# Robert Förstemann

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.

## Major results

| Date | Placing | Event | Competition | Location | Country |
| 2004 | 3 | Team sprint | National championships | Leipzig | Germany |
| 25 July 2005 | 3 | Team sprint | European Track Championships | Fiorenzuola | Italy |
| August 2005 | 3 | Team sprint | National championships | Hamburg | Germany |
| 11 December 2005 | 3 | Team sprint | World Cup | Manchester | United Kingdom |
| 19 August 2006 | 3 | Team sprint | National championships | Cottbus | Germany |
| 25 February 2007 | 2 | Team sprint | World Cup | Manchester | United Kingdom |
| 29 March 2007 | | Team sprint | World Championships | Palma de Mallorca | Spain |
| 23 August 2007 | 2 | Team sprint | National championships | Berlin | Germany |
| 26 August 2007 | 3 | Sprint | National championships | Berlin | Germany |
| 30 November 2007 | 2 | Team sprint | World Cup | Sydney | Australia |
| 28 August 2008 | 2 | Team sprint | 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 | World Cup | Cali | Colombia |
| 25 March 2009 | | Team sprint | World Championships | Pruszków | Poland |
| 8 July 2009 | 1 | Team sprint | National championships | Erfurt | Germany |
| 1 November 2009 | 3 | Team sprint | World Cup | Manchester | United Kingdom |
| 11 December 2009 | 2 | Sprint | World Cup | Cali | Colombia |
| 12 December 2009 | 2 | Team sprint | World Cup | Cali | Colombia |
| 24 March 2010 | | Team sprint | World Championships | Ballerup | Denmark |
| 19 February 2012 | 3 | Sprint | World Cup | London | United Kingdom |
| 2 August 2012 | | Team sprint | Summer Olympics | London | United Kingdom |
| 18 October 2013 | | Team sprint | 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 |

### Olympics 2012

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. He was also included in the German team for the mountain bike event.

## Physique

In July 2012, a photograph of Förstemann's legs was widely circulated by the world's media during the 2012 Summer Olympics. 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). 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.