Julian Kern achieved the biggest win in his career in July, when he took the European road Championships in the U23 category. Determined to become a professional, time is running out for the youngster. So far he has not yet secured a team for the 2012 season and the Team Seven Stones rider is less than thrilled to race the Continental circuit another year.
Kern is frustrated with how things went so far. "Up until now the talks have not been going well," he said to Radsport News. "The interest in German riders is rather low at the moment and due to the closure of the HTC-Highroad team, which had some German top guys, the market is saturated."
Kern has a clear vision - becoming professional or concentrating on university. "It was always clear to me that after the U23 period it would either really take off or probably be over," he said. "This is how I lived the sport, I gave it top priority and made a lot of sacrifices." Now he is at the cross roads. "Another year in the Continental level would be more like a decline and would also be a defeat for myself," he said.
Only one German neo-pro rider has received a contract so far (Rüdiger Selig with Katusha). Kern would be happy with a second-string Pro team. "That would also be a dream. Often, the difference between a ProTour team and a Pro Continental is minor, like we can see at Skil-Shimano."
Even if his career ends here, he is drawing a positive balance and the European title has given him much in his last half year of racing. "I noticed a very different level of respect in the peloton as well as with the race organizers or other cycling staff," Kern said. "That an organizer advertised his race in the press by saying that I was coming made me proud."
Kern is studying English and history at the university in Cologne, with the goal to become a teacher. This summer, he wants to switch out history for sports, his real passion. "This year I couldn't do the required sports test due to my racing the Thüringen-Rundfahrt," Kern said.