German Cross-Country Mountain Bike Championships Albstadt

There's a lot going on at the Cube Next Generation XC tent in Albstadt

Not as usual, the mountain bike scene from Germany did not go to the home world cup in Albstadt. As of this season, the event in Bullental is no longer part of the UCI calendar. The joy of all those involved was all the greater at the beginning of the season when they were awarded the contract to host this year's German Cross-Country Championship. The experienced organizers were able to secure at least one major national event.

With minor changes to the World Cup course, the riders of the different age groups were sent onto the course. After the youth competitions took place on Saturday, the bigger ones were allowed to play on Sundays. The entire Cube Next Generation XC team from Schwäbisch Hall was also there. Surely the U23 driver Kira Böhm had the best chance of a top placement after an outstanding first half of the season. But all the other drivers also figured out places among the top 5-8, which predicted hot battles for positions.

The U23 riders started first. Lars Gräter and Fabian Eder are among the best drivers in their age group. After a brilliant start, both finished in the top 10. While the young Bavarian Fabian Eder caught up to the top, Lars Gräter from Hall complained of breathing problems. Especially annoying in the first laps. Fabian Eder drove a clever race, couldn't quite catch the lead, but was behind him in the top 5 and then snagged Paul Schehl in the last lap, which gave him 4th place in the German Championship U23. After a difficult first half, it was certainly a great relief for Töginger.

“Today I was finally able to turn the gas again. I lacked the push in the first half of the season, I was able to identify the problem after a medical examination and am happy that I have the problems under control again. With this result I can look forward to the second block of the season with confidence.” Says Fabian Eder at the finish. Lars Graeter followed his own expectations and was "only" able to cross the finish line in 12th place. "After the breathing problems at the beginning things got better, but the front places were gone." So the young man from Gailenkirchen.

Kira Böhm was next to Sina van Thiel (Lexware Mountainbike Team) the biggest favorite for the title. Both also led the race together in the first half and it looked like this was going to be an exciting duel for the title. Halfway through the race, the young woman from Weilheim from the Cube Next Generation XC Team suddenly came around the corner within half a lap, almost a minute behind her toughest competitor. The race to catch up didn't materialize and you could only see a lack of strength in the eyes of the young student living in Freiburg. In the end she finished fourth and complained about a loss of power halfway through the race. "All of a sudden nothing worked. I felt super strong, the pace was good. I don't know, I can't explain such a failure, it might happen to me once in my life..." says the visibly disappointing Kira Böhm at the finish.

Sven Straehle entered the elite men's race as a possible candidate for the podium. Also halfway through the race, lying in 6th place with the fifth-placed driver, Böbinger also ran out of juice. He still fought his way to the finish in 10th place, but was not overjoyed with the performance either. "I can do more. Of course it's a race, I have to check it off and be satisfied despite everything. I fought, that was all I could do today.”