by Jens Voigt
Photos
Even as a child, I never pretended that I was normal and certainly could never sit still! (Courtesy of Jens Voigt)
Sporting East German fashion on a summer holiday in the Elbsandsteingebirge Mountains near Dresden. Those old leather shorts sure were indestructable. (Courtesy of Jens Voigt)
Attracted to cycling at a young age, I prepare for a ride on a tricycle at my grandmother’s house in the village of Schwanbeck, about three kilometers from our home in Dassow. (Courtesy of Jens Voigt)
Posing for a family picture in the old days. Boy, did those leather shorts get a lot of mileage! We would hand them down from one kid to the next, over the years. (Courtesy of Jens Voigt)
Here with my brother, Ronny (left), and my sister, Cornelia (center). Ronny is one of the big reasons I got into cycling. He was once a state champion in the kilometer event, something that inspired me to cycle myself. (Courtesy of Jens Voigt)
Ronny (left) and Cornelia (right) during a family visit while I was at sports school in Berlin in 1985. (Courtesy of Jens Voigt)
At the annual carnival party in 1986, on a Saturday night in Berlin, with friends from my sports school. (Courtesy of Jens Voigt)
Visiting my parents after a race in Hungary in 1988. You can see by the cycling cap that I was still a member of the East Germany cycling team. That shack in the background is where we built my parents’ new house in 2002. (Courtesy of Jens Voigt)
Posing before the start of a stage in the Rheinland Pfalz Rundfahrt race in 1994. Despite having my best amateur season ever, I still could not get a contract with a professional team. (Courtesy of Jens Voigt)
Winning a stage with the German National team in the Rapport Tour in South Africa in 1996, my last year as an amateur. (Courtesy of Jens Voigt)
Sporting the colors of my first professional team ZVVZ-Giant in 1997. The team may have been short-lived, but it still had one of the coolest jerseys. (H. A. Roth)
Racing full speed with my mentor and friend Chris Boardman at the Breitling Grand Prix in 1999, a two-man time trial that we ended up winning. (H. A. Roth)
My parents holding my trophy and flowers after I won my first Critérium National in 1999. It would become my signature race, after I won it five times. (Courtesy of Jens Voigt)
My many jerseys hanging on the line to dry, after my mom cleaned them up. (Courtesy of Jens Voigt)
Standing in front of my parents’ new house on Jens-Voigt-Ring, a house I built for them in 2002. (Courtesy of Jens Voigt)
In what was definitely one of my all-time great memories, here I am pacing my friend and teammate Bobby Julich up the Col d’Eze on the final stage of the Paris-Nice race in 2005. It was so satisfying to help Bobby hold onto the lead and secure one of his best victories ever. (James Startt)
All smiles here, after grabbing the yellow leader’s jersey for a second time in my career during the 2005 Tour de France. Joking in the post-race press conference I said, “I am confident I can defend the jersey tomorrow since it’s a rest day!” And that’s exactly what I did! (James Startt)
Climbing toward the Alpine summit in Courchavel wearing the yellow leader’s jersey at the end of Stage 10 in the 2005 Tour de France. As you can see in the picture, I was moving at more of a crawl. It was a bittersweet moment. Still sick, I was eliminated from the race on the following day. (James Startt)
Lying on the road moments after my worst crash ever in the Tour de France on Stage 16 of the 2009 race. Apparently, I asked the doctor three times if I could continue. But to be honest I don’t remember a thing from that moment. (James Startt)
Covered in bandages after crashing heavily on Stage 16, I was committed to finishing the 2010 Tour after crashing out in 2009. It was only after the finish in Paris, that I realized that I had two fractured ribs. (James Startt)
Another Tour, another crash, but this time there was no way I was stopping. There was just no way! (Robin Wilmot)
Here I am finishing with one-time teammate and long-time friend Thor Hushovd (right) in Thor’s final day in the yellow jersey during the 2011 Tour de France. Thor and I first teamed up in 2000, and he was one of the best men at my wedding in 2003. (James Startt)
Inside the team bus as I prepare for Stage 14 of the 2013 Tour de France with my friend and teammate Andy Schleck. (James Startt)
Here I am racing through the center of Lyon during the opening time trial of my final Critérium du Dauphiné. Although I was in the final months of my career, I was already planning for the hour record attempt. (James Startt)
After struggling in the early season, I finally started to feel like myself in the 2014 Critérium du Dauphiné. Able to attack frequently gave me the confidence that I was prepared for one final Tour de France. (James Startt)
At the Trek Factory Racing team press conference at the start of 2014. Regardless of the season’s outcome, I knew it would be my last. (James Startt)
I never really did like the cobblestones and I liked them even less in the rain. Here I am making the best of a bad situation Stage 5 of the Tour de France in 2014. (James Startt)
Getting the polka-dot jersey for best climber from Prince Harry after Stage 1 was a good way to kick off my final Tour de France in 2014. (James Startt)
To my incredible surprise the Tour de France gave me a yellow jersey for each of my children during my final Tour de France. They sprung this surprise on me in Mulhouse, where I won my first yellow jersey. Wow!
