The number of cyclists studying during their professional career years has been growing. But at the hypothetical cry of "is there a doctor in the group?" it's not common for a rider to raise their hand.

The man who would raise his hand is Max Walscheid, a thirty-one-year-old giant (1.99) of Team Jayco AlUla, a sprinter for tough routes, who manages to combine medical studies with his cycling profession. Thirteen victories at the finish line and a degree waiting for him after his last two-wheeled milestone.

"Becoming a doctor has always been my goal, and as a young man, I never thought I would become a cyclist, also because no one in my family had ever made a living from sports. Instead, my parents and older sister are doctors, so there's apparently a family predisposition, a family calling. When I turned pro in 2016 with Giant Alpecin, I left my studies because the commitments didn't seem compatible."

But then an unexpected turn came...

"In 2020, I fell at Paris-Nice, broke my hand, and then a few days later, Covid forced us all to stay home. I couldn't train, so I started studying again. I was afraid I had forgotten everything after years without studying, but now I'm convinced I made the best decision."

Between a race, a training session, and an exam to prepare for, Walscheid also finds time to give some advice to his colleagues, especially the younger ones: "I think most professional riders would benefit from having experience in other work environments: it doesn't have to be a university degree... The fact is, I see how riders under 23 are becoming ultra-professionals while simultaneously being poorly capable of social interaction and normal life. I'm one of the last riders who experienced Under 23 years without doing it as professionals, and in those seasons, I enjoyed myself. Today, too many riders give up studying because they see it as an obstacle to their career, but in my opinion, this is the wrong approach. If you learn to do something other than just cycling, you gain self-confidence and credibility. And this will definitely make you a better rider."