Current News

In spite of puncture to rank six

NOVEMBER 08 2009

A good start into the cross world cup season in Nommay. In spite of a puncture, Hanka made it to place six at her season’s premiere. The race was won by the american Katie Compton.

„I am very contend“, Hanka sumed up. „Of course, I can still feel my deficit. But that’s just normal after such a long break, especially as the competition already has a few more races done. But I have also seen that I am on the right track. My aim was to come under the first ten.
And in the end it even turned out to be rank six.“

But that wasn’t all for Hanka. After a start from last row and fighting the rear field she fought herself forward during second and third laps and competed for place three. Only a flat rear tire could bring her off track a little but it was no reason to bring her down. Though the podium place was gone the STEVENS cyclist made the best of the situation and took the sixth place.

(Click on photo to see details.)

„I didn’t want to return until I was fit again“

NOVEMBER 03 2009

Now it’s on again. Hanka is back from Mallorca, where she could train at the Robinson Bike-Event together with 30 guests for a week at best weather. Over the weekend (1st Nov), she will take part in her first cross race at Lorsch and at the next weekend is her first world cup race in Nommay/France.

Hey Hanka, it’s getting serious for you at the weekend – after you’ve had a long break from racing.
And it was definitely necessary after my severe crash in early summer in Canada.

Why?
Though I dind’t break anything I had headaches and problems with my cervical spine for a long time.

And how are you now?
I’m fully okay now – after lots of physiotherapy driven measures.

Is that why you start a little late into the season?
Correct. I didn’t want to take part in a competition until I’m all fit again.

What does it mean for you season goals?
I won’t conentrate on defending my world cup title but on the word champtionship in Tabor at the end of January.

Are you happy with your new bike?
Definitely! The new STEVENS bikes have all the successful components from the past and are even lighter now.

Is there something new, innovative about your material?
We have new cable mounting points at the front fork. They keep the fork from vibrating when breaking. By doing this the idea of my mechanic Wolfgang Heer has been realised after several successful field tests during the last cross season and it’s even going into mass production (for consumers) now. The improved braking is a big step forward for our safety.

Rumor has it that there are major changes in your private life, too.
Yes, it’s true. Mike and me, we have broken up – but kept the friendship. He will stay a very important contact person for me.
 

(Click on photo to see details.)

On Tour with Hanka and Mike

AUGUST 19 2009

Like a tour with Hanka and Mike? On Saturday (August 22th) at the Nordhäuser Event Day around cycling this is possible. At 9:30 they both open the event together with Minister Klaus Zeh, Disctrict Administrator Joachim Claus and Mayor Matthias Jendricke.

In the afternoon a street tour with Hanka takes place whereas a route of about 40km is planned. With Mike on the other hand one can go on a MTB tour.
Integrated into this tour is a driving technique workshop with Mike.

Furthermore on the agenda: senior cycling-hiking-tours, disctrict youth MTB games, street youngster sprint, the 5th run of the middle german cup cross country, street youngster spring of the age classes U11/U13, Everybody Tour, engineering workshop, public domain solo time trial, wheel competition, road safety training and so on. The tours and workshops are for free.

Further information at: http://bike-fieber.de/ndh2009/
 

(Click on photo to see details.)

Big revenue at round trip in Göppingen

AUGUST 15 2009

A whole lot of money was raised at the seventh run of the four day long round trip through the region of Göppingen: 16.350 Euro have been gathered by the participators for the inpatient hospital for the district Göppingen, the candle manufactury for the disctrict club "Living with disabled Göppingen e.V." and the Hohenau foundation.

On friday, Hanka and Mike accompanied the public domain cyclists at the last stage - and were very glad afterwards to have been part of it. "It was an overwhelming event. Our sponsor and friend Peter Vogel told us about it. Fortunately, for it was really worth it: We had a great race and did a good deed."

 

(Click on photo to see details.)

Hanka is cycling for charity again

AUGUST 07 2009

At August 14th, Hanka mounts her bike for charity again: at the round trip from Göppingen to Süßen. Start is at 9 a.m. and at 4 p.m. it’s over.

The round trip takes place for the seventh time already. This year the inpatient hospital for the district Göppingen, the candle manufactory for the district club “Living with disabled Göppingen e.V.” and the Hohenau foundation are supported.

 

(Click on photo to see details.)

