And even at the age of 39, he is still one of Germany's best track specialists, as his recent successes prove. He is also pursuing big goals in 2025 - and not just on his racing bike.
At the European Track Championships, which were held in Heusden-Zolder (Belgium) in mid-February, Kluge and his new partner Tim Torn Teutenberg (Lidl-Trek) - Kluge's regular partner and REMBE® rad-net team-mate Theo Reinhardt had ended his career at the end of January - took silver in the two-man team race. Once again he was on the podium at a European Championships, albeit not at the top as in the previous three years. In October, however, the newly formed duo had already been crowned world champions in this discipline - and thus became the focus and favourites. ‘If we had only been fifth or sixth at the World Championships, things might have been different. But everyone saw that we are still among the front runners despite the new pairing. What's more, Tim had already won both of his European Championship titles almost effortlessly. I've had the target on my back since 2008, I'm already used to it.’ In 2008, he won Olympic silver in the points race, which was the breakthrough to his long and successful career.
Despite everything, Kluge was very satisfied with the outcome of the European Championships: ‘After the preparation didn't go perfectly due to illness, I'm quite happy with the European Championships result. I was also hoping for a medal in the points race, but things didn't go quite so well for me there - in contrast to the Madison. The Dutch were simply stronger in the end. They deserved to win, but we still put in a good race with few mistakes,’ said Kluge looking back. ‘The fourth European title in a row would of course have been fantastic, but it was out of reach this time.’
After the European Championships, the Eisenhüttenstadt native enjoyed a well-deserved off-season. He still has a week's break to enjoy the peace and quiet at home. ‘We weren't on holiday, we were at home and did some work on the house and garden,’ explains Kluge. But Kluge also used the time to progress professionally. Having already completed his basic training with the fire brigade, he now had his LWK driving licence for the fire brigade on the agenda. ‘I currently have theory in the mornings and then continue learning at home,’ says Kluge, describing the training programme, in which the driving lessons are the next step. But that's not all: ‘I'm also doing the paramedic course this year. That will take up a bit more of my time in the first few weeks. So, as with my basic fire service training in 2023 and early 2024, I'll have to coordinate my cycling and training well again.’
Because Roger Kluge's main goal this year is once again the Track World Championships, which will take place in Chile in October. He has his sights firmly set on a fourth world championship title in the two-man team event and is still dreaming of an individual medal.
Despite the double burden, Kluge wants to start the racing season in April, initially with smaller national races such as the Sachsenringrennen at Easter or Spurt in den Mai in Büttgen. One or two races in the German Cycling League are also on his calendar, such as the Erzgebirgsrundfahrt in mid-May. ‘After the theoretical training, I'll be more freely available again,’ says Kluge, who would also like to start in the Rund um Köln (UCI 1.1). ‘We will discuss the exact race planning.’
Road races continue to play a major role for Kluge alongside the track. Accordingly, he would also be delighted to move up into the second division of cycling with Team REMBE® rad-net. ‘I've already lived the dream of being a road pro, but the desire to really say goodbye to the road again is still open, because when I left Lotto, I hadn't finished my road career yet. If I had the chance to ride a class higher with bigger races again, I would definitely want to do it again.’
Kluge, who will be 40 years old next year, has no fixed plan for how long he wants to stay in the saddle: ‘Maybe at some point my body will say that I'm not doing so well any more, or I'll lose my motivation. Then it could also be that I decide very quickly to stop. I'll then hang on for the following winter and then call it a day. I now look from year to year.’
Despite everything, Kluge was very satisfied with the outcome of the European Championships: ‘After the preparation didn't go perfectly due to illness, I'm quite happy with the European Championships result. I was also hoping for a medal in the points race, but things didn't go quite so well for me there - in contrast to the Madison. The Dutch were simply stronger in the end. They deserved to win, but we still put in a good race with few mistakes,’ said Kluge looking back. ‘The fourth European title in a row would of course have been fantastic, but it was out of reach this time.’
After the European Championships, the Eisenhüttenstadt native enjoyed a well-deserved off-season. He still has a week's break to enjoy the peace and quiet at home. ‘We weren't on holiday, we were at home and did some work on the house and garden,’ explains Kluge. But Kluge also used the time to progress professionally. Having already completed his basic training with the fire brigade, he now had his LWK driving licence for the fire brigade on the agenda. ‘I currently have theory in the mornings and then continue learning at home,’ says Kluge, describing the training programme, in which the driving lessons are the next step. But that's not all: ‘I'm also doing the paramedic course this year. That will take up a bit more of my time in the first few weeks. So, as with my basic fire service training in 2023 and early 2024, I'll have to coordinate my cycling and training well again.’
Because Roger Kluge's main goal this year is once again the Track World Championships, which will take place in Chile in October. He has his sights firmly set on a fourth world championship title in the two-man team event and is still dreaming of an individual medal.
Despite the double burden, Kluge wants to start the racing season in April, initially with smaller national races such as the Sachsenringrennen at Easter or Spurt in den Mai in Büttgen. One or two races in the German Cycling League are also on his calendar, such as the Erzgebirgsrundfahrt in mid-May. ‘After the theoretical training, I'll be more freely available again,’ says Kluge, who would also like to start in the Rund um Köln (UCI 1.1). ‘We will discuss the exact race planning.’
Road races continue to play a major role for Kluge alongside the track. Accordingly, he would also be delighted to move up into the second division of cycling with Team REMBE® rad-net. ‘I've already lived the dream of being a road pro, but the desire to really say goodbye to the road again is still open, because when I left Lotto, I hadn't finished my road career yet. If I had the chance to ride a class higher with bigger races again, I would definitely want to do it again.’
Kluge, who will be 40 years old next year, has no fixed plan for how long he wants to stay in the saddle: ‘Maybe at some point my body will say that I'm not doing so well any more, or I'll lose my motivation. Then it could also be that I decide very quickly to stop. I'll then hang on for the following winter and then call it a day. I now look from year to year.’
Source: Image REMBE® rad-net
