On Saturday, our GREEN'N FIT team went to Baunatal for the seventh race of the GCC series, which was held as part of the German Elite Championships on a 17 km circuit. The team was once again able to present itself excellently. In the short distance, the team achieved a double podium with Andreas Jung (2nd) and Patrick Hanhart (3rd), Cosima Henrichs was 6th men 2th place. This time Tim Take reports on his very personal race:
On the long distance of 103 km over 6 laps we were represented by a total of 5 drivers: Marion Wittler, Malte Beversdorff, Felix Schmidt, Matthias Maxa and myself. The greatest difficulty of this demanding course was one of the several short climbs where a gradient of over 10% had to be mastered. The late start time of 15.30 p.m. enabled us to arrive relaxed. On the other hand, we were able to relax and watch the final of the German Women's Championship before our race.
Punctually after the end and with the beginning of the starting grid for our race, however, the weather forecast came true and it began to rain heavily. Of course, this required special attention and consideration in the many corners of the course, but shouldn't bother us with our plan to ride attentively in the front and, if possible, be represented in a breakaway group. The pace of the field was very high right on the first lap, but Malte was still present at the front of the field right from the start. At the beginning of the second lap, the main field was reduced to about 50 riders and it kept growing
more attacks.
I felt better and better and over the course of the second round I called a lot of attacks, but they were always neutralized. In the third lap, 6 drivers were finally able to pull away by about 300 m. Malte attacked a little later, but was still able to reach the group. Since drivers from all major teams were represented in the breakaway group, the pace in the peloton slowed down somewhat and the group was able to quickly distance itself further. With that, our first goal was achieved.
I stayed further up the field and helped neutralize a few attacks. In the course of the fourth lap at km 65, however, exactly what was not supposed to happen happened. I fell. I still don't know exactly how it happened, but on about 4./5. Driving position in the field on a relatively straight stretch, I was suddenly on the asphalt. Except for a few abrasions, not much happened to me and I was able to continue relatively quickly, but my left brake lever was hit a little more, so that I could neither operate my front brake nor my front derailleur.
But of course I had no choice but to finish the last 35 km like this. When the rain started to get heavier again, I had to approach every corner very carefully, using only the rear wheel brake, in order not to slip away again. The 10 percent incline with a gear ratio of 53/28 was the lesser of two evils. Contrary to expectations, I was able to drive relatively well. My hopes of reaching the finish before the next larger group then burst about 7 km from the finish.
At km 95 the following group, in which I met Matthias again, caught up with me. Luckily, I was able to keep up to the finish line and in the sprint I was still one of the top places, so that I was still able to finish 62nd despite the fall. Out of the leading group, Malte was an excellent 6th, Matthias 68th, Felix 106th after breaking his arm in Hockenheim and Marion also took an excellent 2nd place in the women's category. All in all it was a great event with a very nice track and great results for our team. Only the weather could have played along! It's always nicer and safer in the dry.