Cycling for charity

AUGUST 02 2009

After finishing the season early Hanka has gone to Turkey for recreation. Nevertheless, last weekend she mounted her bike for charity. She passed two laps at Doc Tom and Friends’ 24 hour cycling race at the Nürburgring. Her physical condition didn’t allow her to do more, she was suffering from, a fever. “In Turkey, we had 40°C, I guess I got a cold,” she says. There was only one reason for her taking part anyway: It was for charity, a cycling went in favour of the Christiane-Eichenhofer-Stiftung. Amongst the starters were Hanka’s partner, Jan Ulrich, Jens Heppner, Harry Becker and of course the team initiator Dr. Thomas Stoltz alias Doc Tom. Already ten weeks ago there had been the first event: a 24 hour car race at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife.

(Click on photo to see details.)

“I need a short break to achieve the big aims”

JULY 15 2009

The step didn’t go easy for her but was necessary. The 35 year-old quits her street season which didn’t go well due to an influenzal infection and a crash. The reason: Hanka wants to get rest to go for her big aims: the cross world championship 2011 at St. Wendel and the Olympic Games 2012 at London.

Hanka, you decided to quit the street season.
By reason but not by heart.

For the Thuringian-round trip at your home is coming shortly.
Correct. This is very important to me. If you’re racing at two seasons every year, you have to ponder carefully where to start. And taking coming tasks into consideration I had to make this decision as preparations didn’t go very well.

Why?
Already at the beginning of the season a influenzal infection and then the crash in Canada threw me back. And now I just feel that I’m running low on energy. For I haven’t saved me last winter but attacked the whole cross season very successfully.

Couldn’t you just struggle your way through?
The question is more what I want to reach by that. For the street world cup my conditional deficit is just too big. A year with a double season is like a long race – sometimes you have to get into slipstream to attack later. At October there already are the first cross world cup races on my program.

Is that a good-bye in instalments?
(Lifts her hands defendingly.) No, definitely not. On Contrary: I just need a small break here to go for the big goals next year. The good thing is that I have just made another important experience and therefore can go about 2010 very differently.

For example?
In 2011 there’s the Cross-WC in St. Wendel – and 2012 I want to go to the Olympic Games in London.

So you’ll continue with cross and street cycling?
Of course. I love solo time trial and I know that I can make it up to the top again. And I would like to win a stage at the Thuringian round trip once more.

So what’s next?
As I said: I’m putting my bike aside for a couple of days now and I’ll try to get rid of the last week’s tortures. One can’t keep the engine running full throttle for ever. (Laughs.) For it’s supposed to run for a few more years.

(Click on photo to see details.)

Great days in Monaco

JULY 05 2009

Enjoyed the Tour-de-France atmosphere, met a lot of friends and colleagues and took part in a charity race with other cycling stars and VIPs – to sum up Hankas and Mikes the last days.

“It was the first time I have experienced the Tour live and I have to say it is very different to watching it on TV. No surprise there are hundreds of thousands of spectators coming every year. It’s very special”, Hanka raved after her return. It was also special to take part in the World Stars Cycling Criterion for charity one day before tour launch. The star density was flattering. The whole crème de la crème of cycling was present.

You can find great pictures of the event HERE (many thanks to John Pierce!).

(Click on photo to see details.)

"Looking at the run-up story with all its hurdles that is quite good."

JUNE 26 2009

Experiment successful. In spite of a lot of handicaps, Hanka made it into the upper rankings of the german time trial championships in Cottbus. Her run took 41:04 minutes, was 30km long and hence she made it to a good sixth place. Hanka’s place as german champion is therefore taken by Trixi Worrack (39:08), second and third places were Judith Arndt (39:11) and Ina Yoko-Teutenberg (39:42).

Hello Hanka. In spite of your recent crash and the many missed training kilometres you’ve reached the sixth place. That’s not the worst result, is it?
Absolutely! I was aiming for one of the first eight places and I even slightly topped that. Looking at the run-up story with all its hurdles that is quite good.

Especially because competition never sleeps.
Exactly. The power densitiy is very high. And this was only my sixth race of the season while the others already have 20 to 30 races in their legs. So I got the short end of the stick here.

But are you still happy to have taken part in the race?
By hindsight: absolutely. In the run-up I was tinkering with the idea of giving up. But now I?m glad that I was here. Every race improves my physical fitness and I could test my bike.

