Race report Dennis Krimmel, U17
I've been waiting for this moment all season: we arrived on Friday lunchtime. The weather was moody - just like my mood. There was a lot of pressure on my shoulders, everything was at stake. I've been trying all season to make up for the points I've lost by not taking part in the athletics test. I was the overall leader for half the season and only had to defend it once more. Thanks to complex probability calculations, I knew how who had to finish so that I could finally German champion can be called.
Saturday trial course
Before it was my turn to do the skills course, it was the turn of my biggest rival. When I saw that he had a bad run, it was clear: I had won the DM! I didn't let on and rode to third place. Unfortunately, I only came third because I had chosen a fully as my sports equipment, as the track was very bumpy on Sunday. Of course, the fully made the tight bends in the trial course more difficult for me. In the evening I made my bike race-ready again with the team mechanic.
Sunday XCO race
On Sunday morning, I felt extremely strong and was very motivated. Maybe that was because I wasn't nervous as I knew I had nothing to lose.
I set off and launched a breakaway attack after just half a lap. I then suffered a flat front tyre on the descent. That was particularly bad because you can't steer like that. So I rode the next half lap to the tech zone. Everyone was very nervous when I changed the tyre and didn't do everything as planned because I rarely need technical assistance.
When I had lost a lot of places, I went back into the race and fought my way up again. In the end, I didn't care because I was having fun with the competition again and also became German champion.
Now it's time for me to start the off-season with mega emotions. Also another big Thanks to the BIKE Junior Team powered by Bulls and my family for the continuous support.
Race report Elias Hückmann, U15
On Friday, I had a look at the XCO course and the trial area. My first impression of the course was good, as it contained obstacles that I had practised in the previous weeks. So I started my course on Saturday morning. I took the first obstacle - crossing four pallets - without any problems. The second obstacle - an increasingly narrow slalom course over approx. 25 metres - caused me difficulties. However, it turned out that hardly any rider managed to score full points here. I managed the next sections almost without any mistakes. In the end it was enough for a satisfactory fifth place in the trial.
All or nothing at the XCO
After that, I had to concentrate fully on the XCO race. My start was at 8.30am on Sunday, which I think is extremely early. My motto for the race was "all or nothing". It was the last race and I had nothing to lose.
After a great start, I went straight to the front of the field of riders and was in the lead after the start loop on the first lap. There I played to my strengths on the steep climbs and pulled out a gap on the pursuers. While I had a lot of fun on the fast lap, I managed to extend my lead and crossed the finish line as the winner.
After the great race, it quickly became clear that I was behind Jonas Schweizer German runner-up became. The lack of points that I wasn't able to score in the mandatory athletics test due to health problems just set me back too far.
So I only had to wait for the award ceremony to accept my silver medal, overjoyed. All in all, the weekend in Wetter was very successful.
Race report Paulina Lange, U17
It was already clear to me during the inspection that the course would be anything but easy. A very tight slalom and much more. After the inspection, things got serious. After two initial solid obstacles, I unfortunately slipped on an uphill section and had to dismount. I was very unlucky at the next obstacle, as I actually got over the obstacle but just missed the line after the tree trunks and so didn't get any points. In the end, I was one of many with ten points and unfortunately only came in at 7th place. Very disappointing and a shame, but still the front row for Sunday.
Sunday: the meadow disturbs the rhythm
I could already feel on the roll that my legs weren't the freshest. But I was still positive at the start. After a very good start, I was able to lead the start lap and was the first to go into the downhill. On the first lap, I stuck firmly to the group around the Dutchwoman in 2nd/3rd place. Shortly before the finish area, however, I slipped on the grass and lost the group. Very, very annoying. Lucie and another rider came up to me again and they even overtook me. My rhythm was gone, but I tried everything to stay with the group.
I couldn't keep up the pace, but made the best of it and finished my race as best I could. I had problems with my stomach anyway. In the end, I managed 6th place (or 5th German). The weekend in Wetter was also the last race of the national junior classification and therefore also the decider for the German championship. Only 8th place for me this year. I simply didn't have the points from the athletics test and then I was a youngster.
But I'm really happy about the fantastic team result and of course the TITLE for Dennis! Now it's time for me to step on the gas one last time at a small marathon nearby. I would also like to to all the sponsors and of course all those involved and I'm really looking forward to the next season.
Race report Lucie Hückmann, U17
On Saturday, the technical course with a narrow slalom and other obstacles had to be mastered. I mastered this course quite well, but still made one or two mistakes and ended up in second place. Rank 9.
I was really looking forward to the XCO race on Sunday. However, it didn't go quite as well as I had hoped. At the start, I didn't pedal very well and had to ride back to the leading group. On the way there, I realised that my legs must have cooled down too quickly in the cold weather in the morning, because we stood at the start for a while and I made the mistake of not moving properly at the start line.
In the end, however, it still worked out for a good fourth place and it was also a lot of fun to ride the last race of the season together with the other girls.
Race report Max Ebrecht, U17
The last BNWS race of the season took place in Wetter, the course was fast and had two long and steep climbs over slippery roots. The descents were not as technical, but extremely fast with jumps and few bends. As every time, there was also a qualifier, which in this case was a trial. I had practised a lot for this in recent weeks and was therefore confident that I would somehow manage it.
Trial on Saturday
On Saturday morning, we were allowed to run the trial course. I made a plan as to which obstacles I would tackle and how. I was therefore confident that I would score the points in the competition that I urgently needed for the overall standings. The first obstacle went well and the cone slalom also went well. Unfortunately, shortly before the end of the second section, a tennis ball rolled off the cone. The sign of a mistake. When I then slipped in the S-curve ascent, which I thought was safe, I was completely out of my depth and fell into a kind of blackout. In the end I was last, without points and once again I had to start from the back on Sunday. I've had plenty of opportunity to practise that this season.
XCO race on Sunday:
After the miserable trial the day before, I now had to work my way up from the back. I would have three laps and a start loop to do this. The big question mark was how strong the many Dutch and Belgians would be, who were there because of the final of the 3-Nations Cup. But I felt good! After starting from 83rd on the grid, I was able to work my way forwards in the start loop and finish the first lap in 60th place. With a lot of fun and good legs, I continued to move forwards. At the end of the second lap, I was in 20th place. On the last lap, a group of four riders formed, including my team-mate Dennis, who had worked his way back to the front after a defect.
From this group, I was able to work my way further towards the top 10 and finished 13th in the end (and even 10th in relation to the BNWS participants). I'm very happy with my performance on Sunday and I'm very surprised myself that I was able to get so far up the field again. Congratulations to my team-mate Dennis, who became German U17 champion this weekend.
