# Trust and Teamwork: Insights from Lead-Out Specialist Roger Kluge
Lotto Soudal cyclist Roger Kluge is entering his fourth season with the team, bringing over twelve years of professional experience. We caught up with the German rider to explore the critical components of a successful lead-out train, essential for executing effective bunch sprints.
Kluge emphasizes the importance of trust among teammates in the sprint train. He explains, “I would say that trust is by far the most important element of a sprint train. You can scream to each other as much as you want but I think the most ideal way is when you don’t need to say that much because of mutual trust.” He adds, “You simply need to have faith in the guys in front of you. And even the guys behind you because often, they see more than the guy who is pulling at the front and who is, most of the time, on the limit.”
When asked about the skills necessary for a successful lead-out rider, Kluge highlights performance as key. “The most important characteristic of a lead-out guy still is the performance. You need to be in excellent shape… It is the same for the lead-out riders, so it takes a guy who is able to hold this high power for a short time and can repeat this several times.”
Reflecting on his evolving style, Kluge states, “As I am getting older, I admit that I am looking more and more for the safe way… But my legs are definitely still good enough to do this.” With experience comes wisdom, and he notes, “Over the years, I noticed that I perceive a better overview of the things going on around me. And those organisational skills are really crucial because a sprint preparation is sometimes like a war zone.”
Kluge also speaks about his collaboration with Caleb Ewan, one of the top sprinters in the peloton, describing it as “really nice, but also quite intense.” He explains the challenges they faced together, particularly while integrating new riders into their strategy during competitions. “We always knew that Caleb was ready to win but we just needed some time… However, we always try to fight through these difficult moments, we take the time to analyse and we talk a lot. We knew we were able to do it, so we took the next real sprint opportunity with both hands and won it.”
Looking ahead, Kluge is excited about his team’s reinforcements, particularly two fellow Germans, Michael Schwarzmann and Rüdiger Selig. He concludes, “Michael and Rüdiger are really nice reinforcements… which really brings smoothness into the train. And also Michael will add a ton of experience to the team.”
With experience, dedication, and a strong foundation of trust, Roger Kluge continues to be a crucial asset to Lotto Soudal’s sprint ambitions this racing season.
