Levin Klausmann: This is how the 2026 German Downhill Championships went for me

BIKE Magazin

· 19.09.2026

Levin has tunnel vision. First in qualifying, but in the final his mate Lois Eller overtakes Levin.

The winners: German Downhill Championships in Todtnau. Levin (left), winner Lois Eller, third-placed Vincent Vodan.

Just before that: a guest appearance in Stuttgart at the first Cerro Abajo stop in Germany. Unfortunately, Levin didn’t make it through to the final, but he had plenty of fun on the track.

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Photo: Marcus Klausmann

Levin Klausmann is one of the rising stars of German downhill cycling. The German Championships are, of course, a matter of honour for him. This is his personal account.

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Text: Levin Klausmann

The last four weeks have probably been – apart from my A-levels this year – the most exciting and, at the same time, the most exhausting of my 18 years. Every single weekend wasn’t just about any old competition – no, one highlight followed another.

A look back: World Cup: Les Gets & Val di Sole World Championships

It all kicked off with the World Cup in Les Gets, followed by the World Championships in Val di Sole. Right from the start of this season, the combination of nervous tension and far too much overthinking had really been getting to me – and, unfortunately, these two events were no exception. After a night of continuous rain, Les Gets had turned into a proper mud bath, and Val di Sole was already giving me quite a headache in the run-up to the event.

To cut a long story short: I was highly motivated in both races – but I simply didn’t have the luck to put in a really good performance.

Premiere in Stuttgart. Cerro Abajo and I were there

Fortunately, the chance to clear my head didn’t take long to come along. On the first weekend in September, the Cerro Abajo in Stuttgart was on the agenda. I was already familiar with the racing series – but what I experienced that week exceeded all my expectations.

The media hype in the run-up to the event alone was immense. And as I see myself more as a fledgling than a proud rooster when it comes to social media, this was a valuable opportunity for me to learn a thing or two. Looking back, one thing is clear: this event was quite simply incredible.

To witness an entire town being turned upside down, with thousands of people cheering from the sidelines even during training – that was more than impressive. The estimated 90,000 spectators created an atmosphere that’s hard to put into words. And best of all: I had such an incredible amount of fun on the track that this weekend turned out to be an absolutely unforgettable experience for me.

Home match: German Championships in Todtnau

Last weekend took this already special season to a whole new level. This year’s German Championship took place in Todtnau – on my home track.

It was actually already clear that this weekend, too, was going to be something very special. Having put myself under increasing pressure over the summer, my preparation for the German Championship mainly involved going into the race focused and with a clear head. On the one hand, that’s easier on your home track – the surroundings are familiar, every bend an old friend. On the other hand, a new route on familiar ground can increase the pressure many times over.

It made it all the more wonderful to finally feel completely at ease on my bike again this weekend. With the feeling that I’d regained some of my old carefree spirit, the first day of training was simply fantastic. And that feeling carried on: by setting the fastest time in qualifying, I was able to secure victory in the junior class.

Setting a personal best gave me another real boost of confidence. With that positive feeling behind me, I was able to finish second behind Lois Eller in the final with a time of 3:16.866 minutes.

To be honest, after such a mixed season, I’m actually very pleased with second place. The fact that Lois and I managed to finish third and fourth in the overall standings also makes me feel optimistic about the upcoming races.

Photo: Marcus KlausmannThe winners: German Downhill Championships in Todtnau. Levin (left), winner Lois Eller, third-placed Vincent Vodan.

Outlook: World Cup in Whistler & Lake Placid

And given that the last few weeks have been so incredibly exciting, it would of course be a shame if the season were to end already – luckily, that’s not the case just yet!

I’m really looking forward to travelling to the next World Cups in Whistler and Lake Placid with Lois Eller. I’m keen to see what the next races have in store – and, above all, I’m just looking forward to getting back on my bike and having some fun.

Until then, Levin