Cycling: The constellations before the 26th German Championships in Saalhausen are interesting. For the men, a duel between Moritz Milatz and Manuel Fumic is expected, for the women, the young climber Helen Grobert challenges the twelve-time title holder Sabine Spitz. A total of twelve titles will be awarded from the U15 to the Masters and for the first time since 2007 again in North Rhine-Westphalia.
Ironically, the defending champions in the two elite categories had their difficulties in the spring. Adelheid Morath (BH-Sr Suntour-KMC) and Markus Schulte-Lünzum (Focus XC) couldn't achieve the results they expected from themselves.
That's why Markus Schulte-Lünzum is not at the top of the list of favorites when it comes to the men's title. “At my home race in Haltern I was finally able to access my performance values, that was mentally important and a clear sign. But I still don't have everything completely under control and it would be presumptuous to say that I can intervene in the duel between Manuel and Moritz.", says Schulte-Lünzum.
Behind him, however, he sees himself able to intervene in the fight for the (bronze) medal.
If everything turns out the way he's not the only one who suspects. Kirchheimer Manuel Fumic (Cannondale Factory Racing) and Freiburger Moritz Milatz (Koch Engineering-Müsing Bikes), both born in 1982, have been the two (only) Germans capable of world-class performance for years. Therefore, they are automatically considered favorites.
"It was like that last year and then....". Manuel Fumic laughs, pointing to the unpredictable aspects of the sport. He himself was not in the form of the day, he finished second and Milatz was eliminated with a defect.
“Sure, my goal is the title. Even if the build-up goes in the direction of the next World Cup, I'm sure to be in good shape and prepare myself accordingly.", says Fumic, who won the title in 2008 and 2012.
Moritz Milatz already has four championship jerseys hanging in his closet and he has also won the Bundesliga race four times in Saalhausen. Most recently 2013. "I've never been second there", he says with a smile.
Milatz says he's had a little more stress during his studies in recent weeks, but after he put in such a strong performance in Albstadt, that doesn't have to be a limiting argument.
"I hope it goes as well again. I'll try to get the jersey, of course. The track suits me somehow, but I don't really know why.", says Milatz.
Besides Markus Schulte-Lünzum, behind this duo there is a whole group of riders who are believed to be capable of fighting for a medal. Last year's third place finisher Markus Bauer (Kreidler factory team) from Kirchzarten, Simon Stiebjahn (Team Bulls) from Titisee-Neustadt, who became German Sprint Champion in Saalhausen in 2013, and three-time ex-champion Wolfram Kurschat (Koch Engineering-Müsing Bikes) from Neustadt /W., as long as it stays dry, last year's fourth Julian Schelb (Multivan-Merida) from Münstertal, Freiburg's Martin Gluth (Novus-OMX) or possibly Stevens driver Max Holz (Munich), can all be candidates for mark the pedestal.
The situation is a bit clearer for women. However, there are three drivers here who are believed to be capable of the title. Defending champion Adelheid Morath (BH-Sr Suntour-KMC), Sabine Spitz and Helen Grobert (Ghost Factory Racing). In this order, the trio from southern Baden stood on the DM podium in Bad Säckingen in July last year.
Since April, Adelheid Morath has had one health problem after another. The woman from Freiburg is missing the top results and also a little bit of self-confidence. Problems with the hips have recently set in, after an infection crystallized as a performance brake the day after the World Cup in Albstadt (May 31).
"My performance metrics are actually very good, I'm basically well prepared and I'd really like to defend the jersey. But given the current situation, I can't say what will happen on Sunday. In any case, I'll try to make the best of it ," says Morath.
Helen Grobert probably holds the best cards. The 23-year-old made a brilliant debut in the elite World Cup, finishing ninth in Nove Mesto (Czech Republic) and sixth in Albstadt. "Sure, Sabine and I are currently the favorites. But I'm curious because the German Championships have often seen a wide range of results. There are certainly three or four riders who could become champion," Grobert says, trying to assess the situation. "I feel good, I'm in a rhythm, but whether that will be enough to become German champion, I don't know."
The “Sabine”, whose surname is Spitz, does not make the recapture of the German championship jersey, it would be the 13th in the Olympic cross-country discipline, an absolute goal. The focus is more on the Marathon World Championships taking place six days later.
“After the Marathon European Championships we decided to focus on the Marathon World Championships. Somehow you had to decide in which direction to go. It would certainly be nice to regain the jersey, but my cards are not that good at the moment.", explains the 43-year-old.
"I'll take a look and take it as it comes", says Spitz. That's roughly how she went in the sprint championships in Saalhausen last year and then she was suddenly at the top of the podium.
In addition to this trio, there are three outsiders to consider: Elisabeth Brandau (EBE-Racing), Nina Wrobel (Merida-Schulte) and Hanna Klein (BH-Sr Suntour-KMC). All three already have DM medals in their showcase.
Brandau two silvers (2013, 2011), Wrobel under her maiden name Göhl three silvers (2006, 2005, 2003) and one bronze (2007), and Klein two bronzes (2010, 2009).
The four stages of the Alpentour-Trophy could have given Brandau a boost in performance if she has recovered from her fall injuries from day one.
With Nina Wrobel there is always the question of how long the body needs to get up to speed and with Hanna Klein how well she survives the first lap. Incidentally, she celebrated her only Bundesliga victory so far in Saalhausen. However, that was six years ago. In 2013 she was second there again.