Cycling
16. July 2010
On this page I'l give you a small summary of Julian how he sees himself of course focused on the influence of cycling to life.
I started cycling at the age of seven years impressed by the talented german rider Jan Ullrich. My friends and I at that time were always telling each other stories about his strength and his domination over all other riders. And additionally he was living so close to us - only 10km from my home city Achkarren.
Another reason why I started cycling was my uncle Armin Engist. He was and still is the youth coach of the club RSV Achkarren. Actually my whole family has a cycling background or at least a competition orientated sports background.
Coming back to me. I was regarded as really talented already in my early ages. I won all small races around our region and didn't even train. By doing nothing, I was the best. This continued until the boys around me started training and we had to be officially licensed at the german federation. So my first big period ended at the age of 11. I cared less and less about cycling and did worse and worse in the races. I haven't had the motivation to train at all and was close to quitting at the age 0f 14. But then I found a friend in cycling and suddenly it was not a burden anymore to go to training, it was meeting a really good friend I could talk to just about everything. I became a little bit better again but still far away from winning races. Back than, Under 17 races had pelotons with about 100
to sometimes 120 boys. Those were the great times in german cycling.
But than the cut came again. I finished my school and wasn't able to attend a further school leading to a university degree because of my bad grades. I decided to do an exchange year in the big USA. One of my best decisions so far. It changed a whole lot in my personality and my goals in life. I started to focus on essential things like my education, my health and also sports again.
When I came back, I was allowed to attend the school I already wanted to go to and started off with great marks and became great feedback of my teachers. I also trained so much that my talented body couldn't do else than letting me be on the podium the first time since 7 years. I was close to winning the regional race in Wyhl am Kaiserstuhl and was so proud about that.
My way since than looks like a long climb in a road book of a race. Steadily going up with just small flat or downhill sections. I improved year after year and in my second Under 23 year I even made it for the national team. Remarkable points are my first victory since 9 years in Merdingen, my first A/B/C category victory in Stuttgart, my bronze medal in the national championships under 23 in 2009, my 7th palce in the overall on the Tour des pays de Savoye, my 3rd in one stage of the Giro delle Friuli 2011 and of course my outstanding European Champion title in Offida 2011.
I'm very proud of my career so far and I hope I can make it to the Pro Tour. A goal like this is by far not easy to achieve. You have to be outstanding in every matter. I think the physical ability for that was given to me, but the mental ability is a way harder thing to work on. To achieve the mental stability, the self confidence and the focusation on the important things will be my biggest target for the next few month and years!