MTB cycling: Next Sunday, the Rothaus Hegau Bike Marathon, the only race in the UCI Marathon Series 2016, takes place on German soil. Although the favorite roles are eagerly assigned in advance, the race is open like never before thanks to the world-class starting field.
Urs Huber (Team Bulls) is the favorite at the 14th edition of the Rothaus Hegau Bike Marathon. The Swiss is extremely strong this year, after his Cape Epic victory he was able to win Tiliment and Lake Garda. At the press conference on Monday, Markus Kaufmann (Centurion-Vaude) confirmed the Swiss driver's dominance: “Urs Huber is the clear favorite for me. It drives like a Swiss clockwork". However, Markus Kaufmann himself, Sascha Weber (BQ Cycling) and of course Alban Lakata (Topeak-Ergon) could be dangerous for the Swiss. Local hero Tim Böhne (Team Bulls) could also cause a surprise, although his preparation for the season did not go as well as it should. Jochen Käß (Centurion-Vaude) does not see himself as being up to par after an operation on his buttocks and an infection. According to his own statement, he would be very satisfied with a top five result.
A tough duel is expected for the women between the Swiss Ester Süss (Wheeler-iXS) and the British Sally Bigham (Topeak-Ergon). The two women have been fighting each other intensively for many years, so we can hope for an exciting and energetic sequel at the Rothaus Hegau Bike Marathon. The three-time Cape Epic winner Ariane Kleinhans (Team Spur) and the Dutch marathon champion Hielke Elferink (Craft Rocky Mountain) could have a say at the top. Strong performances are also expected from the German starters Nina Wrobel (Merida-Schulte) and Silke Schmidt (Herzlichst Cyprus), although the latter was still complaining about an emerging infection at the beginning of the week. The performance of Hanka Kupfernagel (Maxx-Solar) will also be followed with excitement: the five-time cyclo-cross world champion is pushing the mountain bike marathon into her road season.