For the third time, the hunt for the lap record spectacularly kicked off cycling festival Rad am Ring. This year, a strong field was at the starting line. Swiss pro cyclist Patrick Schelling of team Vorarlberg and track specialist Tatjana Paller of Koga Ladies were the fastest riders of Profile Design time trial over 22 kilometers. Pro triathlete and Ironman European Champion Sebastian Kienle and Olympic athlete and track rider Gudrun Stock finished third and second. For the first time also historic (time trial) bikes were allowed to the starting line.
Nürburgring is not a classic time trial circuit. Instead of flat, straight roads participants of Profile Design time trial have to deal with 580 vertical meters spread over 22 kilometers. And of course they have to climb them as fast as possible.
With a race time of 31:43:28 minutes pro cyclist Patrick Schelling of team Vorarlberg was the fastest rider in the men’s field. He was only a few seconds slower than reigning record holder, Spanish pro cyclist Victor de la Parte (31:11:17 min.). Pro triathlete and Ironman European Champion Sebastian Kienle, who was taken for a test ride on Nordschleife by car in the afternoon, finished third (34:01:50 minutes), despite “having to put a little more pressure on the pedals than in the Porsche this afternoon. But it was fun”, he said after the race that was part of his preparation for Ironman 70.3 World Championship in Australia at the beginning of September and Ironman World Championship on Hawaii in October. Runner up was Helmut Pitzl in 32:43:66 minutes.
In the women’s category Gudrun Stock lost her title in spite of a fast time (40:45 minutes) to her team mate at Koga Ladies, Tatjana Paller (39:44:55 minutes).
Gudrun Stock was not exasperated for long, however, as she will get off the saddle and almost directly on a plane to Rio where she will represent Germany at the Olympics in track cycling (team pursuit). „I am happy that the journey will start soon“, she said at the award ceremony. On third place: Yvonne Margraf of team Abus-Nutrixxion in 41:19:19 minutes.
Hans-Peter Durst, disabled athlete and four time World Champion in individual time trial, participated out of competition – on a special three-wheeled bicycle, as since he had an accident in 1994, he has lost his sense of balance. By starting at the Ring he did not only want to prove that he is fast – which he did in 47:02 minutes – but also give hope to people with and without handicap.
Besides high tech carbon racing machines, this time for the first time also fans of historic bicycles got something to see. Due to new Giro Classico also classic steel time trial bikes were allowed to the starting line. “This adds a whole new facet to the race by appealing to a wider range of cyclists”, said head of organization, Hanns-Martin Fraas. And apparently it also appealed to the weather god who sent the sun on time for the race start – and will hopefully let it shine over the Ring until the end of the event on Sunday.
On Saturday, the hobby sport highlight and center piece of Rad am Ring will start with 24-hour races for road, mountain and e-bikes. Furthermore, fans of pro racing will be given a real treat: a race of KMC MTB-Bundesliga series at Off-road-Park near Nürburgring.
For further information please go to our website www.radamring.de
30.07.2016