHELB: One example. Nino rode the Race Cape Epic with his team-mates at the start of the season. The race is brutally exhausting and destroyed his team-mates. While Nino coped well with the race and went on to have a good season, the others were unable to regain their form.
BIKE: Have you ever ridden the Cape Epic?
SCHELBOnly the prologue. I got a heat stroke, fell off my bike at the finish and was unconscious for three hours.
BIKE: Excuse me?
SCHELB: It all came together. I'd had a stomach bug beforehand, which completely destroyed my electrolyte balance. Then my team-mate said that one water bottle would be enough for the 90 minutes. But the day turned out to be the hottest day with 42 degrees - and I was riding around with a small water bottle!
BIKE: You wouldn't think that such mistakes would happen in a professional team.
SCHELB: Full on, I agree with you. But sometimes one thing leads to another. The days before were rather mild with 20 degrees, then suddenly 42 degrees - nobody could have expected that. I actually wanted to tackle the Cape Epic again this year, but I don't have a good partner and my team has other priorities.
Consistency, short track and racing intelligence
BIKE: In 2016, you cancelled your contract with Multivan Merida before it expired. What frustrated you?
SCHELB: You need a perfect year to be able to deliver good results the following year. In other words, a year without injuries, illnesses, breakdowns, etc. Only then can you collect points to start at the front the following year.
BIKE: At the World Championships in South Africa you also managed to get from the back to the front.
SCHELB: A stroke of luck.
BIKE: And today?
SCHELB: Last year I rode all ten short tracks - a first. Now I'm constantly at the front.
BIKE: What makes short track so special?
SCHELB: It is brutal. Aggressive. Full throttle right from the start. Cool, but painful. You have to give it your all. But XCO remains the original for me.
BIKE: How do you see the organisers?
SCHELB: Warner Brothers dictates, the UCI hides. Only the spectators on the screen count. The organiser wants a five-man sprint to the finish. The track has to be wide and easy so that it is fast and the field stays together for a long time. This is bitter for a rider with good riding technique.
Riding technique, easy routes, horse lung
BIKE: Are you a good rider in terms of riding technique?
SCHELB: Yes, especially when it's wet. I really enjoy racing in the rain.
BIKE: Who has the best "horse lungs"?
SCHELB: Luca Schwarzbauer (laughs). Mathias Flückiger is an example of a rider who can really score points on a technically difficult course and win the thing thanks to his skills. It's getting difficult for riders like that now.
BIKE: You were on the podium in Crans-Montana with Tom Pidcock. Do you know each other?
SCHELB: Hardly. He's always travelling with an entourage.
BIKE: You found his behaviour disrespectful.
SCHELB: Yes. My first podium - and he brings his two dachshunds to the podium. Stupid (laughs).
BIKE: Pidcock is regarded as the superstar the sport needs.
SCHELB: That's what Warner Brothers wants. The fact is: he's a born mountain biker. He probably rides on the road for the money.
Tour de France, good image, overcoming
BIKE: Would you have liked to make a career on the road?
SCHELB: Nope. I wouldn't have been happy there. I much prefer mountain biking. If you ride on the road, you don't ride a mountain bike anymore. That's not feasible. But of course I follow every road race - the sport is super fascinating!
BIKE: Cross-country often comes across as a bit staid. Why is that?
SCHELB: No alcohol, plenty of sleep, full discipline. The sport is so professional that you can't afford to do anything else.
BIKE: But beer is a must for you.
SCHELB: That's right. I like to drink beer with friends. But it's getting less and less.
BIKE: You do kitesurfing and motocross - unusual for a cross-country rider.
SCHELB: I lived in Switzerland for three years. There was a cool clique with Frischknecht, Näf and the Flückiger brothers. We went kitesurfing. Kitesurfing was a squad activity: a kitesurfing course for the team. My last trip was to Cape Verde with my girlfriend, the next one is to Brazil. She also kitesurfs.
BIKE: How important is your trainer?
SCHELB: Very. My current coach is Tobi Blum. We talk on the phone every week. But I also listen to my instincts - today, for example, I'm going cross-country skiing. It's harder than cycling.
BIKE: Do you have to overcome yourself?
SCHELB: Only for strength training.
How fit is fit and: Elbows out!
BIKE: How fit are you, what's in it?
SCHELB: My problem was consistency - material, illness, corona. My goal is to consistently finish in the top 10 and I want a medal at the World Championships. I'm a championship rider who can really go for it when it suits me. When others read this, they probably think: dream on! But I'm of the opinion that if you set yourself small goals, you become small.
BIKE: What decides a race?
SCHELB: The first lap. You burn off energy at the back. It's more relaxed at the front. On the screen, it looks almost as easy as if they were training, while the seats further back are full of carnage.
BIKE: Elbows out - necessary?
SCHELB: I was brought up to be respectful. The boys keep it real. Maybe I need to rethink. But taking your hands off the handlebars is an absolute no-go.
BIKE: Pidcock grabbed you by the shoulder at the European Championships and pulled himself forward.
SCHELB: Yes, you can see it on TV. Later, he passes everyone outside the track, makes up 20 places and becomes European champion. I ask myself: what has to happen for someone to be disqualified?
BIKE: Have you raised an objection?
SCHELB: Too late. Stars are obviously allowed to do more. The UCI is too hard on the road, too soft off-road.
Drama, vitamin C and the Münstertal
BIKE: More drama brings more spectators.
SCHELB: Probably. But hand off the handlebars is an absolute no-go for me.
BIKE: Are you afraid of being suspected of doping, as happened to Flückiger? You eat a steak and test positive because the beef has been treated with substances?
SCHELB: Suspected doping is the worst thing that can happen to an athlete. I know Flückiger and Hessmann personally. I believe them. But only the person concerned can know.
BIKE: What are you using?
SCHELB: Nothing at all. If ill, vitamin C.
BIKE: Could you get more out of it with supplements, diet, zero alcohol?
SCHELB: Maybe. But I don't want to test the grey area. I know what I can achieve with bread, water and sausage. There are athletes who leave family and friends behind and chastise themselves just to be successful. Nah, I'm not up for that. After all, I do sport because I enjoy it.
BIKE: Did the death of your father change that?
SCHELB: Yes. I have learnt that life can be over quickly. I want to live, not just function.
BIKE: Many athletes become addicted to attention. You too?
SCHELB: No. Fame is rather unpleasant for me. I shy away from honours.
BIKE: Your girlfriend is a professional road racer. Advantage or disadvantage?
SCHELB: Advantage: same passion, same life. Disadvantage: If we put the season plans next to each other, we get a fright. We might not see each other for six weeks in a row.
BIKE: How important is home to you?
SCHELB: Very much. I love the Münstertal. Open the front door - trail. It couldn't be better.
Dimitri Lehner
Editor
