Last season Claudio Imhof proved consistency was key on his way to winning the Men’s Endurance title by the tightest of margins.
That victory was remarkable given the Swiss rider had suffered a traumatic brain injury just six months previously, and he had been hoping to continue that fine form into the 2023 season.
Unfortunately, injury was to strike again in June when the 32 year old crashed out of the Tour d’Eure-et-Loir road race, suffering a fracture dislocation to his thumb in the process.
We caught up with Claudio to get an update on his condition, his return to training, and his goals for the remainder of the year.
First things first, how are you doing after your crash?
It’s getting better every day. I broke my thumb and another small bone in the hand, but it was operated on quickly, and I’m now back riding the bike outside after about 10 days on the turbo. I had to get a train home on the first ride because it hurt too much, but I’ve now put some cushion on my hands so there’s less vibration.
Is it true you had been hoping to improve on your own Swiss Hour Record?
Yes. Grenchen Velodrome has its 10-year anniversary in July and I was asked to have another attempt to mark the occasion. After my accident I tried everything possible to stay in shape, but it just wasn’t possible – I only cancelled a week before it was meant to happen.
I was really confident I’d be able to improve it with everything I learned from the first time; I did 52.116km back then and I was hoping to do something like 53.5km. Maybe I will try again. I don’t want to say it was easy, but I paced it well, so it felt easy.
You might be the first person ever to call the hour record easy! When did you set the record?
It was three years ago, 18th September 2020. I needed a project back then, during Covid.
Wasn’t it also going to be a tribute to your girlfriend, who you met at the Grenchen Velodrome?
It was. My girlfriend’s father brought her along to watch the first races after the opening, and she was asked to present the flowers to the riders in the podium ceremony. That’s the first time we met. She gave me the flowers and I gave the flowers right back, then later we got in contact. It’s almost cliché!
Now that the record attempt is delayed, what are your next goals?
The UCI Cycling World Championships is my next big goal. I think it’s realistic, and with no racing for a while I now have a real training block. Sometimes it’s good to have that time at home to focus on the details, work hard and recover well. I’m optimistic I’ll be in good shape.
Then you’ll be back to defend your title at the UCI Track Champions League?
It’s always more difficult to defend than to win the first time, but I will definitely try to be in the best possible shape.
What are your memories of last year’s competition?
I have so many good memories after the year I had. After the traumatic brain injury in March, I thought I’d never return to the highest level, so I went to the first round in Mallorca with no expectations, I was just happy to enjoy racing again. But I found I was in pretty good shape from the start.
It was a masterpiece. You proved that consistency is everything.
Joanna Rowsell called me Mr Consistent. I think that was the biggest compliment of my career!
What did it mean to you to win overall?
It’s the biggest achievement of my career so far. With the story running up to it, and how I won, not to mention the atmosphere week after week. It was better even than a medal at my home European Championships, it was much more emotional.
Did you have any downtime after the finale?
Not really, although I probably needed it. I went to Rotterdam for the Six Day, but I had to be neutralised through sickness. I had some holiday over Christmas, but it was then straight into preparation in Mallorca for my home European Championships, my first big goal of the season.
Unfortunately I got pneumonia a week before, and it got worse and worse throughout the event. I had to pull out of the Madison after 30 laps because I couldn’t breathe. So I took two weeks off the bike to focus on recovery.
Recovery gave you a chance to concentrate on other things?
After the Milton UCI Track Nations Cup I had some more time off training while I did a week-long coaching course. I’m still motivated to race, but after my active career I want to give my experience to younger riders and hopefully one day become a national coach.
How important do you think the UCI Track Champions League will be this season with the Olympics coming up?
It’s always important to have more opportunities to race at the highest level, otherwise we only have the UCI Cycling World Championships, European Championships, and three UCI Track Nations Cups, and that’s all. Being able to compete at the highest possible level is exactly what athletes preparing for the Olympics are looking for.