And you abdicate the race on sunday?
Yes but that decision was made quite a while ago. I am taking part in the MTB-Bundes League in Wetter in the Sauerland.

 

(Click on photo to see details.)

Hanka had severe crash

JUNE 09 2009

Sad ending of a strong season prelude: Up to now it all went fine for Hanka. But at km 72 of the third Tour de PEI stage bad luck struck her hard. In front of Hanka some cyclists had crashed. Quick-witted she tried to dodge and did very well. She managed to get around the danger zone and came to a controlled stop at the grass. But danger wasn’t over yet. Out of the blue came another cyclist and crashed right into her. Hanka fell and was injured. Thanks to her Casco helmet, her Adidas glasses and her Roeckl gloves nothing worse happened. But she still carried away two lacerations. Further diagnosis was unavailable right after the crash. The only sure thing was that the Tour de PEI was over for Hanka. To her regret but also to her team colleagues’. “I feel like after a boxing fight”, Hanka said Tuesday evening.

We wish best wishes for her.

(Click on photo to see details.)

“This success is invaluable”

JUNE 06 2009

Hi Hanka, congratulations to your victory and your great team achievement. Have you celebreated the success?
Yes, a litte but we didn’t have too much time at all. Due to the races taking place in the evening we couldn’t make it from the party to our hotel before 1 a.m. And already at 6 a.m. our bikes had to be loaded.

You’re already moving to the next race?
Correct. We are now on our way from Montreal to Prince Edward Island which is 1200 km away. There the Tour de PEI begins on sunday.

But before we look in the future let’s have a short summary of the Tour du Grand Montreal. You have gathered more and more momentum over the days ...
Yes, I have struggled through the races day by day - it was quite hard. And I would never have dared to dream that I would win the final stage by sprinting.

And once again you have proven that you need some races to get in form.
True. I hoped it would come this way - but I never really believed it would go this fast. After all, I had my first street race of the season in Canada. So this success was very important for me and for my team including the coaches.

You are leading a very young team with many talents of whom some are just about to do their final exams. On the other hand, you are a very experienced cyclist who has had uncountable successes in sports. That is an unusual combination. But from the outside it all seems very smooth.
Yes, that impression is correct. Everything fits just fine. The girls profit from my experience and I do so from their light heartedness. The calming effect of our coaches adds up to it and therefore we all are in a great mood. Everybody respects each other and we’re laughing a lot which I attach a lot importance to. And everyone can see that we are quite successful thereby.

Next comes the Tour de PEI - and expectations are going to be high after the success at Montreal.
Well, now we have set the bar very high. We have given that some thought, too...

And what was the result?
Well, the Tour du Grand Montreal cannot be compared to the Tour de PEI. There won’t be any dominant team taking part whereby the race will be much more open. For us, it means that it can turn out better or worse than before. The only sure thing is that the Tour is going to be very exciting and that we are in a great mood: on and off track ;-)

 

(Click on photo to see details.)

Hanka wins final stage at Tour du Grand Montreal

JUNE 05 2009

Though it already went quite good for Hanka and the BDR national team they caused a great furore at the last day of the Tour du Grand Montreal. The young team managed to achieve a tactical masterstroke. The reward: a brilliant success. Hanka won the 115km stage in 02:52:13 hours while her team colleague Denise Zuckermandel (21 y/o, same time) became third. In overall standings, Hanka jumped up to place six. Winner of the round trip became the Dutchwoman Kirsten Wild (Cervelo Test Team).

The 23 km lap consisted of a 1500m ascent (up to 12%) and a long downhill part to the finish line. During the four sprint stages the BDR team kept with the pace very well. Hanka became second at the first stage, then she was fourth and sixth. And during the final sprint Hanka, Denise and Elke Gebhardt (24) have learned from their mistakes before. Thus they’ve done everything right and beaten the big sprinters of the tour by working together tactically.

Obviously, there was great happiness. Nobody had expected this coup. But national trainer Thomas Liese was last to receive the sensational news. Reason: Tour radio had failed and just before finish the material cars were diverted into a back road. So he couldn’t get in touch with his team until 10 minutes after the race was over.

“This is a great success for our young team, the greatest ever, actually”, Hanka cheered after finish. But for her, after so many great victories it was a very special success, too: “It was one of the very rare races I could decide during sprint, maybe the fifth at all.”

(Click on photo to see details.)