One of the world’s greatest ski mountaineers Anton "Toni" Palzer is switching to professional cycling and seeking new challenges as part of the BORA-hansgrohe team. In an interview with hansgrohe, the newcomer talks about his roots in Bavaria, how his family made him the person he is today and what it is about competitive sport that motivates him.
hansgrohe: We’re intrigued about how you got to where you are today
Toni Palzer: Hi! I’m Toni, I’m 28 and a cyclist in the BORA-hansgrohe team. I’m originally from Ramsau bei Berchtesgaden in the south of Bavaria. But I now live in Austria.
Where do you call home?
Toni Palzer: Definitely Ramsau. I grew up there and lived there for 27 years. My family is also still there, as are my beloved mountains. My roots.
The mountains are one of your major passions.
Toni Palzer: They certainly are. No matter whether I’m on a bike, on foot, climbing or on skis, being in the mountains is an absolute passion for me. It gives me a sense of freedom and great strength. You're away from the hustle and bustle of daily life there – it’s a great place to switch off. And if you know what you’re doing, you can find some beautiful spots.
“I’ve always been a fan of BORA-hansgrohe”Anton Palzer
How did you get into sport?
Toni Palzer: My parents are really into sports. Ramsau is also a winter sports destination – you can do all the winter sports disciplines there. My dad is a qualified mountain guide and was the German champion in ski mountaineering. I also have a brother who is three years older than me, and we were both on skis from a very early age. We entered competitions young, too – running in summer, cross-country skiing in winter. When I was 14 or so, I increasingly realised I was good enough to compete, so the whole thing gradually evolved over time. My parents never put pressure on me – the focus was always on having fun. I think that’s the reason why I’m still so passionate about competing in my sport to this day.
How did you get into ski mountaineering?
Toni Palzer: As I said, my parents never wanted to push us in one direction. So I tried every possible winter sports discipline. I even did ski jumping for three years. I ultimately ended up in ski mountaineering because I’ve always found the mountains so fascinating.
And you were highly successful in this discipline.
Toni Palzer: When I was 16, I received special permission from our association to take part in the German Championships. And I actually became the German Champion. That was a key moment when it became clear to me that I might be able to make the sport my job at some point. But after school, I still trained as a precision machinist. I then became a professional athlete at 20. Since then, I have won multiple medals – including 15 world championship titles – and set various track records.
You then switched to professional cycling anyway. How did that come about?
Toni Palzer: I had been a professional ski mountaineer for almost eight years. That’s a very long time. I realised, particularly in the last three years, that ski mountaineering was starting to feel more and more like a job. My passion suffered to a certain extent as a result. And passion is required for success. And so it was clear to me that I needed change. So I got into professional cycling.
How did you become a cyclist for the BORA-hansgrohe team?
Toni Palzer: I’ve always been mesmerised by cycling. And I’ve always been a fan of the BORA-hansgrohe team. I used to follow the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia with great passion. I managed to get in touch with the team via Helmut Dollinger, who introduced me to Ralph Denk, BORA-hansgrohe’s team manager. Shortly afterwards, I was offered a place on the BORA-hansgrohe professional cycling team. That was certainly one of the happiest moments of my life.
In which role do you feel most comfortable in the BORA-hansgrohe team: as a specialist or an all-rounder?
Toni Palzer: I definitely see myself as a climber, but cycling is generally a team sport – each person has to do their bit for the team to be successful. When the team wins, the individual cyclist is then also a winner.
