Please introduce yourself. Who are you, where are you from, what do you do?

Who am I? Well, I’m Lea, 26 years old, born in Cologne as the daughter of two SpoHo alumni (Cologne’s sport university), and I grew up on the western edge of Cologne, right by the more or less famous “Glessener Höhe.” So, who am I? I’m definitely a very active woman for whom sports have always played a central role in life – with tennis at the heart of my athletic ambitions for as long as I can remember, until I rediscovered cycling and made it an inseparable part of me and my life.

And besides that, my heart beats for so much more: good food, wonderful people, community and society, equality, and nature in every sense. My mind is often occupied with sustainable technical solutions for the future of our energy system, or happily with books,
art, and culture. So yes, that’s one answer to the question, but there are probably a thousand others that would be just as true.

When and how did you get into cycling?

The bicycle has always been part of my life. First as a child during our annual road cycling vacations in southern France and at kids’ triathlons, later on rides through the woods with our dog, and as my daily mode of transport, especially when commuting to school.

But it wasn’t until the spring of 2022, on Mallorca, that I truly (re)discovered the road bike as the center of my athletic life. And I haven’t gotten off since. At first, I dabbled a bit in triathlon, and in 2024 I finally decided to make bike racing my next sporting ambition.

"The bike became a place to step back, to find myself again."

Why do you bike? What does it mean to you?

Short answer: to connect with nature and with myself.

Long version: When I started, cycling somehow saved me, in a way I didn’t realize at the time. 
The bike became a place to step back, to find myself again. A space where I could simply be and enjoy the here and now. Riding turned into a source of self-confidence, self-assurance, and fearlessness. No matter what was going on around me, or how dissatisfied I felt with myself, there was no room for that on the bike. It was like hitting pause.

Yes, “a place without fear”! That might sound strange at first, and sure, cycling is a dangerous sport, but it’s also capable of taking away so much fear, maybe more than anything else in my life ever has.

Then there’s the aspect of training and racing. Feeling plays a central and essential role there. In hard training sessions – in the suffering, in the success, in getting stronger and better, in failure and weakness – every emotion lies right there on the road, all of them so close together.

When you grow up in competitive sports, ambition is always part of it. You set goals, and at some point, you need a reason for all the work and effort and so, racing becomes the logical next step. And when the only thing still holding you back is that last bit of fear, you just have to give it a try. You want to put yourself out there, to test your limits, to measure yourself and claim your place.

And then there’s another important point: cycling is still a male-dominated sport. We women have only, shockingly, in the past few years begun to truly carve out our space and visibility. More women are on bikes, out on the roads, joining women’s group rides, getting more media coverage every year. But especially on local race circuits, we still have to fight; for women’s races, for legitimacy. Being present, standing up for women, and actively living the sporting emancipation of women in cycling on every level: that’s why I race.

What does it mean to me?
It means a lot. It’s essental to who I am, a vital part of my life.

Describe a perfect day on the bike. 

It’s really hard to decide on just one version in my head. But here is one:

Early morning summer ride and a big day out ahead: A perfect summer day: 16°C in the morning, peaking at 28°C, and nothing but blue skies. A ride with friends, soaking up the summer and the beauty of nature. A speaker playing music and a café stop about two-thirds of the way through. Somewhere in the Eifel, if I’m at home or anywhere with beautiful hills or mountains, and maybe even some water nearby for a quick cool-off.

Do you currently have a goal you want to achieve?

Fall in love with cycling again and again, for all the reasons out there: feeling good, performing well, and sharing great moments with people I appreciate.

"Every emotion lies right there on the road, all of them so close together."

What does your pre- and post-ride routine look like?

Taking way too long to get ready, only to realize downstairs that I’ve forgotten something. Coffee is always involved at some point, pre-, mid-, or post-ride. And ideally, it all ends with a shower and a chocolate protein shake.

What’s in your back pockets when you go for a ride? And is there anything you absolutely can’t leave without?

Pump, multitool, phone, and an emergency gel. I also can’t and won’t ever leave without my helmet.

Describe your very first bike.

A small red and black Focus mountain bike, my pride and joy. Before that, every bike I had was a hand-me-down from my brother.

Describe your current bike(s).

In exchange for our rather beat-up van at the time, I bought myself a Benotti Fuoco Carbon Disc bike with everything my heart could desire: sleek design with internal cable routing, electronic shifting, carbon rims, and a power meter. Everything that comes after this is just child’s play.

"Being present, standing up for women, and actively living the sporting emancipation of women in cycling on every level: that’s why I race."

Who would you like to go on a bike ride with?

With my 10-year-old self and of course with Pogi.

Lea's Playlist 

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