Race report by Manuela Freund / Team Green'n Fit
We are in the anniversary year of Rund um Köln... 100th edition... and there was a lot to celebrate for the Green'n Fit team from Gütersloh.
Saturday. It always starts the day before. Normally with the collection of the bib numbers. But first I have to go to Cologne/Bonn Airport to pick up Tamara, who lives in France from Bielefeld. The plane landed safely, but unfortunately without the bike case. He stopped in Munich! RuK without a bike? Difficult. He should be in the next plane from Munich. Hopefully! So then but only to the number issue. Everything runs smoothly here as usual, and the weather is much better than predicted. Can it be like this again tomorrow, please?! At 21.15:XNUMX p.m., the airport service finally brings the suitcase and bike. Tamara's start is secured.
Sunday. race day. Marion, Tamara and I tackle the 127 km. I can drive in yellow again. The temperatures are very pleasant and everyone is hoping to stay dry... for as long as possible... preferably to the finish. Before the starting signal it gets very quiet for a minute, everyone takes off their helmets and pays homage to Rudi Altig.
kickoff. The first 20 km to Odenthal through the city of Cologne are the "most exciting part" of the whole race for me, unpleasant memories of 2015 are awakened. I saw a lot of falls back then. But this year, from my point of view, everything is going smoothly. The pace is brisk but doable. Then comes the first climb to Scheuren, and now it's a matter of finding a good group. I don't see women anymore. Are there any more on the way ahead of me? I still have a competitor in mind that I don't think I've overtaken to date. But that turned out to be a misjudgment, because I had already left them behind me at the roundabout in Odenthal (here it is important to ALWAYS drive on the right!). At some point I'm sure ... there can no longer be a woman in front of me. The ROSEbike is running, the yellow Jakroo jersey is in place and the legs are working. Only the ascent to Bensberg Castle is not for me. I just don't get the necessary pressure on the pedals. Doesn't matter. Any gaps are closed, and after the second time we are also allowed to turn right. Cologne ... here we come! There are a few more raindrops on the last few kilometers, but that only affects me peripherally. I can roll relaxed to the finish. Victory at the home race in Cologne is the best! Yellow stays in the green team!
Goal. The good women's result in the long-distance race is completed by Marion Wittler in 8th place (3rd place) and Tamara Kroll in 30th place (10th place).
short distance. On the short distance over 67 km, the team really accelerated again. Tanja Hennes is second overall in the women's category (AK 1.). Jonathan Reuning (4th place, AK 1st) and Dennis Biendarra (6th place, AK 4th) achieved top ten rankings for the men. Due to the good further results (Peter Mertens 32./AK 10., Marco Baastiansen 46./AK 19., Christian Hirsch 111./AK 37., Stefan Frost 131./AK 21., Oliver Nienaber 153./AK 56. , Thomas Frost 154./AK 22.) the Green'n Fit team secures third place in the team ranking on the short distance! It's great that Jonathan is in top form again after his fall in Schleiz, even though he just missed out on the podium. Less nice that Kai-Uwe Sommer is in the hospital with a broken collarbone and broken ribs due to a fall at a cycling event through no fault of his own. From this point on, we wish him a speedy recovery and hope that he will soon be back at the start with the Green'n Fit team!
The great and dry (!!!) day was rounded off by a fun photo shoot on the Rhine. Thanks to Ben for the great pictures!
Baaam!!!
