Alex Krieger: From The Bike To The DS Car

September 24, 2025 , Omloop van het Houtland in Lichtervelde, Belgium. Regardless of the TV cameras, Alex Krieger crosses a finish line for the last time, 25 years after his first cycling race; Krieger ends his career.

A loyal team player, cunning lead-out man, and intelligent tactician is retiring from the sport of cycling. A rider who sometimes broods, always reflects, and always deals openly with his ups and downs.

In our interview, the 34-year-old German speaks refreshingly honest about his romantic notions of life as a professional cyclist, paralysing fear, beneficial conflicts, and his future plans at Tudor Pro Cycling.

Alex Krieger, 2009, second year in juniors: Did you believe in 15 years of professional cycling, seven Grand Tours and several podium spots?

I had a vague idea of what to expect. I only really dreamed of the Tour de France, I remember

that well. Otherwise, as a junior, I was clear-headed. I was a late developer, but I definitely

considered a professional career a possibility. The good thing was that I didn't know back

then how long and difficult that path would be. Ultimately, it took me ten years on the

Continental level to make the jump to the pros. That's late by today's standards.

When you now compare the dream from back then with your retrospective on your career, which dreams have come true, and what may have turned out entirely differently?

I didn't have any concrete ideas about what my professional career would look like. But it

quickly became clear to me that I wanted to focus on lead-outs and classics. I never had the

biggest engine; my strength always lay in positioning.

As a young rider, I had a rather romantic idea of what life as a professional would be like. I

remember a training camp in Mallorca. It was windy, I had been on the road for some hours,

and I was suffering quite a bit. When Geraint Thomas and his Team Sky squad came towards

me, I thought to myself: as a pro, things are sure always to go well; you always have good

legs. The harsh reality is that as a professional, you suffer the same.

Looking back, I'm glad I didn't give up in some situations, but at the same time, I question

why it's so frowned upon for a top athlete to give up. After my serious crash at the 2024 Giro,

or even in 2019, when I only received a professional contract at the last minute, it would have

been perfectly fine for me to hang up my bike.

Turning passion into a career: how much passion remains when career dominates?

Cycling has been and always will be my passion, as well as my profession. This passion will

always remain and is a constant in my life. However, I don't find cycling as a profession an

easy career. The number of potential employers is minimal, but there are many job seekers.

The professional side of cycling is characterised by short-termism and instability.

Employment contracts of only one year are not uncommon. Complex pressure situations and

dependencies arise, and ultimately, a career can end much faster than planned.

However, these are fewer experiences from my own career; instead, they are observations

and reflections from my time as a professional. Some riders find this easier to manage, while

others find it more difficult.

I've always been a rider who has given things a lot of thought, with a tendency to overthink.

It was always essential for me to have a life outside of cycling. My home environment, which

was not one where cycling was not the main topic, always kept me grounded and helped me

a great deal when things weren't going well.

You're a cyclist who thinks much further than the finish line and is concerned with much more profound thoughts than just the approach to the Molenberg or the sprint preparation for a Grand Tour's flat stage. What stays after 15 years of professional cycling?

It isn't the numbers in the results lists or training data that I'll look back on in a few years.

What remains for me are the moments and encounters, relationships, friendships, and

shared experiences – which, of course, are often based on sporting success and failure. The

happiness I draw from this time is definitely based on emotions.

A brilliant example that often comes to mind is Wout van Aert: when he handed the victory at

Gent-Wevelgem to his teammate Christophe Laporte in 2023, Wout didn't lose a victory; he

probably gained a friend for life.

However, it's not always great or long-lasting friendships. Sometimes it's temporary

companions with whom you build a close bond and experience intense moments together –

that's what creates a bond. A roommate on a Grand Tour can be your closest confidant during

those three weeks. But afterwards, you go your separate ways again. And that’s totally fine.

On another note: I’m definitely deeply impressed by the staff on the teams I raced for. The

public often has no idea how much the staff invests to ensure that seven or eight riders on

the Team have the opportunity to ride at a high speed.

What you'll miss:

The thrill, the emotions, and the ecstasy of a race. The fans cheering you on, the joy of crossing the finish line, the pre-race tension, and the inner satisfaction of sitting in the airconditioned bus after the race, freshly showered and with a plate of pasta in my hands.

Generally, I thoroughly enjoy cycling. I love being on my bike, and I'll continue to make time

for it in the future.

Is there a main reason for ending your career?

It is the fear of crashing and seriously injuring myself. It's not just the fear of crashing itself; I still feel the necessary willingness to take risks. The fear of injuring myself so badly that permanent damage is expected — this fear is paralysing.

You say cycling can be somewhat of a "love & hate" sometimes - why is that?

When you're in the flow and things are going well, you're at the highest heights. But you can

quickly find yourself at the bottom, and it's hard to get back up again.

I also love travelling and the lifestyle that cycling brings. On the other hand, constantly living

out of a suitcase requires a lot of energy. Social contacts at home remain limited, and

planning activities outside of biking is challenging.

And then there’s the training plan that dictates your life. But on the other hand, it also gives

you freedom. My coach doesn't care whether I do my intervals in the morning or the evening.

Your personal highlights?

