Words James Ion - Photography Provided by Sebastian Schönberger
Sebastian Schönberger is doing pretty well. With a successful trip to the States, a stable contract, and a shot at the nationals on the road, there is even a chance he might get to go to Paris for this year's Olympic Games.
However, the last years have been a struggle to get to this point. Sebastian was riding for the now-defunct B&B Hotel team which folded in a rather spectacular way back in 2022 leaving many top-level riders without a home. With limited options, Sebastian was one of the “lucky” ones and found a home at Human Powered Health, only for them to close down its operations at the end of 2023.
To say that this was bad luck would do it a disservice rather it shines a spotlight on the fragile nature of professional road cycling. However, Sebastian was not one for idly waiting for others to make decisions for him and was able to add GRVL racing to his program and begin a new relationship with Felt Bikes
“After Human Powered failed it was a challenge,” Sebastian tells me from his home in Austria “It was all such short notice, and then a scramble to find something for the next season”.
Sebastian didn't have to look far from home, the newly rebranded Team Felt Felbermayr, a Conti team from Austria with a plan to go Pro-Conti, offered him a chance to race a full program on the road as well as take on the rough stuff.
The good partnership with Felt continued with the brand following him to the new team, giving him the freedom, or ‘freiheit’ to mix up his program and have access to their GRVL range.
“Felt are very keen to stay present in the GRVL scene, so it is a perfect sponsor for me personally”
“I'm contracted here for one year, we have the Tour of Austria coming up and that is a big goal for me and the team, once that is done then I will sit down and look at the options for next year. But GRVL is still going to be a big part of it”
This year has shown how big it is. Competing in Europe in the Team colours he has gone on to take the victory at the UCI Wörthersee Gravel Race cementing his place at the World Championships in Belgium later this year.
His unique relationship with Felt Bikes means that when he races in the USA he takes part as a “Privateer” with Felt acting as his main sponsor, providing him with the rather nice-looking Breed Carbon.
And how did this year's trip to the States go? “I am very happy with the result, Top 10 (he finished 9th) on debut at Unbound is a great result!”
What was his take on this year's edition, what with it being the fastest on record? “Oh, it was a super great experience. I got to be in the front group, followed by a move from Greg van Avermaet, I will be back next year! But the feed zone was chaos! So many people were just getting in each other's way. Luckily I had a great team with me. I took two of my best friends, who are also a mechanic and a physio. We had a great time!”
The rest of the season should, hopefully, then bring good results off the back of his successful Unbound debut. “For GRVL I will be at La Monsterrato at the end of August, then it's the Worlds in Belgium, before going back to the States to take on Big Sugar, like I said the Road is a big focus this year, but that doesn't mean I won't be going all out on the GRVL, I just need to be more selective.”
“Have FUN! If it isn't a passion, you won't enjoy it, and that's the most important thing!”
The Hills are alive with the sound of GRVL
Austria is known for its mountains and lakes and beautiful scenery and now slowly people are getting to know the excellent GRVL. “It’s growing so quickly, it is probably the biggest market now. It’s easy to see why as it's the ultimate choice for your next bike. Here we are so lucky with the trails and gravel tracks. We have a small group and love exploring for the next best “Schotterweg”.
Now he has set the scene, what is a typical day like for a pro rider, can he just stay in bed till he wants?
“No” laughs Sebastian, “A typical day starts at 7-730 with Porridge and most importantly coffee! Then a nice walk with my Doodle Monte before getting on the bike at around 9 and doing anything from a 3 to 7-hour session. Afternoons are mainly for admin, physio sessions, or more fun with Monte.”
Being a pro, it seemed right to ask him for a bit of advice for the rest of us, “Have fun! If it isn't a passion then you won't enjoy it, and that’s the most important thing!”
Fun seems to be an optimal word to surmise my talk with Sebastian, his passion is evident, whether it's racing on the road, or with his mates on the Flint hills of Kansas, fun is what it is all about, and if he keeps smiling then the who knows what can come next.
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