Robert Förstemann (born 5 March 1986) is a German track cyclist specialising in the sprint disciplines and world champion in team sprint in 2010. In his later career he has transitioned to Paralympic track cycling, representing Germany as a sighted 'pilot' in tandem events at the 2020 Summer Paralympics. In 2023, Förstemann piloted Thomas Ulbricht to a silver medal in the tandem B sprint and a bronze medal in the tandem B kilo at the 2023 UCI Para-cycling Track World Championships in Glasgow.

Robert Förstemann
Personal information
Born (1986-03-05) 5 March 1986 (age 38)
Greiz, East Germany
Height1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight96 kg (212 lb; 15.1 st)
Team information
DisciplineTrack
RoleRider
Rider typeSprinter

Major results

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Date Placing Event Competition Location Country
2004 3 Team sprint[N 1] National championships Leipzig   Germany
25 July 2005 3 Team sprint[N 2] European Track Championships Fiorenzuola   Italy
August 2005 3 Team sprint[N 3] National championships Hamburg   Germany
11 December 2005 3 Team sprint[N 4] World Cup Manchester   United Kingdom
19 August 2006 3 Team sprint[N 5] National championships Cottbus   Germany
25 February 2007 2 Team sprint[N 6] World Cup Manchester   United Kingdom
29 March 2007   Team sprint[N 7] World Championships Palma de Mallorca   Spain
23 August 2007 2 Team sprint[N 8] National championships Berlin   Germany
26 August 2007 3 Sprint National championships Berlin   Germany
30 November 2007 2 Team sprint[N 9] World Cup Sydney   Australia
28 August 2008 2 Team sprint[N 10] National championships Büttgen   Germany
29 August 2008 1 1 km time trial National championships Büttgen   Germany
30 August 2008 1 Sprint National championships Büttgen   Germany
11 December 2008 1 Team sprint[N 11] World Cup Cali   Colombia
25 March 2009   Team sprint[N 12] World Championships Pruszków   Poland
8 July 2009 1 Team sprint[N 13] National championships Erfurt   Germany
1 November 2009 3 Team sprint[N 14] World Cup Manchester   United Kingdom
11 December 2009 2 Sprint World Cup Cali   Colombia
12 December 2009 2 Team sprint[N 15] World Cup Cali   Colombia
24 March 2010   Team sprint[N 16] World Championships Ballerup   Denmark
19 February 2012 3 Sprint World Cup London   United Kingdom
2 August 2012   Team sprint[N 17] Summer Olympics London   United Kingdom
18 October 2013   Team sprint[N 18] European Track Championships Apeldoorn   Netherlands
19 October 2013   Sprint European Track Championships Apeldoorn   Netherlands
4 August 2023   Kilo B1 World Para-cyling Track Championships Glasgow   United Kingdom
  1. ^ The other riders on the squad were Sebastian Döhrer and Dominik Harzheim
  2. ^ The other riders on the squad were Daniel Giese and Marco Jager
  3. ^ The other riders on the squad were Sascha Jäger and Alexander Lesser
  4. ^ The other riders on the squad were Maximilian Levy and Benjamin Wittmann
  5. ^ The other riders on the squad were Sebastian Döhrer and René Enders
  6. ^ The other riders on the squad were Matthias John and Michael Seidenbecher
  7. ^ The other riders on the squad were Maximilian Levy and Stefan Nimke
  8. ^ The other riders on the squad were Carsten Bergemann and Benjamin Wittmann
  9. ^ The other riders on the squad were Matthias John and Stefan Nimke
  10. ^ The other riders on the squad were Stefan Nimke and Benjamin Wittmann
  11. ^ The other riders on the squad were Carsten Bergemann and Stefan Nimke
  12. ^ The other riders on the squad were René Enders and Stefan Nimke
  13. ^ The other riders on the squad were Carsten Bergemann and Sascha Hübner
  14. ^ The other riders on the squad were Stefan Nimke and Tobias Wachter
  15. ^ The other riders on the squad were Maximilian Levy and Mathias Stumpf
  16. ^ The other riders on the squad were Maximilian Levy and Stefan Nimke
  17. ^ The other riders on the squad were Maximilian Levy and René Enders
  18. ^ The other riders on the squad were Maximilian Levy and René Enders
 
Förstemann in 2009

Olympics 2012

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The German Olympic team used a loophole in the International Cycling Union (UCI) regulations to include Förstemann as an additional member of their 2012 sprint cycling team.[1] He was also included in the German team for the mountain bike event.

Physique

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In July 2012, a photograph of Förstemann's legs was widely circulated by the world's media during the 2012 Summer Olympics.[2] Described as a 'quad off' with Olympic team-mate André Greipel, the photo showed his quad muscles compared with those of the road cyclist. His thighs were measured with a circumference of 73 centimetres (29 in).[3] A circumference of 86 centimetres (34 in) has also been recorded, and the size of his quad muscles has led to him being called "Quadzilla" by some in his sport.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Gallagher, Brendan (2 August 2012). "Sir Chris Hoy sets the wheels turning in the hunt for Olympic gold". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
  2. ^ Roberts, Christine (30 July 2012). "The thigh's the limit! Olympic athletes Robert Forstemann and Andre Griepel compete in 'quad-off'". Daily News (New York). Retrieved 2 August 2012.
  3. ^ "Wer toppt diese Olympia-Schenkel?". B.Z. (in German). 1 August 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  4. ^ "They call him Quadzilla. Picture captures scale of cyclist Robert Forstemann's massive thighs". The Independent. 5 November 2013.
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