After emerging as one of the breakout riders of the 2024 season, Georg Steinhauser was expected to confirm his progress in 2025. The EF Education-EasyPost rider had a spectacular 2024 Giro d’Italia, claiming his first professional win and finishing in third place in two occassions.However, the following season took a very different turn. Despite a solid start with good performances at Paris-Nice, he quickly faded away in the next races, enduring a largely anonymous campaign. It was only later, in August, that the underlying cause of his disappointing performances became clear: Steinhauser had contracted Lyme disease, a condition that has also affected riders such as Arnaud De Lie in recent years.The diagnosis came after months of physical and mental struggle. Speaking to the German Press Agency in quotes gathered by Kicker, Steinhauser described a particularly dark period during the summer. “I remember locking myself in my apartment for three days,” he said. “I didn’t speak to anyone and didn’t even open a window. At that point, I realised that I couldn’t go on like that. I was really unwell mentally, completely down, and I think I was very close to depression.”
Steinhauser won solo the 17th stage of the Giro d’Italia 2024
“Two hours of training felt like four”
At the time, the rider could not understand why his body no longer responded as it did the past year. “I had lost all interest in cycling because I kept having problems,” he said. “Two hours of training felt like four. I had no strength when I was pedalling, as if I had no energy at all.”
“Once, I completely cut short the training ride I was supposed to do and went home by train. It was a really tough situation, and I also started losing weight. When it was at its worst, I weighed 67 kilos (compared to the 70-71 he usually weighs). I felt like there was nothing I could do about it.”
Despite extensive medical checks carried out by the team’s medical staff and external specialists, no explanation was found at the beginning. “No one understood what was happening,” Steinhauser recalled. “I did every possible test, I had everything checked: blood test, stool sample. But nothing showed up. Then my family doctor tested me for Lyme disease, and the result was positive. At least knowing the reason for my problems helped me.”
After spending recent weeks training in Spain, Steinhauser says his condition is improving. “Right now, I feel good, especially mentally,” he explained. “If everything goes well, I could take part in my first Tour de France next summer.”