German cyclist Steinhauser improving after Lyme disease hits him hard

German cyclist Georg Steinhauser said on Monday that he is feeling better after finally receiving a diagnosis of Lyme disease following a dramatic loss of performance.

The 24-year-old won a stage of the Giro d'Italia in 2024 and was tipped for big things. But his 2025 has been dominated by an illness that affects body and mind.

"Two hours of training felt like four," he told dpa. "I simply lacked power in training, I had no energy. Once I aborted a training session and took the train home."

His weight dropped and worse was to follow.

"For three days I was at home in my flat, I spoke to nobody. That’s when I realized it couldn’t go on like this," he said. "I had mental problems, I was really down, actually heading towards depression. That was my conclusion."

After lots of tests he was eventually told he had Lyme disease brought on by a tick bite. The illness has affected several sports people, including former Eintracht Frankfurt footballer Alexander Meier.

Since the diagnosis, the former nephew of cycling icon Jan Ullrich knows how to manage the disease. In November he completed a training camp in Spain and is aiming to race in the Tour de France for the first time next year.

"At the moment I feel good, mentally too," he said.