Previous Champ Interview: Cyclo-cross riders making an impression on the street isn’t something new. Again within the 70s, German ‘cross champion Klaus-Peter Thaler jumped into the street scene and rode with honour within the Tour de France, Vuelta a España and the one-day races. Ed Hood managed to have a phrase with the close to 70 year-old star of mud and tarmac.
“I’m by no means happier than after I’m writing.”
~ Ed Hood, as spoken to Martin Williamson from the passenger seat, driving alongside a stage route on the Tour de France.
Pricey Readers – Our beloved colleague and pal Ed Hood suffered a critical stroke in February. We don’t count on Ed will make it again into our bunch, so we’ve began a GoFundMe web page to assist Ed together with his future. Learn the complete submit right here – and please take into account donating.
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We’ll be posting a choice of Ed’s work from the previous 16 years, as a result of nice story-telling by no means will get previous.
Henninger 1975
He was a Nationwide Champion on the street and within the mud; a World Champion over the latter – 4 instances, twice as an beginner and twice as a professional. However as with the Wout Van Aert, Mathieu Van Der Poel and Van Der Poel’s father, Adrie earlier than him, Germany’s Klaus-Peter Thaler wasn’t only a man of the winter.
He took Olympic silver within the street race however was relegated to ninth – that one nonetheless hurts . . .
He stood on the ultimate podium of the Vuelta in third spot in 1977, gained phases and wore the maillot jaune within the Tour de France and was a frequent winner on the street. He took time to reply PEZ’s questions, not too long ago.
Klaus-Peter Thaler with high crew TI Raleigh
PEZ: Whilst an beginner you blended street and cyclo-cross efficiently, Klaus Peter – However when did you’re taking time to relaxation?
Klaus-Peter Thaler: Nicely, that’s the problem. After the World Championship Street Race in late summer time I went some days on holidays using just for enjoyable and even a number of days with out bike. Then I began with the primary cyclo-cross races. The ‘cross specialist have been at all times some races forward of me and it was at all times laborious at first of the season. However at ‘cross World Championship I used to be principally in good condition. As a professional I labored in the identical manner. From the final cyclo-cross race I went immediately on to the street.
Main Didi Thurau in Teka package
PEZ: You have been World Newbie ‘cross Champion in 1973 however waited till after you gained it once more in 1976 earlier than turning professional – why?
The issue was in Germany that there have been no professional groups and going overseas was very tough.
So I stayed too lengthy as an beginner. However in ‘76, after I took second place within the Olympic Street Race in Montreal behind Bernt Johanson then didn’t get any help from the federation in opposition to my being relegated to ninth place, I modified to professional on the age of 26 years. Usually that’s too late.
A German in a Spanish crew
PEZ: You turned professional for a Spanish crew, Teka – an uncommon alternative for a German rider?
My mentor Rolf Wolfshohl (former a number of Nationwide and World ‘cross Champion and Vuelta winner, ed.) organised a spot at Teka as a result of Teka was using Alan bikes, the model he was distributing in Germany. So I turned member of the crew and gained immediately the Tour of Levante in Spain and positioned third general at Vuelta España.
PEZ: How did you discover the transition from beginner to skilled?
Nicely, as beginner I used to be afraid concerning the lengthy distances at professional races. However after I modified it was no drawback to experience 70 or 80 km extra in a race. I used to be impressed by the skilled administration across the time particularly at TI Raleigh.
With Peter Submit for 2 years
PEZ: You rode for Peter Submit in ’78 and ’79 with Raleigh, please inform us about what working with him was like.
Peter Submit at the moment was probably the most profitable crew managers. We had at all times one of the best riders in his crew. I’m proud that I used to be for 2 years within the crew and that I had the prospect to experience within the yellow jersey for 2 days and rating two stage victories.
Tour ’78 crew time trial – Thaler within the leaders jersey
PEZ: What was Submit’s angle to your using cyclo-cross within the winter?
To have a high rider in cyclo-cross throughout the wintertime was at all times fascinating for groups. So the sponsors’ names have been to be seen on TV and within the newspapers out of the street season.
In 1978 Tour de France yellow
PEZ: The Tour de France maillot jaune in 1978, that will need to have been very particular?
Sure, that was solely attainable as a result of TI Raleigh was a high crew. In 1978 Jan Raas took the yellow jersey on the prologue, I obtained it some days later and Gerrie Knetemann took it from my shoulders. Hennie Kuiper ought to have gained that Tour and he would have taken the jersey as fourth rider of the crew.
Again to Teka in 1980
PEZ: Why return to Teka in 1980?
I left Teka due to the prospect to experience for TI Raleigh. So after I left TI, Teka provided me a very good contract and I went again to Spain.
