# After winning the European title, Lukas Baum is now bringing the rainbow stripes to Germany.
The world championship of XC riders is already in full swing. After yesterday the German relay could convince with an excellent third place, today the best juniors of the respective nations started. 17-year-old Sarah Bauer started yesterday morning. Bauer started yesterday's race, which stretched over four laps on the 4,7-kilometre circuit, extremely confident. Right from the start, the Nürtingen rider took second place behind Italy's Emilie Collomb. However, the Swiss Alessandra Keller quickly caught up and the duo around Keller and Collomb gained a wafer-thin lead over the German Sarah Bauer. Alessandra Keller found her rhythm better and better and picked up the pace so that none of her competitors could follow her. Meanwhile, Sarah Bauer made up some ground, but did not manage to overtake Italy's Emilie Collomb. After 1:19:25 hours, Sarah Bauer crossed the finish line in third place, 1:01 minutes behind, and thus secured her first podium at a world championship.
"I still can't believe it. I have set myself a top ten. I couldn't imagine that it would go so well. I had a better start than usual and when the three of us were up front I thought now a medal is within reach and I gave it my all.”, says Sarah Bauer in an interview.
The reigning European champion Lukas Baum dominated the junior race. The man from Neustadt, who was able to win all major championship titles this year, set the pace right from the start and, together with Frenchman Raphael Gay, pulled away from the rest of the field. Closely packed, Baum and Gay set the pace and it seemed to be heading for a final sprint. However, Gay fell, paving the way for Lukas Baum to claim Germany's first junior gold medal. Although Lukas Baum did not manage to avoid the Frenchman and also fell, he was able to drive towards the finish line unchallenged. Thus, in addition to the German and European championship titles, Lukas Baum also secured this season's rainbow jersey and is the best junior driver of the season. Georg Egger, who had won the bronze medal with the German relay the day before, finished seventh, 1:54 minutes behind.
Result juniors
1. Lukas Baum / Germany
2. Peter Disera / Canada
3. Gioele Bertolini / Italy
7. Georg Egger / Germany
9. Philipp Bertsch / Germany
Result Juniors
1. Alessandra Keller / Switzerland
2. Emilie Collomb / Italy
3. Sarah Bauer / Germany
4. Sofia Wiedenroth / Germany