After five of eleven races Deutschland Cup – Germany’s most important cyclocross racing series, held by Bund Deutscher Radfahrer (German ruling cycling federation) is in half time. At the races in Hamburg, Lohne, Mannheim and also in Kleinmachnow and Bad Salzdetfurth last weekend, the spectators could follow most exciting cyclocross events on all different courses right next to the race track.

After the initial race at the horse race track in Hamburg-Horn, on a demanding course with lots of curves, the competition in Lohne, circling the look-out tower, featured ”rare, super exciting finales” in the men’s as well as in the ladies’ elite race with very tight sprint decisions, respectively.

The Mannheim-Race, rated C2 by the UCI, saw the international elite at the starting line and especially on top of the podium. Last weekend the starters of the race at Kleinmachnow on Saturday and Salzdetfurth on Sunday had to adapt to different conditions: Many sandy sections in Kleinmachnow and muddy, technically demanding, power-sapping course in Salzdetfurth.

In all races male and female riders of the STEVENS Racing Team made it to the podium, some of them as winners. ”We can be very pleased with these performances”, said Werner von Hacht, team manager.

The team is looking forward with confidence to the second half of the Deutschland Cup which ends December 28th in Vechta/Lower Saxony. ”We’re curious how the three-week training camp works out on the results. Now in November and December we have the races with the typical kind of cyclocross weather – wet and cold”, says Jens Schwedler, Team-DS, “the team has to adjust to that.”

Deutschland Cup will continue November 15th and 16th with the races in Vaihingen and Magstadt. Further dates: December 6th Queidersbacham (Rhineland-Palatinate), December 7th in Bensheim (Hesse), after Christmas December 27th in Herford (Northrhine-Westfalenia) and December 28th in Vechta (Lower Saxony).

Cross European Championships in Lorsch
One main focus of the STEVENS Racing Team besides the Deutschland Cup is on the U23- and male and female Juniors’ European Championships this weekend in Lorsch as well as on the German National Championships taking place January 11th and 12th in Borna.

The following STEVENS Racing Team members will start in Lorsch:
Ladies: Lisa Heckmann, Stefanie Paul
Juniors, female: Jessica Lambracht
U 23 Men: Max Lindenau, Paul Lindenau, Jannick Gruner, Justin Rudolph
Juniors, male: Ludwig Cords, Lauritz Urnauer, Raphael Schröder