Cycling: Tony Martin lived up to his role as a favorite in the time trial at the German championship today and confidently secured the sixth national championship title in his career. In extremely hot temperatures, the multiple world champion completed the 41km circuit in southern Thuringia in 49:14 - Jasha Sütterlin finished 1:39 minutes behind in second place ahead of Nils Politt and Patrick Gretsch.
Certainly not a sensation - but Tony Martin was still able to celebrate his fifth consecutive German championship title in the time trial. The veteran was the big favorite at the start, but like everyone involved he suffered from the extreme temperatures of over 35°C on the difficult, bumpy course. "In the end it got really difficult," said the old and new German champion at the finish.
Martin also wanted to see the championship as a small dress rehearsal for the course at the Olympic Games in Rio in August. Similar temperatures can be expected there and "the Olympic course is much more difficult," said Jan Schaffrath, Martin's head of sports at Etixx - Quick-Step. Nevertheless, the general problem was a success and self-confidence was boosted for the next big test of the season: the individual time trial at the Tour de France on July 15th.
Final result German championship time trial 2016
Tour Locations | Driver | Team | Time |
---|---|---|---|
1. | Tony Martin | Etixx - Quick Step | 00:49:14 |
2. | Jasha Sutterlin | Movistar | 00:01:39 |
3. | Nils Politt | Katusha | 00:02:23 |
4. | Patrick Gretsch | AG2R La Mondiale | 00:02:37 |
5. | Daniel Westmattelman | Team Kuota Lotto | 00:03:29 |
6. | Raphael Freistein | Team Kuota Lotto | 00:03:36 |
7. | Florian Bissinger | WSA Greenlife | 00:03:58 |
8. | Tobias Erler | 00:04:01 | |
9. | Lennard Kamna | Stoelting Service Group | 00:04:02 |
10. | Nico Denz | AG2R La Mondiale | 00:04:15 |
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