From ski mountaineering
to professional cycling
After 12 years as a world class ski mountaineering and mountain running athlete, Toni Palzer followed his dreams: He put the skis aside to become a professional cyclist and joined the German UCI WorldTeam BORA - hansgrohe.
The chronology of a transformation
March 2021: Toni races his final ski mountaineering competition at the ISMF World Championship in Andorra - and seals the silver medal! An emotional and successful farewell from the world of ski mountaineering
April 2021: Only 4 weeks after taking a silver medal at the ski mountaineering worlds, Toni lines up at the Tour of the Alps - his first ever professional bike race.
September 2021: With only 6 months of experience as professional cyclist, Toni concludes his first ever Grand Tour, the Vuelta a España. A novelty in the world of cycling and an achievement he even convinced his critics. Definitely a baptism of fire!
By the end of the 2021 season, Toni has established himself in professional cycling. The transformation from ski mountaineering to cycling is complete.
„Mit Mut und Fleiß kann man im Leben alles erreichen!“ – Anton Palzer
Anton "Toni" Palzer
since April 2021 professional cyclist
until April 2021 professional ski mountaineering and mountain running athlete
Mountains
Aufgewachsen am Fuße des Watzmann sind die Berchtesgadener Alpen Tonis Heimat und Kraftquelle. Heute dienen die steilen Bergstraßen am Hochschwarzeck und Rossfeld als perfektes Trainingsumfeld und Ausgleich zum reiseintensiven Leben als Radprofi. Vor seiner Karriere auf zwei Rädern waren es die Grate und Spitzen des Watzmann- und Hochkalter-Massivs, auf denen Toni tagtäglich unterwegs war und die Grundlage für seine erfolgreiche Karriere als Bergläufer und Skibergsteiger legen konnte.
Legendär: Seine Watzmann-Überschreitung in der Rekordzeit von 02:47:08 h im Jahr 2020
