Around 15 years of cycling at the top of the world are enough for Lisa Brennauer. After the super year 2021 with Olympic victory, World Cup and European Championship titles, the 34-year-old from the Allgäu is retiring at the peak of her career.
In an interview with the German Press Agency, Brennauer talks about her motives, the inspiration from Kristina Vogel and women’s cycling.
Question: Lisa Brennauer, you want to end your career as an Olympic, world and European champion. How so?
Lisa Brennauer: I’ve always been told: At the end of your career you feel when it’s the right moment. I never understood it that way, but now I get it. It’s the right time. I had a lot of conversations after the great successes of the past year. That also made the decision easier for me. That didn’t happen overnight, it’s a process. I’m glad I was able to take the Tour de France with me. I think it’s nice that I can leave the sport with this positive energy and that I was able to choose the time myself and wasn’t forced to do so. I could have done sports for a long time. Both mentally and physically I haven’t reached the end.
Olympia 2024 was no longer a goal?
Brennauer: Paris was always incredibly far away for me, even though it is a short Olympic cycle. It never really got into my head that I wanted to defend the title. Now i know why.
The European Championships in Munich should be the final point?
Brennauer: Yes, I’ll take everything with me there again. I’m also nominated for the road races. And being on the track before that was a big goal of mine after I didn’t know what goals I should set myself last year. I’m motivated to do something in Munich.
What successes do you particularly like to look back on?
Brennauer: The big highlight was last year’s Olympic victory (in the track foursome), that was also my biggest win emotionally. But in general the successes of the last year, that was the most successful year of my career. What I look back on with great fondness is the 2014 World Championships in Ponferrada with two titles in the team and in the individual time trial and second place in the road race. This is a week I will never forget. The European Games 2018 in Glasgow were also a highlight because things didn’t go that well before.
What else sticks?
Brennauer: Looking back, I noticed that I had relatively few setbacks in terms of health and injuries. I am incredibly grateful for that. Not many have that. I once hurt my finger badly or broke my upper arm on the track. But as risky as our sport is, it’s actually nothing. I was so lucky there.
In terms of success, you are on the same level as Judith Arndt or Kristina Vogel. What does that mean to you?
Brennauer: These are people I looked up to. I’ve always thought: if I were there… If I take Kristina Vogel: I remember all the pictures of her jubilantly driving around the track. I just never won anything. And when I got my first international win on the track in Glasgow, I remember that I was in contact with her immediately afterwards and said to her: ‘I wanted to drive around the track as jubilantly as you did.’ Being put on the same level as people like that makes you proud.
They addressed the revived women’s Tour de France. What were your impressions?
Brennauer: It was a really tough week, but also really cool. The atmosphere and so many spectators – I haven’t seen that in my whole career. Even if you were 15 minutes behind, people celebrated you. It was very special.
Does that give women’s cycling the push it needs?
Brennauer: It was a great platform and a huge step forward that took place there. It’s a format and a boost that women’s cycling has needed. But we’re still a long way from where we could be. There is still a lot possible. A lot has happened in terms of infrastructure in the teams, but it’s not the end yet. There’s still a lot of room for improvement there. But women’s cycling is no longer exotic. You could feel that.
Can you live financially from women’s cycling?
Brennauer: It’s now possible. But I’m glad to have the Bundeswehr on my side. There are really big steps when you think about the WorldTour teams with the minimum wages. But there are also surveys that not everyone can make a living from the sport. There are still ways to go.
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz suggested equal pay at the women’s European Football Championship. Would that also be conceivable in cycling?
Brennauer: It would be desirable. At the moment the differences are gigantic, regardless of whether it concerns salaries or prize money. You don’t need to make any comparisons. But at least with the minimum wages in the WorldTour teams, it’s pretty close. Big steps were taken. The prize money is an issue. At the tour we drove a third of the time and kilometers of the men. But there was only a tenth of the prize money.
With a view to the European Football Championship or the Tour, it seems that women in sport have become more of a focus.
Brennauer: That is a huge development, right and important. Also how people react to it and accept it.
What is your future?
Brennauer: Last year I became a professional soldier in the promotion of elite sports. I’ve been with the Bundeswehr since I graduated from high school and I’ll definitely stay with it. What position I will take is not certain. I hope to get the opportunity to pass on a lot of my knowledge and experience.
Would you be interested in a role as a trainer?
Brennauer: I can imagine it. I have to see what options I have there. It would be important for me to stay as close to the sport as possible.
