As in the last three years, 2014 started for me [Tino Thömel] with the Sixdays in Bremen. For the first time I was there for my new team, Team Stuttgart, at the start – with Belgian Nicky Cocquyt at my side.
The first races of the season were, unfortunately every year, characterized by shortness of breath and a lot of lactate in the legs. But not only getting used to the conditional, but also to the mental stress was again a challenge. The short track with a length of only 166 meters (normally 250 meters) requires a high level of concentration, because the narrow curves also increase the contact pressure and the faster you go, the more difficult it is to keep the bike in the right lane.
After we had survived the first two days, we dared to win one or two laps. Unfortunately, the train had already left. We went into the first hunt on Saturday four laps behind in 11th place. Our first goal was not to let the two young Berliners, Hans Pirius and Sebastian Wotschke, go any further.
Halfway through the race, the shape curve steadily improved and we were able to start catching up. On Sunday we made up two laps to our direct competitors. Unfortunately, we didn't manage to close the remaining gap of two laps in the last two days.
But we didn't just have a lot of fun on the track. Between the competitions, Mikkie Krause & Co. ensured a great atmosphere in the hall and managed to animate the entire field of riders to a huge polonaise around the entire track and once across the hall. So big praise to the organizer and congratulations to the winners Leif Lampater and Wim Stroetinga.
So I'm going into next week's six-day race in Berlin with a good feeling.
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Text: Tino Thömel