Cycling: For more than 20 years, Hanka Kupfernagel has played a decisive role in shaping women's cycling, with the race as part of the "Après Tour Gera" at the end of July, the official farewell to the road will take place. No other driver in Germany has been able to set trends and win titles in so many disciplines as Hanka Kupfernagel. The greatest successes include 18 World Championship medals, Olympic silver and 35 German titles.
"I'll do a few more road races this year and it's unclear whether I'll contest a full cross-country season afterwards, but the race in Gera is supposed to be my official farewell to the road," the successful cyclist commented on her decision. "Actually, I wanted to quit after last season. But my big goal and my motivation were the World Championships in the USA, where I would have liked to start again for Germany. In Colorado Springs I won my first world championship title for the German Cyclists' Association in 1991 and it would have been perfect to ride my last world championship there." The hope of starting the World Championships remained for a long time due to the consistently good performance, but then the BDR canceled it at short notice and downgraded it to the position of substitute driver. According to her own statement, she made this decision strongly, but in the meantime the topic has been ticked off for her.
Hanka Kupfernagel can still be seen at the German Road Championships in Erfurt on June 26th and at the Thuringia Tour from July 15th to 21st. On July 30th, the time has come: As part of the "Après Tour Gera", the Gera-born cyclist will start a road race for the last time. Cycling stars such as Olaf Ludwig, Udo Bölts, Jens Voigt and Michael Rich are expected to attend the "Goodbye Race". "It's supposed to be more of a casual celebrity race to which I want to invite friends, practice partners, teammates and all the people who have been important to me over the years and still are today. Simply cycling together and of course celebrating afterwards. I hope that many will accept my invitation to bring sections of my career and the memories of them to life for all viewers and fans," said Kupfernagel.