Let's talk about the 2009 IM European Championships first. You took the gold medal. How was the race, how much do you value this title?

It was my best race ever: Hot and fast wetsuit swim, challenging bike ride, and a tacical and in the end very fast marathon to finish under 8 hours.
After my victory 2007 in Frankfurt, this was my best race ever against the best triathletes in the world. Eneko, Macca, Andreas Raelert, my teammate Mathias Hecht and I raced without compromises this day. It was a 100% race every single meter of the 226 kilometers. The running course was one of the toughest in my life. Macca and me, we did three quarters of the race side by side. When he passed me at km 30 on the running course I decided to go on steady. But fast. And so I was able to catch him again and he said: “Win it.”

You were 6th in Hawaii Ironman. Do you think you can take the gold once in the future and how was the race compared to 2008?

My performance in Hawaii 2009 was similar to the performance of 2008. I had steady good races in both years but not a perfect one like in Frankfurt. I’m sure that one day this race will come and than I will be ready at least for the podium in Kona.

You did 7 59' 15" in Frankfurt. Is that course so quick or are you?

Well, a few years ago I thought it is impossible to finish in Frankfurt in less than 8 hours. Now the times changed, and the race is very competitive. The transition times in Frankfurt are very slow, there are long ways to run especially after the swim, and the bike course is not a sub 4:23h ride. So I ran like hell to finish under 8 hours.

What is your schedule for 2010?

I would like to reach – at least - the podium in Hawaii and of course I'm thinking about defending my title in Frankfurt. But Frankfurt is not decided, yet. Then there are different races in Barcelona (Half Challenge), Lisboa, Heilbronn, Rhein Neckar Tria Cup and a few training races.

This question is your choice, here you can talk about family, club,sponsors, charity or whatever you like.

My main sponsor Commerzbank has built up a triathlon team which is unique in the world, including seven international top athletes with great successes and an anti-doping programme. My wife Bettina and my two kids André (8) and Isabell (3) are the engine of my passion and dreams in the sport of triathon.