Everyman racing team from Norderstedter Merkur Druck GmbH also wants to be at the forefront on the fast city course in Bochum
Norderstedt, July 31st, 2014. Next Sunday (August 3rd) the Merkur Cycling Team will start at the Sparkassen-Giro in Bochum. The Jedermann racing team from Norderstedt is led by team captain Daniel Knyss, who also wants to defend the overall lead in the German Cycling Cup in the ninth race. At the same time, the Merkur Druck GmbH team wants to hold the top positions in the team rankings and in the individual age groups.
“After the tough race at the Nürburgring, the Sparkassen-Giro is now on the schedule. The race in Bochum's city center is hardly comparable to the ‘Green Hell’ in terms of its course. Everything will be faster and tighter. Christine and the guys will have to be on their toes to get through without crashes or mechanical problems,” says main sponsor Markus Adam. “We're entering the crucial phase of the German Cycling Cup. In August, three important races are on the program in Bochum, Dresden, and Bremen, each one week apart. It's essential to score important points in the fight for the German Championship.”
In Bochum, the Merkur Cycling Team will start on a 13,5-kilometre circuit that has to be circumnavigated six times before the winner on the Südring is determined after 80 kilometers. The spectator-friendly route conveys a classic atmosphere and allows high average speeds due to the fast descent to the finish.
A look at the overall ratings promises to be exciting. Before the ninth of 14 races, Daniel Knyss is in the fight for the German amateur championship with a narrow lead of 2.675 points and nine points ahead of Sandro Kühmel (Bürstner Duemo / 2.666). Just behind is defending champion Marek Bosniatzki (Bürstner Duemo / 2.651) in third place overall. The Merkur Druck drivers Stefan Räth (2.616), Friedrich Schweizer (2.614), Christian Dengler (2.582) and Till Baltes (2.534) follow in the top ten places five, six, seven and nine. Veteran Bernd Weinhold (2.386) is eleventh.
“It’s incredible how the guys have managed to crack the top ten. Five riders are among the top ten in the overall standings, underlining the team’s consistent strength ,” says a delighted Markus Adam. “Furthermore, we can always rely on our only female rider, Christine Goeldner, as well as our experienced riders Bernd Weinhold and ‘Manne’ Böhm, and Christoph Mönig.”
Christine Goeldner is in fifth place overall in the women's competition and the defending champion of the Masters 3 leads the ranking in her age group. In the Masters 3 for men, Bernd Weinhold and Manne Böhm are in the lead, as are the Merkur trio Stefan Räth, Friedrich Schweizer and Till Baltes in the main class and Daniel Knyss in the Masters 1.
Information and results of the German Cycling Cup: https://www.cycling-cup.de/