The road season 2023 has come to an end. It was extremely successful for the Maloja Pushbikers, as the UCI ranking proves: the Pushbikers are the second-best German pro team behind Bora-hansgrohe. In the UCI World Team Ranking and the ProCyclingStats team ranking, the Maloja Pushbikers are ahead of the other German Continental teams Bike Aid, Team Lotto Kernhaus, Santic-Wibatech, Rad-Net Oßwald, Saris Rouvy Sauerland, Storck-Metropol Cycling and P&S Benotti in the 2023 season. Focusing on the most UCI victories and podium finishes, Filippo Fortin is in 25th place in the PCS Individual Wins Ranking with six victories and four second places. In the UCI Ranking of the Europe Tour, the Pushbikers are the second-best German team in 52nd place.
Everything you are and have ever felt – it expresses itself in cycling, it reveals itself. Am Ende dieses Jahres können wir sagen: die Leistung dieser Mannschaft, die Ergebnisse und die Erfolge basieren auf einem guten Grundgefühl.At the end of the road season calendar, we are safe to say: the performance of this team, its results and the race successes are based on a good general feeling. You may call it “team spirit” or “being there for each other” – the right mix of enjoyment, discipline and independence seems essential.
A look back at over seven months of bike racing on road, track and gravel is worthwhile and is already making us look forward to 2024!
The Pushbikers 2023 season began with Roy Eefting’s victory in Taiwan and ended just as strongly with Filippo Fortin’s win in the overall standings in Bulgaria. Of the Pushbikers’ 385 UCI points, 45 points are attributable to Patrick Reißig, 94 to Matias Malmberg and 198 points to our Italian captain Filippo Fortin, who had an exceptional racing season: six wins, 4 x second place, 3 x third place, 1 GC overall win, 46 UCI race days with the team and around 30,000 kilometres of racing plus training this year.
What empowered him in his second year with the Pushbikers? “I think we’ve learnt that being a group of friends makes us stronger on and off the bike. We had fun, a lot of great moments and wonderful memories,” says Fortin. “We overplayed our “weaknesses” because each of us was prepared to die and give 110% for the team. For me, that is the main reason for our successful season. We are friends even before we are team-mates. We’ve shown that throughout the season, including with some of the decisions we’ve made. The more difficult the situations, the closer we have grown together.”
(UCI rennen + USA crits)
(UCI races)
I have been with the riders almost every day during the season and have experienced the high and low points of bicycle racing with them. Celebrating with the team after a victory and also picking them up off the floor after a crash and helping them get going again – it’s all a part of racing and I wouldn’t change a single moment from this season. We experienced every weather condition imaginable with flooded roads, gale force winds, ice cold temperatures and blazing heat. We have ridden on some of the best roads in the world, and also some of the worst, with the bikes and equipment holding up against it all with only the occasional puncture or crash.”
Samuel Rees, Team Mechanic
Overcoming, suffering and struggle are just as much the basis of cycling as joy: in spring, when the form was perhaps sometimes not quite there yet, to be at the front on tough race days. In moments of disappointment, when riding for hours in the wind didn’t bring the GC result you had hoped for. After crashing, when you wonder what happens next. Moments of physical exertion, defeat and emptiness are just as much a part of it for the racing drivers as personal victories over opponents, the weather or misfortune* . We have also experienced and survived that during this season.
“It’s been a rollercoaster of a year,” summarises Felix Meo. With just under 50 race days, he is the rider with the most race appearances alongside Fortin, played an important role in the team’s success and also experienced a great deal of development himself. “I would say that the Tour of Taiwan and the Solidarnosc stage race in Poland were my highlights on the road alongside the Gravel World Championships. Taiwan, because it was a great start to the year. The first race stage win and 3rd along with the yellow jersey, a mix of great leadout days riding on the front for the boys and a breakaway day for me, it had a bit of everything. Solidarnosc was a solid, fast race with a lot of crosswind, which I personally always love! The team and myself developed so well throughout the year. I`m pretty sure that everyone is very happy with how the season went.”
We would like to thank all our partners for the material and support given by them throughout the year and also to the riders, whose hard work doesn’t go unnoticed. Riding for the Pushbikers project and the logo on the jersey and not the number they have pinned on.
A special mention to everyone working behind the riders, doing their part and making sure the team operates smoothly and successfully. It wouldn’t be possible to have such a unique and strong team on the bike without the people off the bike. Thank you!
