Q&A with IRONMAN winner Boris Stein
Boris Stein is one of Germany's most successful triathletes. For a decade, the 35-year-old has been a contender for victory in middle- and long-distance triathlons. After completing his teacher training, Boris catapulted himself into the national elite by winning the German Middle Distance Championship at the Allgäu Triathlon in 2012. With his victories at Challenge Kraichgau 2013 (now IRONMAN 70.3 Kraichgau), IRONMAN 70.3 Rapperswil, and IRONMAN Zurich 2014, the international competition is well aware of the strength of this cycling specialist.
After three consecutive top-10 finishes at the IRONMAN World Championship in Hawaii (10th place in both 2015 and 2017, 7th place in 2016), Boris Stein struggled with injuries for an extended period. His impressive comeback victory at IRONMAN Kalmar in late summer 2019 was reason enough to speak with the man who, just a few weeks later, posted the fastest bike split at IRONMAN Hawaii. * Find out how he's doing after the injury that forced him to withdraw early on the Big Island a few months ago, and what motivates him during the winter, in the Q&A.
* Because he did not reach the finish line, this time was not recorded.
Dear Boris, thank you so much for taking the time for our little Q&A. A few months ago, you had to withdraw early from the IRONMAN World Championship due to injury. How is your injury progressing, and how are your preparations for the new season going?
I draw a positive conclusion from 2019. With almost no base training, I qualified for Hawaii with a respectable performance and was competitive there as well, although the tight schedule left me injured again. I was able to recover from this injury during the off-season.
You've been among the world's best for almost ten years and have won several major races. Among other achievements, you're the German and European champion in the middle distance, a multiple IRONMAN winner, have finished in the top 10 in Hawaii three times in a row, and even won a race in the second division of the German Short Distance Triathlon League. Which successes stand out most in your memory?
Only defeats have truly left their mark on me: the dismantling of Andi Dreitz at Tegernsee in 2011, second place at the IRONMAN 70.3 Aix in 2015, and the aborted 70.3 Switzerland in 2013. The latter, however, enabled me to achieve the most important victory of my career, as I registered late for the Challenge Kraichgau the following weekend on the night of the race and became German champion there. This led to my first real sponsorship contract with Canyon, and life as a full-time professional finally became possible.
After a few years of steady development, you've had to contend with some injuries in recent years. Where did you find the motivation to keep coming back?
It was my first truly serious injury. This setback made me question many of my routines and uncover a lot of untapped potential that I definitely want to tap into (e.g., nutrition, training load management).
Your cycling prowess, with which you regularly make your mark on races, is impressive. Have you always had a special talent for this second discipline, or is a lot of hard work behind your results?
Fast cycling in triathlon requires a powerful engine and good aerodynamics. The engine is purely a matter of hard work. Aerodynamics can certainly be improved with flexibility training, but some things also happen to be aerodynamically efficient, like the tread pattern of different tires.
Cycling in Germany can get very unpleasant in winter. Do you prefer training indoors in the dry, or do you seek out nature as often as possible?
The mix is what works for me. I prefer to do long workouts outdoors, regardless of the weather, and I also tend to get dehydrated during indoor sessions longer than two hours. However, I can enjoy indoor sessions under the magic two-hour mark, as watching movies without anything else on is too boring for me, and it's actually possible to perfectly follow the training plan.
Our mission statement reads: “For all those who begin before dawn and conquer the twilight. For all those who wear themselves out alone to stand out from the crowd. For all those who do it again and again and again.” Do you see yourself in our target group, and what attitude do you associate with HUNT INCYLENCE?
Marketing isn't my thing. I enjoy training. Much of it I do primarily for myself. I don't burn myself out. I enjoy my personal development. These days, as a triathlete, you stand out more when your overall look is disrupted by your choice of socks. I like this trend.
Together with your coach Björn Geesmann, STAPS, you've already set your schedule for the 2020 season. Besides races on German soil like Challenge Heilbronn and IRONMAN Frankfurt, the World Championship in Hawaii is also on your calendar. What are your expectations for the new season?
First and foremost, I'm really looking forward to completing basic training. I've already set some goals internally. My main priority, however, is to arrive at the starting line healthy. Everything else falls into place.
We're keeping our fingers crossed for you in 2020 and hope to talk about another successful season at Poke and Asai Bowl in October. To help the Hunters (our community) get to know you even better, we'll end this Q&A with a few insights:
Your favorite discipline?
Ride a bike
Long and easy training or short and intense?
Long and loose
Racing with a tactical master plan or open visor?
I prefer to go in with my visor open. However, I'm usually more successful when I use my head a bit.
What's your favorite color?
Very dark blue
RUNNING or TRIATHLON socks?
Triathlon socks
Do you have a motto?
No
Your reward after tough training sessions?
Eat and sleep a lot.
Double espresso or latte macchiato?
I only drink coffee before training for performance reasons; so espresso, but simple, otherwise I wo n't sleep all night.
You can find more information about Boris Stein here:
Website
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