At the first UCI World Series in Nové Město na Moravě all Cube Next Generation XC riders were at the start. Kira Böhm made it to a great 5th place in new U23 Shortrack and started from the front row in the XCO race.
There is probably no better cross-country course in Europe than at the UCI World Series Opener in Nové Město na Moravě. The course has everything a modern course should include. Steep but short climbs that are also technical. Spectacular descents over stone fields and challenging root passages that demand all their skills from the riders.
Already on Thursday, the shorttrack for the U23 was on the agenda for the very first time. The short track is used to determine the starting positions for the upcoming race. The first 16 places will be considered for the starting grid after the outcome of the race. Among them, Kira Böhm. The Weilheim native was allowed to compete in the first U23 women's short track - and did so impressively. Right from the start she dictated the pace over the whole distance. Again and again the student, who lives in Freiburg, was seen in front with her fast opponents. Tactically very clever, Kira Böhm stayed in the background and was able to react to the upcoming attacks towards the end of the race. So it was the later winner Sofie Heby Pedersen from Denmark who forced the pace in the last lap. Kira Böhm was able to follow the pace and held on to the leading group. Turning into the home straight, there was only one goal left. In the mass sprint for victory, she did everything she could and finished the race in 5th place and thus on the extended podium. Front row secured for Saturday, awesome!
"I am so happy with the short track, but also had to go to the limit and hope that I still have grains for Saturday. Now I have to recover well," said Kira Böhm at the finish.
On Saturday our two U23 riders Fabian Eder and Lars Gräter started first. They started with two fast start loops. While Lars Gräter was able to work his way up from 68th to 40th place, Fabian Eder was a bit more cautious and finished in 80th place. When the regular lap started, the field sorted itself well and Lars Gräter had to pay tribute to the initial speed due to his asthma. But then he was in the top 50 and drove a constant, good race. Fabian Eder's engine didn't really want to start. The good feeling of the preparation was gone and he was not able to find his way into the race, to rise above himself and to fight. So it went for him only steadily forward. In the end it was only enough for a disappointing 69th place. Lars Gräter, on the other hand, was able to catch himself in the race and finished in 56th place.
"The start laps were so fast, it was crazy. I didn't know that from my junior time and I had to get used to it. In addition, I had asthma, which slowed me down a bit in the start loops and in the first regular lap. I'm not dissatisfied, but there's more I can do." So the young Gailenkirchener after his first U23 World Cup race.
After the U23 men's race, the U23 women's race was held directly afterwards. Among them was Kira Böhm. As the fifth-ranked rider, she was allowed to start directly from the front row at the first World Cup of the year. As with the professionals, this meant that the first eight female riders were allowed to start directly in the start and finish area. As fifth last Kira Böhm was then called, an awesome feeling. From the start you could see Kira Böhm in the front group. She was even seen on the live broadcast via YouTube and was able to hold her own in the top eight in the starting laps. "The start laps were already fast. Maybe I gave a little too much gas here. In the first full lap I had to take out, otherwise I would have burst." said Kira Böhm about the course of her race. After the Weilheim native fell back a bit in the top 15 in the first full laps, she fought her way back to the front towards the end of the race. In the end, she was still able to cross the finish line overjoyed in twelfth place and was with regard to that, very happy about the race. "Sure, I would have liked to finish in the top 10 but after the fifth place on Thursday it was really difficult for me today. I never had this double load before and that's why I am also satisfied with 12th place. Overall I am now ninth after the first World Cup, that's great!" said Kira Böhm after the race in the Czech Republic.
Sven Straehle was the last of the group to be sent out on the track in the main race in the elite class on Sunday. From starting position 108 there was only one motto. To get as far forward as possible. After the start, Sven Strähle had already made up a few places to 70th place, before he was cleared by a competitor in a fast left-hand bend. His front wheel was severely damaged and he also suffered a puncture. After a short check, he continued on the rim in the direction of the Tech Zone, which was far away at this point. The race was already over here and Sven Strähle was then taken out of the race three laps before the end. That's racing, the next race is coming.
Already at the beginning of June it continues with the next UCI World Series in Lenzerheide, Switzerland. Thanks to all for the great support!
