From diagnosis to reboot: Justus Nieschlag optimistic about 2026
Triathlete Justus Nieschlag is currently at a crucial stage in his sporting career. Following a successful operation, he has been working consistently on his comeback since late 2025 – with a clear plan, lots of patience, and his sights firmly fixed on the future. The first major building block in this is a four-week training camp in Namibia, where he has been working hard on his form for the 2026 season since mid-January.
The road back – and the decision that changed everything
At the end of 2025, Nieschlag faced a difficult but necessary decision. His lingering problems on the bike could no longer be solved without surgical intervention. Justus was very open about this period:
‘The decision to tackle the problem surgically meant taking a risk in order to continue pursuing my dream of competitive sport. I definitely doubted my decision in the days after the operation. Now, the ordeal is all behind me and I am focusing on my sporting comeback.’
What he understands now more than ever is that this decision was a reset. Not a setback, just a vital step in moving forwards.
He was able to get back into light cycling and swimming training in early December 2025, with his first runs following shortly after. His progress is stable – a promising sign for the coming months.
The decision to tackle the problem surgically meant taking a risk in order to continue pursuing my dream of competitive sport.
Justus Nieschlag
The long hunt for a cause
Nieschlag spent months trying to find the cause of his cycling issues. His performance took a hit as soon as he moved into aero position – something that did not feel like tiredness or overtraining, but rather an invisible block.
He did not gain any clarity until after a comparative sports medicine test: his pelvic artery was being constricted when cycling in a low position, a phenomenon known as kinking. This meant that when under stress, his legs were no longer getting enough blood; as a result, the oxygen supply to his muscles plummeted, even though his heart and muscles were still up to the task.
The operation was complex. It involved both legs and the surgeons found a total of four constrictions. The artery was opened up and widened with a patch to improve blood flow for the long term. This was followed by a complete break from training work – two months without sport, one without strength training.
Now, Nieschlag feels that this operation was a turning point. His blood flow is working again, his legs are responding, and the training principles are taking effect.
Nieschlag explained more about the back story, diagnosis, and his thoughts on the operation in an interview with tri-mag.de (behind a paywall).
Namibia training camp – a vital step
Namibia was a deliberate choice for his current training: altitude, warmth, and ideal training conditions are all allowing him to work on his fundamentals in a structured way without any distractions.
‘I am currently very happy with my progress here in Namibia and optimistic that I will be able to begin my season as planned in May. The conditions here are ideal, and even the rainy season has been kind to us – we have not had to reschedule a single training session so far’, Nieschlag said.
To Justus, Namibia is somewhere to regain confidence in his body and re-establish processes that were a matter of course before the operation.
Another two-week training block in the Algarve will follow in March.
2026 season planning
After the Algarve camp, Nieschlag will be seeking to start the season full speed ahead. Plans have been made:
- Focus on numerous middle-distance races to begin with
- Option of individual T100 races via a potential wild card
- Overarching goal: his long-distance debut, probably at Ironman Frankfurt
He is approaching this with the respect it deserves – and the knowledge that he is rebuilding the underlying foundations.
Next steps
The next few weeks will be crucial: training scope, endurance, stability. In early March he will also have another sports medicine test in Saarbrücken to compare the results from before and after the operation. For Nieschlag, this will be a vital marker in gaining an objective view of his progress.
Nieschlag is treading this path with patience, clarity, and trust in his own body. He is looking to the future – and a season that represents a new chapter.
We wish Justus solid development for the coming weeks and a happy return to competitive sport.