Who doesn’t love Jens Voigt? The eccentric
German pro cyclist was a fan favorite for years, beloved for his bold racing
style, tireless work ethic, and wonderfully quotable commentary. His quirky
personality, toughness, and penchant for long, impossible breakaways made him
something of a throwback, a refreshing exception in an age where race-radio
calculation all too often counts for strategy. In the final years of his
career, Jens had a cult following, especially in the United States, where the
story of him yelling at his own suffering body during races—shut up, legs!—has
become the stuff of legend.
Jens is retired now but milking the
cult-cow for all its worth, commanding a huge Twitter audience (#thejensie), hosting
a Gran Fondo in Marin, California, and doing commentary on Tour de France tv
coverage. (He’s the guy with what sounds like a totally fake German accent.) So,
no surprise that Jens is cashing in on his success with an autobiography (written
with the help of James Startt) called, of course, Shut Up Legs! My Wild Ride On and Off the Bike.
