BIKE Junior Team: 2 victories and 2 silver medals at the start of the season
BIKE has been supporting young mountain bikers for many years. The BIKE Junior Team fights for places and titles every season and grows with its tasks. The junior team has also produced top athletes: Leonie Daubermann, Georg Egger and Simon Schneller about. The BIKE Junior Team will be competing again this season. Most recently with the 3 boys at the Bundesnachwuchssichtung (BNS) in Hausach. This time the weather was spring-like on the race days. It was Benny Huber's first BNS race in the U15 Bike Junior Team. Nico Brandl has moved up from the U15 to the U17 and was competing after a long break due to illness. Elias Hückmann, the reigning German champion, rode his first BNS race of the season.
We were very excited to see how the season would start after the extremely successful previous year. Just this much before the detailed reports from the athletes: The Bike Junior Team took part in 4 competitions and won 2 victories and 2 silver medals. That was a perfect start to the season.
This is the BIKE Junior Team 2024
The following riders will be competing for our BIKE Junior Team in the U15 and U17 classes in the 2024 season in the BDR's national young talent selection series.
Elias Hückmann - U17
In his third year in the BJT, Elias is trying to build on his super 2023 season. His successes in the past season: German XCO U17 champion, European XCO U17 champion and silver medallist at the Youth Olympic Games in Slovenia.
Nico Brandl - U17
Nico is now in his 2nd year in the Bike Junior Team. It will also be difficult for him to repeat his more than successful 2023 season. There he was runner-up German champion in the U15 category, and at the European Championships in Italy he won the silver medal in the XCO in the U15 category.
Benjamin Huber - U15
This is Benny's first year in the Bike Junior Team. Last season, he achieved 3rd place overall in the German XCO Championships in the U15 category. As a guest rider for the Bike Junior Team at the European Championships in Italy, he has already represented our colours very successfully there.
The race reports on the national junior classification in Hausach
Report Elias Hückmann
Last weekend's national junior classification was my third race of the season. I have already competed twice in Switzerland at the Swisscup. In the first race in Gränichen, I unfortunately didn't make it to the finish (DNF). In the second race in Monte Tamaro, I managed to win. So I travelled to Hausach with a good feeling.
The slalom on Saturday didn't cause me any difficulties and I was able to complete two clean runs. So I managed to win the slalom competition. That also meant a starting place on the front row for Sunday.
Now my full attention was focussed on the upcoming XCO race. The route is not necessarily my favourite, as it doesn't contain any major difficulties, isn't particularly "flowy" and doesn't offer any long climbs.
But of course I didn't let that spoil my fun. After a good start, I managed to take the lead after about 400 metres and find my rhythm. I really enjoyed leading the field and I was also able to break away from the pack and set my own pace to the finish. After a fantastic race, I left Hausach with two victories and the maximum number of points possible. Overall, I really enjoyed this race weekend.
Report Nico Brandl
On Saturday, the first slalom of the national junior classification took place in Hausach. It was my first race in the U15 category.
My first run went really well and I set the seventh fastest time. I decided to step on the gas a bit more for the second run. Unfortunately, I didn't quite manage it and in the end I still managed to achieve the top ten position I had hoped for with 9th place. That meant a starting position on the second row for Sunday's race.
I went into the race on Sunday fully motivated. I was able to defend my starting position in the start loop. Unfortunately, my long break from training due to illness then made itself felt. I felt a strange sensation, my legs and arms suddenly closed up and I couldn't get any pressure on the pedals.
My power came back on the last lap and I was able to overtake four riders. However, 25th place was not the result I had hoped for. I will work on fighting my way up again.
Report by Benny Huber
Last weekend, the first BNS race of the season took place in Hausach. I was delighted to take part in the first team weekend with the Bike Junior Team.
On Saturday, we took on the familiar Hausach slalom course. The track dried out a little after the rain on Friday and was very grippy. I managed 2 consistently fast runs. Overall, I took second place in the slalom.
On Sunday, I started the XCO race from the front row of the grid. Immediately after the start, I pulled away from the field with Paul Gebauer. Unfortunately, I couldn't keep up with Paul's pace. I finished the race in a good 2nd place. It was a tough race in which I learnt a lot again.
Two 2nd places on the first BNS weekend in the new jersey, I'm very happy with that.
