There may be a lot hypothesis concerning the rider in professional biking is likely to be The Best of All Time. There are heroic makes an attempt to match athletes from throughout the a long time, with completely different specializations, and, sure, gender. With bike racing’s wealthy historical past, the seek for the GOAT makes it’s simple to miss riders with spectacular palmares. A brand new YouTube video celebrates the spectacular profession of Germany’s Tony Martin. Martin, a pleasant kind who nonetheless earned the nickname of “Panzerwagen,” “armoured automotive, or tank” which suggests there was some irresistible drive behind that smiling face and highly effective legs.
The video opens with a cheerful Martin trying straight on the digital camera and expressing his pleasure that folks have tuned into the video. He hopes that the viewer will take pleasure in watching it as a lot as he did in making it. It was a approach for him to relive his 14 yr profession and it is a chance to share some lovely moments.
Born in 1985 in Cottbus, a metropolis within the then nonetheless current East Germany, he and his household left for the West earlier than the Wall fell in in 1989 however he later returned to Erfurt to attend a specialist sports activities highschool there. His first athletic efforts had been at soccer however when it appeared that will not lead wherever, he switched to biking.
In his first race, a 3 stage scouting race in Frankfurt, he borrowed his mom’s bike and her package and did effectively. Satisfied that his son had expertise his father turned his coach. Tony Martin has had sturdy household help–from his father, mom, and finally, spouse. This can be a recurring ingredient within the story. One can solely love the story of “The Fool Loop,” a 30 km circuit that Martin and his father educated on endlessly. Unstated is the dedication that introduced him to world class degree.
The video could be very a lot targeted on Martin’s historical past as a time triallist. Fascinated by the self-discipline, he moved up within the ranks. In 2009 and 2010 he got here third on the UCI Worlds and had nice seasons. Nobody-trick pony, in 2009 he received the Mountains Classification at Paris-Good and got here second general on the Tour de Suisse. However there was a rider who posed an actual problem to him and that was Fabian Cancellara, who would go on to win the UCI World Championships Time Trial 4 occasions, a file solely matched by Martin himself later.
Cancellara makes an look within the video, as do one-time teammates Marcel Kittel and Tom Dumoulin. There may be all the time the popularity that you could be be on the high of the world for now however any person else will finally come alongside to take that place. Cancellara is considerate about this, admitting that no one needs to lose however he acknowledged that Tony Martin deserved the win in 2011 on the Worlds in Copenhagen. Martin himself sees that win because the true end result of his profession. It the place all of the work and the ache had been rewarded.
Martin went on to win once more in Valkenburg in 2012 but it surely was a hard-fought race. Climbing the Cauberg with solely a 4 second benefit over Taylor Phinney, Martin put the hammer down within the final flat kilometer. It took him lower than a minute and he confirmed the hassle on the finish. Whereas his win in Florence in 2013 unfolded completely, with a 46 second hole over silver medallist Bradley Wiggins.
Not the whole lot goes as deliberate. Makes an attempt to vary his place on the tt bike had been counterproductive and the golden run appeared over. Nonetheless he continued to win races, together with levels on the Tour de France and the Vuelta in 2013 and 2014. On Stage 6 of the 2013 Vuelta, Martin went off on his personal within the first kilometer of the 175 km stage. Whereas he anticipated others to affix him within the breakaway no one did and he managed to remain away till the ultimate heartbreak of being caught within the final 20 m.
In 2016 the whole lot realigned for Martin as he returned to gold medal successful methods in Doha, not solely within the particular person time trial but in addition because the locomotive driving the Quickstep group time trial. Marcel Kittel was a teammate on that race and says that everybody else was taking 30 second pulls whereas Martin did a full minute every time. Anyway watching, and the video exhibits it properly, exhibits an incredible race by way of the empty desert. One additionally remembers that Martin, getting his gold medal and rainbow jersey, was surrounded by a horde of photographers and principally no spectators no matter.
Whereas Martin actually made his identify in “the race of fact,” the video solely provides glancing recognition to his work as a group participant. The “Panzerwagen” nickname got here from his skill to push by way of the peloton, a precious skill treasured by group leaders going for the final classification. He appeared fearless and for somebody with such a sunny disposition he may very well be very aggressive. A lot in order that he was expelled from the 2019 Tour de France with Luke Rowe after each had engaged in some argy-bargy. That was the identical yr he joined Workforce Jumbo-Visma as a highway captain and tremendous domestique following two disappointing years at Katusha-Alpecin.
It was with Jumbo-Visma on the Tour in 2021 that Martin was within the headlines on Stage 1. He was the primary rider within the Jumbo prepare to crash when he hit the notorious “Allez Opi-Omi” cardboard signal waved by a spectator. On Stage 11 he crashed once more and withdrew from the race. His ultimate occasion was contributing to the successful German blended relay group time trial on the UCI Worlds in Flanders.
As his group contributions are a bit minimalized within the video, so too are the accidents he suffered as a professional racer. These had been appreciable over his profession and ultimately the rationale he determine to retire from the game. Not shocking in case you suppose that in his time he had had concussions no less than twice, a badly damaged wrist, in addition to having to depart the Tour de France whereas sporting the Yellow Jersey because of a damaged collarbone.
4 years into retirement, he appears to be having fun with life totally. He has found gravel driving and nonetheless appears brutally quick on a motorcycle. He has joined up with Marcel Kittel, together with a businessman, to start out a youngsters’s bicycle firm, li:on bikes. They noticed a niche between the standard and innovation of bikes for adults and what was supplied for kids.
In his time, Martin received 67 races. These included 4 particular person World Time Trial championships in addition to 4 group time trial ones. He received seven Grand Tour levels and 9 stage races. He was German Nationwide Time Trial Champion at least ten occasions. “Panzerwagen” is a high quality video a couple of very nice man who was a monster on a motorcycle. Advisable!
“Panzerwagen: Meine Reise zum Weltmeister”
German, with English subtitles
40 minutes, launched November 13, 2025
Directed by Leon Seierlein
YouTube hyperlink: right here.
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