There were several, but one moment always comes to mind remarkably quickly. Giro 2021, second stage. My teammate at the time, Tim Merlier, won this stage. We worked perfectly as a Team. The stage win was the reward for all of us.

... and lowlights?

There have also been some low points in my career. These low points often involve injuries

and times when I was feeling bad. The toughest period was 2019/2020. Due to recurring

saddle sores, I was on the verge of ending my career. This made me doubt my future and cost

me a lot of energy. With a broken bone, you have a clear timeline, and the recovery period is

predictable. With saddle sores, it's all very vague; you have no idea where they're coming

from or how long they'll last. I reached a point where I knew I would end my career

immediately if the problems arose again.

I need to ponder the lowlights deeply, but the highlights are immediately present. It's nice

that the good moments outweigh and outshine the bad; it's also a protective mechanism of

our brain.

Giro d' Italia 2025, Stage 7 - Mountain finish in Tagliacozzo: What do you feel when you think about that day?

I fought with myself every second. Would I make it to the finish line, or should I give up? One

moment I believed it, the next I hoped I wouldn't make it within the time limit and that the

decision would be made for me.

I just had a terrible day. I fought through, crossed the line a few minutes before the timecut,

and emerged victorious in a tough internal battle. I cried at the finish line. It could be

exhaustion, self-pity, and at the same time, the pride of having made it. This Giro d'Italia is

definitely the Grand Tour I am most proud to have completed.

Are these stories also what define your passion for cycling?

Definitely!

Borderline experiences, highs, lows and the realisation of what we are physically and mentally capable of.

After a serious crash at the Giro 2024, you went through a long period of recovery and very tough time. In 2025, not only was there a a return to the Giro, but also to the scene of the 2024 accident. An important conclusion for you?

When I returned to the scene of the accident during the 2025 Giro d'Italia, I felt like I had

come full circle. It helped me process the accident. There's a tree at the scene, and at my

crash 2024 I was thrown into it. The result was a broken pelvis and multiple rib fractures.

Seeing that tree completely intact showed me how small and vulnerable we are as humans.

By the end of this year’s Giro you were honored with the "Maglia Nera " – including unexpected media attention in Italy. Giro d' Italia:

The Maglia Nera, along with the finish in Rome, was the icing on the cake. Some media

representatives asked me if I had developed a strategy for the Maglia Nera. I had to laugh

heartily; I simply wasn't at the level I wanted to be at in this Giro. But the Maglia Nera was

never a goal.

Talking about the final days of your career as a pro cyclist: will the excitement for what's to come predominate, or will there also be a hint of sadness?

Initially, there was uncertainty. Uncertainty about what life after cycling might look like. But the more I thought about it, the clearer my picture of this next phase of my life became. There's undoubtedly some sadness, but the emotions from an unforgettable time and now the anticipation of my new life outweigh it.

In an older interview you said: “As long as the mental and physical health is there, we surely have an enjoyable job". In a professional career like this, how often do you find yourself in an area where the job is not exactly enjoyable?

It changes over the course of your career, depending on your perspective on your job. In my case, it's been a balance I’d say.

Looking ahead: You're staying loyal to Tudor Pro Cycling, and a new challenge awaits you. What role do we see you taking on next year?

As Sports Director with the Devo Team, I'll be able to share my experience with the young riders. The plan is for me also to be involved in the scouting department.

During your 2024 injury, you were already working as a DS for the Devo Team. Was that the starting point for you to work in this field after your active career?

My time with the Devo riders last year motivated me to take this path. I quickly noticed how open and inquisitive the young athletes are, how professionally and thoughtfully they already work, and that this is where the foundation for dreams and success is laid. Physically, despite their age, they are already very advanced, and technically and tactically, I see opportunities for further development. This is where I come in.

It is also essential to show the Devo riders the importance of adopting a realistic approach to professional cycling. Only a few athletes are so talented that everything comes easily to them. Failure is just as much a part of this journey as winning. Despite all the data and numbers, they must understand that they are human.

It was never a given for me that I would remain in cycling professionally. However, getting

involved in the Devo Team is the right thing to do at this time. I also want to thank the Team

for their trust and for the opportunity to explore new paths in my life.

You're currently studying business administration. In what areas can this training help you in your job as a DS?

The structure and self-organisation I acquired during my studies are certainly helpful. Research, feedback, and critical questioning are also skills that can be beneficial here.

Do you also see potential for conflicts in your new role?

Absolutely – but that's nothing new; I've had conflicts as a rider myself. To a certain extent, these conflicts are beneficial and productive. Within the Team, we operate in an environment where we generally share the same goals and visions. This provides a reasonable basis for resolving conflicts. For me, constructive conflicts are enriching, stimulate new ways of thinking, give differing opinions a chance to be heard, and are the foundation for mutual development.

If you had a wish for the future of cycling:

I hope we succeed in developing athletes who act responsibly and consciously, have the ability to communicate their needs and also recognise that a new generation of professional cyclists will follow in their footsteps.

The last word is yours.

I am incredibly grateful to many people around me. Without their support and trust, I certainly wouldn't be a professional today — and probably never would have become one. Family, friends, and those who have accompanied me over the years and believed in me have helped me with great dedication, compassion, and humanity. I am deeply grateful to all of them for this — and I even have a particularly close relationship with some of them today.