Zweifel, Liboton and Thaler
PEZ: Skilled silver within the Worlds in 1980 behind Liboton; any “what ifs?”
At the moment I used to be chasing for the World Championship title as knowledgeable, sure. However 1980 I used to be solely second and 1983 third at Birmingham. Liboton was the strongest on the World Champs in Wetzikon so no, ‘what if’.
Cross Worlds in 1977
PEZ: You rode in an period of nice ‘cross riders: Liboton, Van Der Poel, Richard, De Bie, Zweifel who did you respect most?
Liboton and Zweifel have been those most revered from my aspect due to their lengthy profitable profession.
Using for Puch forward of Gregor Braun
PEZ: You have been with Puch ’81 and ’82 was {that a} good a part of your profession?
I used to be an fascinating half. The issue was that the French Puch Wolber crew and one 12 months later the Swiss Puch Eurotex crew have been badly organised. On the finish of season 1982 I left the crew earlier than the World Champs at Goodwood in England the place I completed seventh. The remainder of the season I had my particular person sponsor.
Street Worlds
PEZ: Then Maredo for the subsequent 4 years, inform us about that crew, please.
Maredo was not a crew, they sponsored me as a person. I knew fairly effectively the CEO of this steak home firm and after I requested him for sponsorship he mentioned ‘okay.’ Even throughout the two years 83/84 I labored as coach of the nationwide crew and wasn’t racing a lot I had the proper to eat on the Maredo eating places throughout Germany with entire crew. And extra vital; after I began my comeback in ‘85 – which was a threat with no assure of success – Maredo gave me the prospect to experience once more within the white/purple/black jersey with the bull on it.
Using within the colors of Maredo
PEZ: Winter 1985 within the snow at Munich, your first skilled world title, 9 years after your final, that will need to have been particular?
Munich was nice. After solely eight weeks of coaching however in a more durable manner than ever, I had an exquisite race. It was slippery and chilly what I favored very a lot. I attacked on the final climb simply earlier than a quick quick downhill and entered the stadium with some seconds in entrance. A fantastic second.
1986 cyclo-cross with Maredo
PEZ: Then champion once more in ’87 – what are your reminiscences of that day?
Sure, folks mentioned, Munich ‘85 was solely luck. Liboton had an issue, Stamsnijder crashed and so forth. However when that occurred I used to be already far forward with Van der Poel and Michely. So ‘87 for me was the victory that confirmed that Munich was not a one night time stand. Climate situations have been just like Munich race however with Danny De Bie I had a robust rival for the entire race. And like 85 at Munich ceremony I used to be crying on the rostrum. To develop into World Champion on the age of 37 is de facto uncommon. I used to be overwhelmed.
On the shoulders of Stamsnijder and Liboton
PEZ: American Airways was the identify on the jersey in 1988?
KPT: After the years with the Maredo jersey I discovered a brand new sponsor American Airways. Solely a one 12 months contract until the top of my profession.
Cross Worlds in 1988
PEZ: What number of ‘cross races did you win throughout your profession?
I don’t know, I by no means listed them.
Within the 1978 Rund um den Henninger Turm on the wheel of Roger De Vlaeminck (Sanson-Campagnolo), adopted by his TI Raleigh teammate Gerrie Knetemann, Herman Van Springel (Marc Zeepcentrale-Superia), Alfons De Bal (Ijsboerke-Gios), Jean-Luc Vandenbroucke and Bernard Thevenet (each Peugeot-Esso-Michelin)
PEZ: For those who needed to identify one hi-lite?
Two! – the Tour yellow jersey in ‘78 and the World Championship in Munich ’85.
PEZ: Any regrets or stuff you want you had carried out in another way?
Sure, I ought to have modified to the professionals 4 years sooner than I did.
Taking sixth place within the 1978 Rund um den Henninger Turm forward of Giuseppe Saronni, Willy Planckaert (each not in picture), Roger De Vlaeminck (Sanson-Campagnolo), Herman Van Springel (Marc Zeepcentrale-Superia) and Miguel María Lasa (Teka)
PEZ: What’s life like for you now?
Subsequent month I’ll attain the 70 years hurdle. I’m nonetheless using my bike thrice per week, generally the unique bikes from ‘78, ‘80 and ‘82. I took half a number of instances at Eroica Italia and this 12 months once more at Eroica Germania. I like my previous automobiles and spend a whole lot of time with my 4 grandchildren who’re residing close by. For some weeks, in complete half the 12 months, I’m residing with my spouse in Corsica.
Relaxed within the Tour
# A person together with his life effectively sorted, it sounds to us – with because of Klaus Peter Thaler for his time and insights. #
Cross in Frankfurt 2011: Rolf Wolfshohl, Klaus-Peter Thaler, race organiser Walter Wahl, Marianne Vos and Mike Kluge
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