Cyclocross: Although I had no races the last two weekends, quite a bit happened during that time. For example, one of the few international UCI cyclocross races in Germany took place last weekend. At the International Cyclocross Race in Mannheim, Tim Merlier (Sunweb-Napoleon Games) secured his first victory of the season. On the course around the Rudi & Willi Altig Radstadion, the Belgian narrowly beat German Sascha Weber in the sprint. Czech rider Nipl Vojtech finished third, only losing contact with the leaders shortly before the finish. The second-best German was the young Hamburg native Paul Lindenau from the Stevens Racing Team, who has just moved up from the U19 category to the elite men's division and was competing in only his fourth 60-minute cyclocross race.
There are a few opportunities to watch cross racing live again next weekend. On Saturday, for example, another round of the Germany Cup will take place in Kleinmachnow near Berlin. At the same time, the second run of the Panther Cross Cup, the oldest cross series in Germany, will be held in Braunschweig-Harxbüttel.
On Sunday, a large part of the Cross family travels from Berlin to Bad Salzdethfurt, where more points are awarded in the Germany Cup, a kind of Cross Bundesliga. But also for drivers and fans from southern Germany there is on 02.11. Races in the immediate vicinity: The Cross Grand Prix is taking place in Rosenheim for the sixth time; other drivers will be at the start for another race in Darmstadt.
After the break from racing, I decided to start at the race in Braunschweig first. On the one hand, because I'm in second place overall there and have a good chance of defending this place on the podium. In addition, the starting field there will not be as strong as in Berlin; so it should mean an easier re-entry. In order to also drive the race in Bad Salzdethfurt the next day, I will stay with a teammate in Braunschweig and try to collect more points in the Deutschland Cup from there on Sunday.
I have another tip for everyone who prefers to stay at home in the autumn weather so that they don't have to do without cross-country races: The guys from Belgium are back from their training camps and will be back in the races. The two Belgian races will be shown in the live stream. My special tip is the race on Sunday in Zonhoven; here the top drivers have to drive up and down through a large sand funnel several times, watched by around 20.000 spectators who stand on the slopes and loudly cheer on each driver.
You will soon find the links to the live streams here on Velomotion.
I'll get back to you with all the news from the races after the weekend.
Until then, chain right...!
Tim