Paul Voss is the first winner of Rudi Altig Race. The return of pro riders, 50 years after Rudi Altig’s title win at the World Championship at Nürburgring in 1966, perfectly rounded off the comprehensive program of Rad am Rang. Winners of the category “individual riders” of 24-hour race, that also finished today, are Rainer Steinberger and Jamie Kelleher. A great weekend with more than 10,000 participants – and cycling in all its facets.
There was a lot going on Sunday at noon at Nürburgring. While riders of the 24-hour races pedaled their last kilometers, pro riders lined up for the first ever Rudi Altig Race. This pro race of UCI category 1.1, that to a large extend could be brought into being thanks to the commitment of our partner GROFA® - House of Brands, put riders to a tough test: Not only because of the all in all 3,500 vertical meters that had to be climbed, spread over five laps on Nordschleife and five laps on Grand Prix circuit (140 km), but also because due to a rain shower the course was wet and slippery.
Already on the first lap, a group of about 15 to 20 riders took the lead and rode approximately 20 seconds ahead of the field. Among them the best German rider (overall result) at this year’s Tour de France, Emanuel Buchmann of Team Bora-Argon 18, who will leave for the Olympics in Rio after this race. On lap 2 the group had shrunk and in the course of the following laps Paul Voss of Bora-Argon 18 managed to break away by one minute from his hunters, among them Emanuel Buchmann and Davide Rebellin (CCC Sprandi Polkowice) who among others won Flèche Wallone, Liège-Bastogne-Liège and Amstel Gold Race. Despite having these strong riders in his back, Voss managed to stay in the lead and even widened the gap so that he rode the five final 5.1 km laps on Grand Prix circuit solo and safely won in 3:36:38 hours. Beside the overall win, Voss also the sprint and mountains classification. Places 2 and 3: Voss’ teammate Gregor Mühlberger (3:37:59 hours) and Slovenian road cycling champion Jan Tratnik of Amplatz BMC (3:38:10 hours). Buchmann and Rebellin finished fourth and fifth.
Before the pro race, riders of 24-hour races, the centerpiece of Rad am Ring, were on the circuit. More than 5,000 tired, but happy cyclists crossed the finish line at noon – partly arm in arm with their teammates while in the pit lane teams and supporters celebrated their riders and compensated with their radiant smiles the lack of sun that had so far been shining brightly over Nürburgring, but today stayed hidden behind some clouds.
After a starlit night Rainer Steinberger crowned himself king of Nürburgring in the category “men/individual riders” with 28 laps – each with 580 vertical meters and 25 kilometers. Jamie Kelleher won the women’s category with 20 laps. In the category team of 2 Maledetta Bicicletta won the women’s race in 24 laps, the men’s i.e. mixed race was won by Philipps Bike Team in 28 laps. Teams Ledschends1 (32 laps) and Moskovskaya Cycling Crew (30 laps) won the men’s race in the category teams of four and teams of eight respectively. Their counterparts in the women’s race were Koga Ladies 1 powered by Profile Design (29 laps) and Team DTAF - Doc Tom and Girlfriends (20 laps). Again this year, Koga Ladies remained unbeaten.
Also some prominent riders were among 24-hour participants. Former pro cyclist René Haselbacher, e.g., took part in 24-hour road race for “Ledschends”, a charity organization supporting disadvantaged children and families, he and his team finished on second place in the category team of eight. Mountain bike pro Karl Platt swapped his studded tires for slicks and won the 24-hour road race with his team of four (Ledschends1). Beside the road race, there also was a cross-country version for 24-hour riders.
The 24-hour mountain bike track covered approximately eight kilometers and like in previous years led up to historic Nürnburg after a short detour to Grand Prix circuit and back to the race track, partly over single trails. Lars Messerschmidt won this race in 51 laps in the men’s category, Tina Junghanns with 32 laps in the women’s category. Victors in the category teams of two were 24h Team Northwave (61 laps, men) and X-Sport Ladies MTB (32 laps, women). In the category team of four Team Bischibike-kopierpapier.ch powered by Protec won in 69 laps (men) and Dextro Energy Burn Babies in 51 laps (women). The win of the category team of eight went to Focus Rapiro Racing (72 laps, men) and Rockhopper Z in 50 laps (women).
24-hour eBike race epowered by Bosch that has been part of Rad am Ring since 2014 and is ridden in teams of four, was won by team Moustache Bikes in 35 laps. The circuit was slightly changed for eBikes. Instead of riding through “Klostertal” and “Karussell” the electric supported bikes had to climb the 27% ascend of “Steilstrecke”.
Furthermore, there were some more premiers at Rad am Ring this year: Giro Classico (races, touring, parts market) for fans of historic bicycles, eBike enduro race for experts and newbies on electric mountain bikes and a race of KMC MTB-Bundesliga that took place in nearby Off-road Park.
Still part of the program: amateur races over 25, 75 and 150 kilometers and Profile Design time trial on Friday evening. “The event made a big step forward in 2016. Starting with the significantly grown Expo to new disciplines and pro racing”, says head of organization, Hanns-Martin Fraas. “It was a real challenge, but we are happy that we have again come closer to our goal: To provide 360 degrees of cycling at Rad am Ring.”
By the way: The 2017 date for Rad am Ring will probably be July 28 to 30.
For further information please go to our website www.radamring.de
About Rad am Ring
Rad am Ring is a cycling event which has taken place at Nürburgring since 2003. The course leads through the very modern Formula 1 arena and over the legendary Nordschleife. In 2016 Off-Road-Park near Nürburgring was the third extraordinary race location. Highlights were the 24h races on the traffic-free, partly lit race circuit and the team quarters in the pit lane. Furthermore a pro race of the category 1.1 took place this year. Besides the ultra- and the long-distance event several amateur races, a time trial and some bike rides without timekeeping were held at 2016 Rad am Ring. The amateur races are part of German Cycling Cup, Germany's largest series of amateur cycle races
31.07.2016