Seconds before going for the world hour record. Talk about being nervous! With my parents on hand and more than a million watching on television, I sure didn’t want to finish my career as a loser! (James Startt)
In the closing laps I knew I would break the world hour record. Now it is just about withstanding the pain threshold. (James Startt)
Savoring my third and final victory in the Tour de France. (James Startt)
Acknowledgments
I want to take the chance to thank a few people who have been important in my life.
Starting, of course, with my family—my wife, Stephanie, and my children, Marc, Julian, Adriana, Kim Helena, Maya, and Helen, and my parents, Egon and Edith Voigt. And, of course, I can’t forget my brother, Ronny, and my sister, Cornelia. Nobody can achieve anything without the strong support and love of a family, not to mention parents teaching you the right things as a child.
Cycling gave me the chance to meet some really great friends: Stuart O’Grady, Chris Boardmen, Bobby Julich, and the Schleck brothers. Thank you, guys, simply for being my friends.
Thor Hushovd and Jens Wichman, two of my oldest friends and the best men at my wedding, also hold a very special place in my life.
I would never have had such a long career without my three childhood coaches, the Eichberg brothers. One taught me to ride correctly, one taught me discipline and dedication, and one taught me how to suffer and how to go fast.
My grandma Frieda Voigt always believed in me and was my first “sponsor” when I lived as a junior in the dormitories at the sports school in Berlin, providing me with a much-needed 50 East-German Marks per month to help me get by in the big city.
My amateur coach in Berlin, Dieter Stein, was also crucial in my formative years and somehow a real father for me in Berlin.
And, of course, my four professional team directors, Heiko Salzwedel, Roger Legeay, Bjarne Riis, and Luca Guercilena, played key roles in my career, as well as being friends, mentors, and leaders.
I would also like to thank Trek Bikes for being such a cool and great partner in the last 5 years of my career, for becoming my friends, and for organizing the best-ever sendoff into retirement in cycling history with that special bike design and cycling outfit. And let’s not forget the amazing support they gave me for the hour record project.
And most important, I want to thank all my loyal fans and supporters who were standing behind me all those years, believing in me, and supporting me.
Jens Voigt
No major book can be tackled alone and Shut Up,
Legs! is no exception. I am greatly indebted to many of my editors at Bicycling magazine, especially Peter Flax and Bill Strickland, who promoted the online diaries with Jens that provided the groundwork for this book.
I am also indebted to Mark Weinstein at Rodale Books who allowed us to take the idea into a full-book form. He, along with his team, were tremendous in the editing process.
My parents, James and Cathy Startt, have provided a bed of support and encouragement over the years, and the sense of historical perspective, so crucial to my father, has come in handy on every book project I have done.
I always hold a special place in my heart for Samuel Abt, nothing short of my mentor. His many books on cycling defined the genre, and his ever-astute eye was a godsend at different points in the making of this book.
My wife, Rebekah, and my daughter, Ella, have always provided the best reason to get off the road and come home, and Ella is already an experienced hand on the Tour de France.
I am also greatly indebted to many people who were part of Jens Voigt’s amazing journey and am grateful for their input, many of which were included in certain chapters. Thank you, Jan Schaffrath, Samuel Abt, Roger Legeay, Chris Boardman, Thor Hushovd, Sébastien Hinault, Heiko Salzwedel, Francis Bur, Stuart O’Grady, Chris Anker-Sørensen, Bobby Julich, Lars Michaelsen, and Stéphane Gicquel.
And, last, I am grateful to Jens. In my more than 25 years covering the Tour, his story stands alone. Thank you for allowing me to help tell it!
James Startt
The dynamic duo in a rare down moment (courtesy of James Startt)
About the Authors
JENS VOIGT is a German former professional road bicycle racer for several teams, the last one being UCI ProTeam Trek Factory Racing. Voigt competed in the Tour de France a record-tying 17 times and twice wore its famed yellow jersey, though he never challenged to capture the overall title. His career achievements include winning the Critérium International 5 times and a number of one-week stage races, as well as three Tour de France stage victories. In September 2014, he set a new hour record. He lives in Berlin.
JAMES STARTT is an American photographer and writer based in Paris. The European associate of Peloton magazine, he has covered more than 25 Tours de France and published the first English history of the great race, Tour de France/Tour de Force.
Mention of specific companies, organizations, or authorities in this book does not imply endorsement by the author or publisher, nor does mention of specific companies, organizations, or authorities imply that they endorse this book, its author, or the publisher.
Copyright © 2016 by Jens Voigt and James Startt
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any other information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the publisher.
Book design by Joanna Williams
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file with the publisher
ISBN-13: 978–1–62336–520–2 hardcover
ISBN-13: 978–1–62336–521–9 e-book
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