After many race cancellations in recent months due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the organisers of the German Cycling Federation (BDR) were able to find a venue for the German championships at short notice. The best German marathon riders were determined at the 20th edition of the Odenwald Bike Marathon near Heidelberg last weekend.
The athletes battled for victory on three laps through the Odenwald. The 75-kilometre course, with its 2250 metres of elevation gain, played into the hands of the cross-country specialists, who were represented in large numbers due to the many cancelled races. At the end of the race day, Nadine Rieder (Rotwild Factory Team) in the women's category and David List (Lexware Mountainbike Team) in the men's category were crowned German champions.
Young talent David List triumphs - not without the help of team-mate Schwarzbauer
A large leading group quickly formed in the men's race. The colours of the Lexware team dominated the colourful lead pack. Alongside Simon Schneller, Markus Kaufmann, Ben Zwiehoff, Sascha Weber and Julian Schelb, David List and four team-mates were able to position themselves in the leading group right from the start. The first two laps went by without any effective attacks. It was only with the finish line approaching that the pace was stepped up with particular vigour on the last lap.
Martin Frey finally broke away from the leading group after a spirited attack. But the chasers were able to catch up with Frey again, mainly thanks to the work of Schwarzbauer. In the last long and decisive climb, List took the front position after being encouraged by his team-mate Schwarzbauer and was able to capitalise on this advantage on the downhill. After a rapid descent, he was able to pull away a few metres and secure the championship title with an "all-in" on the last flat 1.5 kilometres with a lead of just a few seconds.
Schwarzbauer took second place in the final sprint ahead of Simon Schneller (Team Bulls), helping the Lexware team to a double victory. The reigning German champion in the cross-country discipline and favourite Max Brandl had to end the race prematurely due to two punctures.
Nadine Rieder celebrates first national title in the marathon discipline
Right at the start of the women's race, a three-person lead group formed consisting of Nadine Rieder (Rotwild Factory Team), Leonie Daubermann (Stevens MTB Racing Team) and the favourite multiple German champion in the cross-country and marathon discipline Elisabeth Brandau. However, after a dominant performance on the first lap, Brandau had to let the top riders go and give up the race exhausted.
On the second 25-kilometre lap, Rieder was finally able to pull out a significant lead over Daubermann and extend this until the end of the race. With a lead of 1 minute and 42 seconds over second-placed Daubermann, Rieder finally crossed the finish line as the clear new German champion. Surprisingly, Laura Philipp, whose main discipline is normally triathlon, finished in third place.
The podium of the 2020 Marathon-DM
Gents
1st place: David List / Lexware Mountainbike Team (2:46:55)
2nd place: Luca Schwarzbauer / Lexware Mountainbike Team (2:46:59)
3rd place: Simon Schneller / Team Bulls (2:47:04)
Ladies
1st place: Nadine Rieder / Rotwild Factory Team (3:16:44)
2nd place: Leonie Daubermann / Stevens MTB Racing Team (3:18:26)
3rd place: Laura Philipp / RSV Heidelberg e.V. (3:22:37)
