“He Was Too Expensive for Us” – Bora-Hansgrohe’s Manager on 29-Year-Old Cyclist Nils Politt’s Exit from the Team to UAE Team Emirates

The winner of the Deutschland Tour, Nils Politt has found himself in the midst of peloton dances and the combination of victories and setbacks. However, as per the recent developments in his professional career, the Bora-Hansgrohe cyclist has been caught in a captivating plot twist. 

In the three-year journey with the cycling team, Politt has secured two national titles and one Tour de France stage win. As he steps into a new chapter of his cycling career, unfulfilled salary expectations led Pilott to enter the UAE Team Emirates. 

Politt’s promising start ends in mismatched results and expectations

It was in 2021 that Politt’s entry into Bora-Hansgrohe was marked by a promise based on his extraordinary performance in the 2019 editions of the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. However, despite giving his best and accomplishing success, his stint with the team failed to replicate similar excellence during the Spring Classics, hence Politt decided to take his departure from the team. 

Ralph Denk, the general manager of the Bora-Hansgrohe team revealed that influenced by financial aspects Politt decided to join UAE Team Emirates. In the meanwhile, he also shared that even after making his way to podium finishes in prestigious races and joining the team on a substantial salary, his subsequent performance in the classics failed to tally the investment made by the team.  

In a statement made during an interview with Global Cycling Network, Denk shared his opinion about the cyclist, “Nils is a really nice guy, and I like him as a person. For sure it was a sad moment when he informed me that he would leave but, on the other hand, he joined the team on a really good salary after second in Paris-Roubaix and fifth in Flanders”. The mismatch betwe performance and salary led to the consideration of Politt’s place in the team. 

Team efforts to build a winning roster

Even though the failure to meet salary expectations resulted in the team losing one of its possessions, the manager acknowledged the collective nature of team dynamics and respectfully handled the situation. Denk even shared a glimpse of the grounds on which there has been a tussle between the 29-year-old cyclist and the road-cycling team, “My philosophy isn’t to make him downgrade the salary and for me it wasn’t an option to stay on the salary. As a strong support rider and road captain, he was too expensive for us. I’m happy for him, he found a good contract, a high contract, at UAE. But it was a fair case with all the respect there. It was big for us to have him on our team.”

Read More: “You Were Going Pretty Fast” – 23-Year-Old Cyclist Clenches Success in Tour de France Femmes With Family Cheerful Encouragement From Anxious Yet Proud Parents

The decision besides resting on individual performance, did rest upon broader team-building goals. Recognizing Politt’s decision to join the UAE Team Emirates, Denk expressed his satisfaction shedding light on the cyclist’s need for a change and congratulated him on embarking on a new direction in his career. In the meanwhile, bora-Hansgrohe strategically recruited riders like Sam Welsford, Primož Roglič and Dani Martíz with the focus of creating a roster both economical and successful underscoring the team’s commitment. 

Hence, Nils Pilott’s departure serves as a reminder of the maintenance of the fine balance between performance and financial considerations that reign supreme in the world of professional cycling. As Politts dons the UAE Team Emirates jersey for the upcoming season, cycling enthusiasts await to find out whether this change acts as a catalyst for the resurgence of his cycling skills. 

Watch This Story:  “That is how you inspire the next generation” – Unexpected souvenir from a pro cyclist at a Jumbo-Visma race makes a young fan’s day