Mieke Kröger of Human Powered Health Cycling flew to her second German national time trial title, winning on the 32.2km course in Bad Dürrheim by an incredibly tight 0.9-second margin. “I am very happy,” she said while riding back to the hotel. “This motivates me on the way to the World Championships and I think the course in Glasgow could really suit me.”
A more challenging course than previous editions favoured the Olympic team pursuit gold medalist, who knew that her pacing strategy was key, particularly through a technical first five kilometres that included some small rises.
“I was like 13th at the first intermediate time,” she explained. “The time was made up in the end though and I had to really push myself over the uphill parts then take a breath and refocus on the downhills.”
Kröger did not realise how tight the margin was to Katharina Fox (Maxx-Solar Rose Women Racing) was because her radio was broken.
“My preparation was good, so I just went as fast as I could!” she said.
The gold medal in Germany adds to Human Powered Health Cycling’s medal tally that includes a silver medal in the French national time trial championships for Audrey Cordon-Ragot.
National Championships Germany Time Trial results
1 KRÖGER Mieke – Human Powered Health 0:45:13
2 FOX Katharina – Maxx-Solar Rose Women Racing 0:01
3 KOPPENBURG Clara – Cofidis Women Team 0:18
4 KOCH Franziska – Team DSM 0:23
5 BAUERNFEIND Ricarda – Canyon//SRAM Racing 0:49
6 KLEIN Lisa – Trek – Segafredo ”
7 KASPER Romy – AG Insurance – Soudal Quick Step 1:03
8 BRAUßE Franziska – CERATIZIT-WNT Pro Cycling 1:08
9 LUDWIG Hannah – Uno-X Pro Cycling Team 1:33
10 LECHNER Corrina – Massi – Tactic Women Team 1:40
