After the unwanted, extended summer break in the GCC racing circus, the Sparkassen Giro in Bochum was on the program for us last weekend: A short, but nevertheless not to be underestimated, fast race.
After a spontaneous working day was on the agenda for me on Saturday, I set off together with Thomas in the late afternoon to the Ruhr metropolis. A short tour of the track was planned with the team at 18.00 p.m., so after checking in and extensive greetings we went straight to the bike. On the race track, which was less attractive for us, it was important to focus mainly on dangerous potholes and the target curve and so on develop tactics.
At dinner together, the seriousness of being a cyclist was forgotten and we enjoyed the communal atmosphere in the evening sun.
The next day was supposed to start early – the race was scheduled to start at 9.00:6.00 a.m., so it was time to get up at XNUMX:XNUMX a.m. and off to breakfast. Here we worked together again on our tactics for the race.
One hour before the starting gun, we headed towards Bochum city center until punctually at 9.00:500 a.m. the approximately 13 participants were sent on the XNUMX km long circuit.
The field was fast from the start and there were constant attacks from the other teams. In the 4th lap, however, we pushed the pace right after the start and finish line, so that the field was stretched out. Unfortunately, we didn't succeed in reducing the field in this way, but Stefan and Christian now had free rein and could try to decide the race in a breakaway group. Despite great efforts on our part, the peloton managed to catch up again - the other teams did a great job to close the gap again. After this phase of the race it was obvious that there would probably be a mass sprint and so the tactics were spontaneously adjusted. Unfortunately we lost our helper Thomas, who unfortunately flattened both tires in a pothole. Now it was up to our strong veterans Manfred and Bernd to keep the field closed.
Alex and Stefan finally brought us sprinters into an optimal starting position for the final sprint on the last two kilometers. Now it was up to me: Be among the first three drivers to drive around the finish line. Even before this corner, there was a kind of decisive sprint for a place on the podium. In the midst of the hectic field, I managed to drive around the dangerous last corner in second position and the final sprint was opened! A look over my shoulder told me that shortly before the finish line I was unexpectedly in the lead. The joy was all the greater as I could hear more cheers from my teammates after crossing.
We are happy about the probably unique top placings of the entire team, with a total of 5 drivers we were in the top 10! The atmosphere during the short but successful award ceremony was exuberant and so we all went home after a well-deserved sundae.
We are already looking forward to the next city circuit in Dresden and we are looking forward to the last three races in this year's GCC with great motivation.
Congratulations to my long-time cycling friend Paul Sicking on his well-deserved yellow jersey in the GCC.
Until then,
Your Daniel