“It’s no secret the sport has gotten faster and faster,
material, bikes, training and rider mentalities have changed with more altitude
camps, but there are also less parties, less alcohol, less fun.”

The increased intensity and pressure within professional
cycling have changed how riders bond and unwind, according to Geschke.
“Everything’s super serious: everyone’s under pressure for contracts, teams are
under pressure with the UCI’s relegation system; sponsors need to be
pleased,” he explained.

“Of course, we enjoy racing at the Tour de France and
the big Classics with all the attention and spectators, but fun is not the
number one priority anymore. In my first years, we had endurance rides and did
a little bit of intensity during the December training camps and then we would
have some drinks every night. We wouldn’t get super drunk, but we’d stay up a
while. We were bonding. Now in December we train super hard and maybe have a
beer on one evening only.

“Everyone’s realised that if you want to stay on the high
level, you can’t go out anymore. And, anyway, there’s no-one who will go out
with you so you’re forced to stay in the room!”

Reflecting on his career, Geschke has much to be proud of.
“I can be proud of a lot of results,” he stated, with his Tour de France stage
win standing as his crowning achievement. “Winning a Tour de France stage is
what everyone dreams of. It’s the greatest achievement for any pro cyclist and
it’s my stand out, personal highlight, the result I am most proud of.”

Geschke also commented on the modern-day dominance of riders
like Tadej Pogačar, Jonas Vingegaard, and Remco Evenepoel, as well as Classic
specialists Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert. “You see a lot of races are
raced differently now, and I have a feeling a lot of guys are happy to race for
lower places because they know when Pogačar, Vingegaard, Remco are there, if
they follow them they will blow up. It’s the same in the Classics with Mathieu
van der Poel and Wout van Aert.”

Despite his observations on the culture shift, Geschke
believes that the sport is heading in a positive direction. “The sport is in a
better place. You look at what was going on in 2009 with still some doping
cases, today there are no scandals and I absolutely believe it’s not because
riders are hiding better, but because the sport is cleaner. The Tour is back on
TV in Germany and cycling’s getting the attention it deserves because it’s a
beautiful sport.”