The first race of the second half of the German Cycling Cup season took place on Saturday with “Rad am Ring”. This time the team was not represented at the short distance, as the usual suspects for this were either injured or had decided to start in the 24-hour race taking place at the same time. On the long distance, a handful of fearless people started to face the toughest race of the season. Marion Wittler managed, despite a short-term defect and start on the "winter bike", a sensational 2nd place overall and victory in her age group. This time Malte Beversdorff reports on his very personal ride through the Green Hell:
The Nürburgring, Rad am Ring, as always, a top event: Great crowds of spectators, an impressive transition area at the 24-hour race, an award ceremony that was not too lengthy and ultimately a field of participants that was top-class in terms of quality and quantity.
When rolling up before the race, I was still in the mood for a joke, because I didn't meet one or the other old companion. From the start, however, we quickly went up the 150km Green Hell, peppered with a good 3000m in altitude. The first 10km went steadily downhill with slight increases and at a good 100km/h I shot towards the first serious climb. This was appropriately named mine, because this is where the drudgery started. What was initially a field of a good 100 riders was reduced to a lead group of a good 40 within this mountain. In the final climb, the Hohe 18, which is up to 8% steep, I unfortunately had to let something tear. With combined forces and an aero position, where my nose could already feel the tire, I was able to rejoin the peloton at the beginning of the home stretch.
For the 2nd lap it got a little rougher again, because the later winner had missed the start and went on the track with the 75km racers. As a duo, they came rushing in from behind and immediately passed the mountain. So it was for me to go into the chase for the second time. Some other athletes seemed to have made a mistake with the choice of route, since I would have completely ruled out lapping a 2km route in round 24. But I have great respect for completing the full 2 laps despite dismounting on the mountain – chapeau!
In the third lap it finally happened to me, I had just caught up again when it went back into the mountain. I felt like everyone was going forward, only I had turned around. So I switched to survival mode and told myself to get there from now on. Whether I was 50th, 80th, or ultimately 92nd, I didn't care a bit anymore. Either hop or top - but I've reached the goal.
All in all, it's not called the toughest race of the GCC for nothing and I was just happy when I was able to sit on the camping chair with our 24-hour boys. A big thank you to Ivi, Patrick and Thomas, who always had a suitable drinking bottle at hand, as well as to all the other participants, because without them such a "giant thing" simply could not be financed.
Despite all the hard work, Marion Wittler was able to finish second overall and win the age group after a spirited race. With that, she should have extended her lead to 2rd place in the overall ranking. Tim Take got his second breath halfway through the race and was able to fight his way forward in an elite group. Matthias Maxa and Felix Schmidt also fought their way through bravely and must have been happy when the 3 km were finally on the clock.
Overall conclusion: Celebrating your own wedding for 4 days/nights, rolling only 14km in 80 days and then starting at Rad am Ring is not recommended, but you know for later - back then in the Green Hell I survived and off I went now it can only go uphill.