Franziska Koch is the new German Road Champion in the U19 category. On the last weekend in June, she confidently beat Hannah Ludwig in Palatinate Linden after 77 km in the final sprint.

On Sunday, June 25, the 12.1 km course had to be ridden seven times. The long climb stretching over two kilometers at the beginning of the lap selected the field that started into the race at a high pace at an early stage. On top of the climb, already a leading group with only six riders had formed.

On the following laps, the group was reduced to four riders and when Hannah Ludwig sped up in the fourth round, only Franziska was able to keep up with her. “We then started working together well and managed to tear and keep a gap of one minute on our direct chasers on the last four rounds.“

In the final sprint Franziska managed to pull away from her competitor – and won the German Championship on STEVENS Ventoux already in her first year in the junior category. Ricarda Bauernfeind won the bronze medal.

In the time trial that took place one day before the road race, the same course was to be ridden one time. Despite the circuit being rather unrhythmical with a steep climb at the very beginning, some rolling passages in the middle part as well as with four flat kilometers at the end, Franziska on STEVENS Super Trofeo quickly found her pace.

She won the bronze medal 27 i.e. 20 seconds behind the first two riders. Also with this result, Franziska was “quite happy“. She will now be headed for the German Cross-Country Championship in Bad Salzdetfurth at the end of July.