Contrary to her original plans, the mountain bike specialist Sabine Spitz will be competing again next year in cross-country (XCO) competitions! After a long injury break, the 2008 Olympic champion started training again at the beginning of the month. In addition to the Mountain Bike Marathon World Championships in Singen, the focus in 2017 is also on the Cross-Country World Championships in Cairns, Australia.
Sabine Spitz's last race was more than three months ago. Despite an injury to her left knee, the 44-year-old professional cyclist finished 19th at the Olympic Games in Rio. After Rio, the necessary surgery took place, which, however, was followed by three more surgical interventions after complications. After 10 weeks of immobilisation, the multiple German champion in cross-country has finally been able to sit on her bike and train again since the beginning of the month. A long time of reflection lies behind the record champion - a long time in which Sabine Spitz also made the decision to start again in 2017 in XCO competitions. According to her own statements, she still feels motivated and having fun. Sabine Spitz had also hoped for a different outcome at the Olympic Games in Rio at the end of her career. In any case, like in Rio, she doesn't want to say goodbye to cycling.
Sabine Spitz is very confident and self-assured about the continuation of her career: "It's not about having to prove something to myself or anyone else. But I just want to drive. I have the feeling that I still have the ability and desire to do it. Although I lost a lot of muscle and had to cope with being completely immobilized for a long time, it went surprisingly well from the start. Of course I'm not where I normally am at this time of year. But there is still enough time to compensate for that." The first races at the end of February and in March at the Cape Epic in South Africa could show whether she actually succeeds in catching up. However, Sabine Spitz's main focus is on the mountain bike marathon world championships taking place in Singen on June 25th and on the cross-country world championships in Cairns at the beginning of September.
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