Johannes von Klebelsberg Announces Decision to Quit Racing

Mar 7, 2022
by Ed Spratt  
69 and jeans. Privateer Johannes von Klebelsberg rode to 16th place.

The Denim Destroyer, Johannes von Klebelsberg, has announced on social media that he will be stepping away from racing this year.

Johannes von Klebelsberg exploded onto the limelight in 2019 with his unique race outfit of blue jeans taking him to multiple top 20 finishes. For 2020 he signed with GT Factory Racing, but after two years he has will be leaving racing to focus on running his own business.

Over his racing career von Klebelsberg secured multiple Italian national titles and has been racing at World Cups since 2012. He was also a recipient of Wyn's Privateer of the Week award in 2019.


bigquotesGood bye racing, what a great time that was!

I love racing but now for me it‘s time to open a new chapter in my life! Thanks to everyone who supported me achieving my goals! Special thanks to GT Factory Racing who made my dream come true racing for a pro team! Such a great time!

Everyone is invited to visit us at Starkenfeldhutte opening 1‘st of June!

Ride on guys!—Johannes von Klebelsberg

We wish Johannes von Klebelsberg all the best and we will miss seeing him taking on the World Cups.

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49 Comments
  • 124 0
 Kick some butt and have fun in your next adventure! great work in the racing world, you can be proud of what you've done.
  • 34 0
 Feeling a bit blue now…..
  • 15 0
 @KK11: maybe a bit distressed?
  • 7 0
 @moynie: world cup hopes must've faded Frown
  • 2 0
 Hopefully his new adventures are a little more relaxed.
  • 2 0
 Think that joke washed over him @moynie:
  • 104 1
 Selling my Levis stock asap
  • 15 1
 von Klebelsbearish
  • 23 27
flag calmWAKI (Mar 7, 2022 at 7:20) (Below Threshold)
 Wait a year and sell them to Russia - their Levis, Adidas and Coca-Cola, will be sky rocketing very soon!
  • 40 3
 @calmWAKI: Nice and all, but the bravest people in Russia, the ones who speak up, will be bankrupt and in jail.
  • 2 0
 @calmWAKI: Good luck with Russian Rubles
  • 14 5
 @calmWAKI: ... bit too soon dude
  • 44 0
 He left his own personal mark on racing and the community. We were all rooting for him in his denims. Good look in the future
  • 1 0
 his story was a highlight for the past two seasons. I hope he got to enjoy it!
  • 21 0
 Good luck with your new chapter!
  • 22 3
 He's opening a new MTB denim line of clothing and denim accessories.
  • 58 0
 Mountainbikespecific jeans:
. longer
. lower
. slacker
. 50hrs maintenance interval (which some will ignore and others will buy mountainbikespecific-jeans-specific tools for)
. new standards
. bottle mount and SWAT storage
. jeans will be frame-mounted too as people like to shift stuff from their body to their bike (so indeed, if you want to be ahead of time, ride naked but wrap your clothes around your bike)
  • 14 0
 race tuned SAG
  • 4 0
 @Spindelatron: Your comment is underrated.
  • 1 0
 He has some catching up to do: www.pinkbike.com/news/denim-riding-dungarees-are-a-thing-now-apparently.html
  • 3 2
 No Smile

He´s in the knödel business (having a knödel restaurant and being from a hotel and restaurant owning family) and now opens a huge mountain hut

www.google.com/search?&q=von+klebelsberg+kn%C3%B6del

www.instagram.com/starkenfeldhuette
  • 1 0
 @JohSch: Awesome! Thanks.
  • 15 0
 Was wondering where he went. Thanks for the memories. Legendary runs and mixing it up with the top dudes.
  • 1 0
 He´s in the knödel business (having a knödel restaurant and being from a hotel and restaurant owning family) and now opens a huge mountain hut

www.google.com/search?&q=von+klebelsberg+kn%C3%B6del

www.instagram.com/starkenfeldhuette
  • 16 0
 The people's champ.
  • 5 0
 Bummer! Th hype was real when his guy dropped out of te gates. Best of luck to him! It’s a hardcore decision, since he’s pretty established as the denim destroyer, and starting your own business is a mega gamble that may lead you nowhere for no reason, and it might be too late to come back to elite racing after. Though dude!
  • 2 0
 I believe that he already had his own business. He runs a restaurant with his brother, I believe. I'm not sure if this is a new venture, but he was running one while he was a privateer a few seasons back (he might have stepped away while on a factory team). Anyway, I don't this is a stepping into entirely unknown waters type of risk for him.
  • 1 0
 Been missing him and will continue to. I’m sure he’s still the man representing in his local scene. Good luck, dude!
  • 4 0
 You can see how seriously he took his restaurant business.. in the picture above he looks to have his cellphone in his pocket incase anyone makes a booking mid race. Ride on indeed Denim destroyer
  • 2 0
 Fare thee well, Denim Destroyer. Definitely bringing my family to Starkenfeldhutte as soon as possible. The way you embraced the nickname was as sick as its origin itself. Love you!

World Cup Racers: who among you will pick up the denim baton? Who has the stones to drape (wrap?) themselves in this wondrous warp and weft, the fantastic cotton armor of Nîmes?
  • 3 0
 Very sad, had hoped for more after the switch to GT. Unfortunately, been badly injured. Has he even raced a race for GT?

Nevertheless already a legend Wink
  • 2 0
 Props to this guy. You know you'll find him ripping up the Canazei trails and Val di Fassa bike park on his days away from managing the restaurant. Living his best life.
  • 2 0
 Gone too soon. He brought something great to the mix. Sad to see him depart but happy to see him make a decision he is happy with.
  • 2 0
 Will have to visit starkenfeldhutte the next time I'm in South Tyrol and say hello!
  • 4 1
 Maybe he ripped his pants?
  • 1 0
 Huh?
". For 2020 he signed with GT Factory Racing, but after two years he has will be leaving racing to focus on running his own business." Proof read much?
  • 1 0
 I'm torn if saying he's "quitting" instead of "retiring" is a biased headline...thoughts?
  • 3 0
 I generally think of "retiring" as something you do when you no longer have to work at all.
  • 3 0
 The 69 plate
  • 1 0
 F**kin sick
  • 1 0
 The stars align
  • 3 3
 No Worldcup races in the last 2 years, no Worldcup on GT...yes it was a great time racing for a factory team
  • 1 0
 Wow, Had no idea He'd been on the WC since 2012!
  • 1 0
 Godspeed Denim Destroyer!
  • 1 0
 Legend
  • 1 0
 NOOOOOOOOOOO
  • 1 4
 Sad, but could we please get an update in the Fantasyleague: Denim Destroyer out (sigh), Goncalo Bandeira in.
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