Team Rothaus-Cube presented itself to the public at the Bike-Aktiv trade fair in Freiburg with 20 athletes. In the Rothaus Arena, team boss Patrik Faller spoke of the "motto of convalescence" with regard to his three-man World Cup team. The marathon team has grown once again with the addition of road talent Alexandra Sontheimer. Klaus Ketterer's junior team is hoping to win DM medals and qualify for the World Championships. A minute's silence was observed for Sandra Weber, who died in an accident.
The spearhead of Rothaus-Cube, the three-person World Cup team, is facing a season that is drastically different from all previous years. Benjamin Rudiger's cancer and Adelheid Morath's serious knee injury have put their sporting ambitions completely on the back burner for the time being. Team boss Patrik Faller has no choice but to put 2007 under the motto "convalescence" for the duo. "It goes without saying that we stand by our athletes even in difficult times," explained Faller.
Benjamin Rudiger, who has just successfully completed chemotherapy for his lymphoma, expressed the "perhaps lofty hope of being able to compete in one or two races at the end of the year." The two-time German U23 champion considers himself lucky to have been able to get back on his bike a fortnight ago.
The situation is very similar for Adelheid Morath. After a collision with a car at the end of December, in which she broke her kneecap through no fault of her own, she has only been able to get back on her bike for a fortnight. However, she is not allowed to put any weight on the knee. "At the moment, it's impossible to say how long it will take. I have to build up very slowly now and see how the knee behaves with the screws," explains the marathon championship bronze medallist. There is still very slight hope of a comeback in the second half of the season.
In addition to these already major difficulties, the tragic accidental death of U23 rider Sandra Weber also occurred in January. "That was the hardest blow in my life," admitted Patrik Faller and admitted that he was close to giving up on his project. It was only Benjamin Rudiger's positive therapy result that gave him courage again. The team observed a minute's silence for Sandra Weber during the presentation.
Between these difficult topics, it is a ray of hope that at least Frank Lehmann feels fit. Lehmann is now studying social pedagogy in Freiburg. He is looking forward to the home World Cup in Offenburg, but also wants to do well at the Trans-Germany. It has not yet been decided who will be his partner there. He would like to ride with André Rudiger again, with whom he finished third in the 2006 TransAlp-Challenge.
A not unimportant personnel matter was announced at the presentation of the World Cup team. Chris Bittorf, previously Team Leader Marathon, is now working as assistant to Patrik Faller. She will relieve the team manager in the organisational area.
Juniors want to go to the World Championships
The Rothaus Cube Junior Team remains the basis for the top level of the team. It continues to range from the U23 to the junior class. "The main goals are the national league and the German Junior Championships," says coach Klaus Ketterer, concretising the focus of his nine-strong squad. Medals at the DM are within the realms of possibility. Qualification for the European and World Championships is based on these national competitions. Junior Sascha Knöpfle has a good chance of representing the Rothaus Cube colours in Turkey (European Championships) and Scotland (World Championships) in 2007. Newcomer Stefanie Andris already took part in 2006 and wants to do it again in 2007. She continues to ride on two tracks and is also pushing ahead with her road career. Florian Ackermann, now in his last U23 year, will continue to take on organisational tasks and pass on his experience to the younger riders as a kind of rider coach.
Seven-member marathon team
The marathon team, led by Werner Wagner, is the amateur version of the team. Nevertheless, the eight long-distance specialists are very performance-orientated. Matthias Bettinger, for example, recorded three victories in 2006. He would like to repeat these successes. He and his team-mates want to cut a good figure, especially in the multi-day stage races.
The new faces in the Rothaus Cube jersey, Miriam Kettenring, Annette Griner and Andy Schwarzer, want to finish the regional marathons as far ahead as possible and are focusing on the Trans-Schwarzwald stage races and/or the premiere of the Trans-Germany between St. Wendel and Oberwiesenthal. Werner Wagner himself is also returning to the clipless pedals after recovering from injury. He will form a mixed pair with Griner at the Trans-Germany. The Belgian Sam Baeten recently had knee surgery and will have to be patient with his first outings.
Alexandra Sontheimer is a new addition to the team. Like Bianca Knöpfle, the talented road rider wants to show herself in some of the regional marathons. Naturally, both are aiming for podium finishes there.
The Rothaus-Cube team
World Cup Team
Team manager: Patrik Faller
Assistant: Chris Bittorf
Riders: Adelheid Morath, Benjamin Rudiger, Frank Lehmann (all Elite)
Junior team
Coach and supervisor: Klaus Ketterer
Riders: Simon Scherzinger, Florian Ackermann, Heiko Gutmann, Agnes Naumann, Pascal Ketterer (all U23), Sascha Knöpfle, Simon Stiebjahn, Stefanie Andris (all juniors), Martin Knöpfle (youth).
Marathon Team
Team leader: Werner Wagner
Riders: Matthias Bettinger, André Rudiger, Sam Baeten, Andreas Schwarzer, Miriam Kettenring, Annette Griner, Bianca Knöpfle, Alexandra Sontheimer
www.rothaus-cube.de
