Young rider Kira Böhm from Weilheim wins the HC U23 race at the Shimano Super Cup in Banyoles, Spain, and celebrates a happy start to the season with her victory.
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After a two-week training camp in the region around Girona, the newly founded Cube Factory Racing XC Team kicked off the season at the Shimano Super Cup HC race in Banyoles. Traditionally, the world's cross-country elite meet there for an initial endurance test and a first assessment of where they stand before the races really get underway in March and April.
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The newly founded Cube Factory Racing XC Team was also there. The U23 men were already at the start on Saturday. With Finn Treudler from Switzerland, the team had a hot contender for the top places. With a strong field of starters, there was a thrilling duel at the front right from the start. A total of 10 riders were able to pull away in the first few laps. Finn Treudler was in the chasing group shortly behind and was able to catch up with the leading group as the race progressed. An exciting race developed and 2.5 laps before the end, the young Swiss rider, who was in his third year in the U23, took the initiative to attack. Finn Treudler quickly opened up a gap and was able to escape from the chasers with a lead of around 20 seconds. Unfortunately, the attack was launched a little too early, as a result of which Finn Treudler lost ground again and was caught by the chasers at the beginning of the last lap. In the end, it was a good 12th place for the Swiss rider, even if more could have been achieved.
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On the following day, the women and the elite men got to race. First up was young Kira Böhm from Weilheim, who had not set her sights high for her first race in 2024. Her aim was to find out how her winter training had gone and to breathe competition air again after the stress of exams in recent weeks. Starting just behind the women's elite, Kira Böhm got off to a good start and immediately lined up among the best riders. She was joined at the start by several World Cup riders from all over the world, so it was important to be at the front right from the start. Surprisingly, she was able to follow the pace of the first riders very well and formed the leading group with four other rivals. After 3 laps, Kira Böhm was even able to open up a small gap on the other chasers together with Sara Cortinovis (Santa Cruz Rockshox Pro Team). This was then neutralized again half a lap later because there were problems overtaking elite riders who had started the race ahead of the U23. Kira Böhm was not impressed by this and waited for the next attack until about halfway through the last lap. On the longest climb of the race, the young Cube rider pressed on the gas pedal and immediately managed to open up a gap, which she was able to hold until the finish and thus take her first victory in a HC race. It was also the first victory in a cross-country race for the new Cube Factory Racing XC Team. "Today I just wanted to have fun, I knew I was in good shape, the winter training went smoothly without any major problems or illnesses. The stress of exams at university has sapped my energy over the last few weeks, but that's over now and I was able to ride freely today. Of course it's great that things are going so well straight away and I'm very happy about the win. The season is still long, so I will continue to work hard." Kira Böhm said at the finish.
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Knut Rohme and Sven Strähle, the team's two elite riders, were on the starting line in the subsequent men's elite race. While Norwegian champion Knut Rohme finished the race after just two laps due to the after-effects of a recent coronavirus infection, Sven Strähle rode a strong race. The rider from Böbingen, who was also part of the Cube Next Generation XC Team last year, established himself among the world's best XC riders and consolidated a top 30 placing. And that in a race with HC prize money, the second-highest race class in which a cross-country rider can enter the race, is impressive!
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In the end, Sven Strähle proved his ability to suffer and was classified in 27th place. A great start to the year 2024.
