The following by Edmond Hood was published on www.pezcyclingnews.com

The King Of Stayer Racing
Carsten Podlesch has been world motor paced champion since 1994 and will be for ever. Podlesch won the last UCI ‘open’ world motor paced championship in Palermo that year - then the boys in blazers from Geneva scrapped the event leaving the affable 36 year old Berliner as champion in perpetuity. His uncle Rainer Podlesch was a world champion before him and it was from him that Podlesch developed his interest in the wall of death of ‘stayer’ racing. This is his 18th season and as well as his 1994 ‘open’ worlds win he was world amateur champion in 1992 and has been three times European champion.

At 36 he is no longer a full-time pro and has gone back to college to prepare for the day when he decides he doesn’t need the smell of BMW exhausts in his nose any more. He can ride around ten paced meetings a year including racing every night at the Berlin six day. In the summer he rides criteriums to keep in shape.

Too Many To Count
Apart from his major successes he doesn’t keep track of how many wins he has had behind the big motors; ‘too many to count,’ he smiles. The highly specialised equipment required can still be obtained; ‘no problem’ Podlesch says, with Vittoria ‘stayer’ tyres still available.

The relationship with the motor bike driver is crucial; ‘we talk before every event and decide on tactics, it is crucial that you and your pacer are in tune.’ He has been with current pacer Helmuth Baur for a year now and judging by the wins they racked-up at Berlin they are in good harmony.

Milano For Speed
When asked if Berlin is a fast track he replies; ‘no, not really the roller is set well back from the motor bike to keep the speed down. Milano is one of the fastest, we run to 100 kph there [that’s 63 miles per hour!]

Asked to describe his riding style he smiles; ‘with my head!’

And does he ever get scared behind those beasts? Another smile; ‘No, I never do.’ I did - just watching him!