After a short summer break after the German Championships at the end of July, the Cube Next Generation XC team went on to the fifth World Cup in Andorra in mid-August. The athletes used the long journey to set off in advance and complete a high-altitude training camp in Andorra. Because the venue in Vallnord, Andorra is at an altitude of almost 2,000 meters, the air to breathe becomes thinner, especially during high-performance sports. So the boys went to the Pyrenees ten days in advance to acclimatize.
Unfortunately, previous top performer Kira Böhm was unable to come to Andorra after catching a cold at the World Cup in Scotland. Together with the team management, participation was canceled because this event would have been a little too soon after the illness and would have put the rest of the season at risk.
Without Kira Böhm, the process was a little more relaxed as the team had no one to supervise in the short track this weekend, which takes place on the Thursday before the actual race. The preparation for the three boys was all the better.
Unlike usual, the U23 men's race started at 9 a.m. The organizers have swapped the women's and men's U23 start times. Fabian Eder and Lars Gräter were on top right from the start and made up a lot of places from their starting positions of 70th place. After the first lap, Lars Gräter from Schwäbisch Hall found himself in position 46, Fabian Eder a little further behind at 56. The starting position for a good result was there and both were willing to do this in Andorra at an altitude of 2,000 meters. After three laps, Fabian Eder had overtaken his teammate, but they were not further apart, so the Gailenkirchen native was always able to maintain visual contact with his colleague. At the beginning of the penultimate lap, the young Haller lost air from the rear tire. He was able to complete the lap up to the tech zone, but then had to change his rear wheel just under 1 lap before the end.
This cost Lars Gräter a lot of places and a top 50 result. Fabian Eder, on the other hand, continued to make up places and ultimately secured a great 40th place. This was the reward for the hard work over the last few months, when things didn't always go so smoothly for Töginger.
Sven Strähle was allowed to start in the men's elite race in light rain showers. The Böbinger also finally expected a top 60 result in his fifth Elite World Cup this year. He held his own well from the start and was already in the top 60 at the end of the first lap. From this point on it was a matter of maintaining this position or making up further places. Sven Strähle finished a consistent race in an impressive 49th place. The best World Cup result of his career.
Now the sixth race will take place in Les Gets, France, on the weekend of September 9th - 10th before the team competes in the two overseas races in the USA and Canada at the end of September - beginning of October.
