The story of Anton Schiffer does not read like that of a typical cyclist. Born and based in Cologne, the German rider began his sporting career as a triathlete and quickly rose to the national elite. As he grew older, he developed hip problems, particularly while running. Surgery was meant to provide a solution.

To his disappointment, the hip issues persisted even after the operation. He was forced to stop running and, during that period, was also unable to continue his swim training. When the COVID-19 pandemic broke out and swimming pools closed, cycling was the only sport he could still practise. "I actually didn’t mind focusing only on cycling. I started participating races and discovered that I was quite good at it. The decision was made quickly."

In 2023, Schiffer rode his first races with BIKE Aid’s development team, and just a few months later he stepped up to the continental squad. Thanks in part to his own training programmes (Schiffer completed his master's degree in sports science) he developed at a remarkable pace. Last season he impressed with a second place in the overall classification of the Tour of Hellas and a fourth place in the Sibiu Cycling Tour, where he also claimed his first professional victory.

"A week before I took my first win, I finished third at the German National Championships. That same week, I also signed my contract with Team Visma | Lease a Bike. It was a very nice period." For Anton, the move to Team Visma | Lease a Bike is a dream come true. "To be honest, I didn’t think this would still happen. I’m 26, and there aren’t many riders who make this step at that age."

Nevertheless, he is grateful for the opportunity to join 'the best team in the world.' "I come from a different sport, so in that sense I’m still young. I know there's plenty of room for improvement, as most things are still new to me. What I would really like to learn is how to race more intelligently and with specific goals. I’d love to support the team as well as possible."

Schiffer describes himself as a puncher who handles climbs of around twenty minutes well. Whether he has the potential to become a GC rider remains to be seen. "As a GC rider, you have to perform at your best every single day. I’ve shown in the past that I can ride a good overall classification in smaller stage races, but that’s not yet comparable to competing at the highest level."

"In general, the longer a race lasts, the better I get. I always recover well and can strike when others begin to tire", says the German, who mentions another personal strength. "I really enjoy the life of a professional athlete. Eating healthily, training a lot and recovering properly, none of that feels like a burden to me. I think that’s definitely a strength."

As a qualified sports scientist, Anton has an additional advantage: he can engage in meaningful discussions with the many performance specialists at Team Visma | Lease a Bike. "In recent years I was both coach and athlete. I designed my own programmes and had access to a lab where I tested my lactate levels, VO₂ max and aerodynamics. All of that is now handled by the team, which saves me a lot of work."

Still, he will never completely let go of his background. "I enjoy occasionally discussing certain decisions with the coaches. Sometimes I share new and interesting material and we talk about it. I don’t just want to blindly follow my training programme; I also like to understand why we do certain things."

What is your hobby outside of cycling? 
"Because of my background in sports science, I think it's important to stay up to date with everything that's going on, especially when it comes to endurance. My friends from college and I regularly plan meetings to discuss the latest news. I also try to help other athletes become better athletes as a coach. I really enjoy doing that too."

What is your favorite dish? 
"Anything from Italian cuisine. Whether it's pizza, pasta, or lasagna, I love it all. Pasta is also good for athletes with a lot of endurance because of the amount of carbohydrates it contains."

What kind of music do you like? 
"I like to listen to rap and hip hop. My favorite artist is Shindy, a German-speaking rapper."

Who is your sports idol? 
"Eliud Kipchoge, the best marathon runner of all time. I always enjoyed watching him run; he made it look so easy. He is also the first and only runner to have run a marathon in under two hours."

What is your favorite holiday destination? 
"At the end of the season, I went to the Algarve with my girlfriend. We really enjoyed it. It's nice and warm there, there are lots of beautiful beaches, and you can swim in the ocean. There aren't many places in Europe where you still have such nice weather in October."

How do you look back on your first few months with Team Visma | Lease a Bike? 
"I got a very good first impression. Everyone welcomed me and immediately made me feel at home. In the beginning, I had to remember a lot of names, but I'm getting better at that now. What also strikes me is that there are a lot of people involved in the team."