Bundesliga Heubach HC 17.05.2009

Worse than the sheep...

Heubach is known as one of the toughest XC races and this is why this race should have become the final test for us – Marco Fontana and me – for the upcoming World Cup race in Madrid, after 2 weeks of hard training. But somehow it didn’t come about…

When the starter’s gun went off, Marco and me went immediately in front, really impressive, leading out the bunch, with guys like Absalon, Peraud and Kurschat in there, onto the first lap of 8. Marco was in front of me and he followed the “supposed” start car. Unfortunately this car he followed was not a “race car” but a “sponsor’s advertising car” which turned off at the very first junction, while the race course normally turned right! And we – just like the sheep – we were stupid enough to follow the car...

By the time we had realized that we were wrong and, also thanks to the “observant” marshals who hadn’t even reacted on us when we turned off completely wrong, and until we finally had turned back, we ended up entering the first lap almost in last positions. There was nothing else left to do than chasing down rider after rider and making up ground; Marco and me eventually finished in 6th and 7th position, respectively.

I am really disappointed by what has happened in the start. Heubach is normally MY race for MY kind of riding that fits perfectly ME! And yes indeed, I felt really strong in the ascents when making up good time each lap, but for the downhills… I lost so much time in each downhill, didn’t feel comfortable at all and got even passed by riders blessed with less technical skills than I am. Strangely enough there was somehow also something wrong with the whole setup of my bike, wrong shock pressure and wrong tire pressure.

It looks like that I was not concentrated enough and made some – well “some”? Too many! – mistakes that would deny myself a worth placement. This race is a lost big chance for me. And this makes me really angry! Angry enough to be already by now more than 100% focused on next Sunday’s World Cup race in Madrid. We have to make amends… not just myself, but also as a team.