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The second victory of the season for Hanka

November 13 2011

After the second place now the second victory oft he season: Hanka presented herself in very good condition at the 33rd international cyclo-cross in Frenkendorf (Switzerland) and after 41:08 minutes she put Sabrina Schweizer (Wangen) to her place with a two second lead. 3rd became the Swiss champion Jasmin Achermann (50 seconds behind).

The Stevens Racing Team driver, Schweizer and Achermann could pull away right after the start of the six laps on the fast course. At mid-race Hanka and Schweizer used a mistake of the local matador who then couldn’t keep up with the top flight duo. The final decision was made during the last 400 meters. "After a sharp turn I pushed it real hard and kept up the pace over the finish line", Hanka gladly reported about her success.

But whether she will be able to defend her victory at this traditional event next year is still to be seen. Parts of the track are owned by a farmer who doesn’t want to provide it for the race anymore. "The excitement at the track was great. It would be a real pity if this traditional race vanished from the international calendar.", Hanka hoped for a settlement which would ensure the 34th happening next year.

Hanka reports back internationally

November 11 2011

Hanka returned to the international cross-scene with a great 2nd place at the cyclo-cross-country race in French Nommay after her resignment at the European Championship. At the UCI ranked race the Stevens Racing Team driver was defeated only by the number two oft he European Championship, Lucie Chainel-Lefevre. The French had a 37-second lead to Hanka at the finish line. Gabriella Day (England, 42 seconds behind) became third, ahead of european ranked 3rd Pauline Ferrand Prevot (France, 1:16 minutes behind).

The race in Nommay was traditionally difficult with many meadow parts while the ascends didn’t make the race easier for the cyclists due to soaking wet mud. „I didn’t feel so great and my legs were tired from the intense training oft he past weeks", Hanka explained after the race.

Two successful form tests and a new camper

November 6 2011

In spite of the refusal of the Cross Europe-Cup Hanka was completely content with the past week-end. "The weather was great, the races in Mannheim and Lorsch provided two very good endurance tests for me, I met many nice people and I received my new camper for the winter. To sum it up: the week-end was absolutely perfect!", Hanka said about the last days and two victories.

At the race in Mannheim on Saturday Hanka was impressed by the bendy track, which demanded a lot from her technically. "With about 50 curves per round it was a little bit like mini-golf. The longest straight was only about 150 metres long." Because the juniors raced together with the women, she stayed close to the boys. "I have noticed, how I improved my handling the curves over the laps." At the winner's honour she was accompanied on the platform by second-placed Agnes Naumann, third-placed Mandy Platzdasch and bicycle legend Rudi Altig.

The day after, the race in Lorsch took place which belongs to the Germany-Cup. As usual, it was a real endurance test and very well visited by 3000 spectators at the track. "At the end we even extended the race by one lap but this was no problem. The many spectators provided the motivation needed", so Hanka who won the race about three minutes ahead of Agnes Naumann and Liv-Susanne Bachmann.

The cream bonnet of the successful week-end was the handing over of the new camper to Hanka. "This was amazing, I could inaugurate it immediately. Now, the next world cup races can come. Many thanks to Jörn Thyssen from http://www.duemo-duelmen.de for everything and to Susanne who handed the camper over to me."

(Click on photo to see details.)

Great sixth place at the second world cup race in Tabor

October 23 2011

Hanka has reached the great sixth rank at the second race of the cross-world cup in Tabor(Czechia). After her cancellation due to sickness one week ago at the opening race in Pilsen (Czechia) and still weakened from the flue she got off to a dream start at the difficult 3,2-kilometre circuit. "I had a good start and got away first. But after a while I became the victim of a driving mistake from Helen Wyman who was in front of me", Hanka describes the early stage of the race.

Then in the second lap a 4-headed top flight with the later winner Katerina Nash had formed. Hanka closed the gap to the top on her own and after the 2nd lap she was right on the top flights tail again. "In a technical passage I have slipped away a little and lost contact to the fours. Then at such a high pace I couldn’t reach them anymore and continued on my own. Just right before the end there came Pavla Havlikova passing me. I did notice the flue-caused lack of training on this difficult course. However, I am quite satisfied with the result as this is my second cross race in this season.", said Hanka after the race. And already on Tuesday is her next race, the night-cross race Woerden, NL.

After 39:59 minutes for 16 kilometres local matador Katerina Nash (Czechia) won in Tabor. She beat both Dutchwomen Daphny van den Brand (by 6 seconds) and Sanne van Paassen (14 seconds back). Hanka (6th) was 1:01 minutes behind.

(Click on photo to see details.)

Interview: Hanka Kupfernagel‘s return on the track

September 26 2011

Kupfernagel‘s return on the track: It all began with a private bet

Hanka Kupfernagel is one of the most successful racing cyclists in the
world.
Four times the 37-year-old became world champion in cyclo-cross, one
time she was world champion in single time trial, then she became
Olympia’s second in street racing and an end ist not in sight. However,
at the beginning of her career she was very successful on the track. In
1991 Kupfernagel became junior world champion in scores and in 1992
junior world champion in single pursuit. She held the junior world
record about this distance for a long time. In addition the all-rounder
won the German championship in adult single pursuit in 1995. Kupfernagel
was last seen active on the road in 2004 when she qualified for the
world championships right away. But she failed to achieve Olympic
standards due to illness. Now she is taking part in German track
championships at Berlin’s Velodrome in the omnium discipline (combined
event of lap record driving, points race, heat, individual pursuit,
scratch, 500-meter time trial).

Here a short interview with the five times world champion Hanka
Kupfernagel about her goals for the cross season, her participation on
the track and why national coach Thomas Liese plays a major role in
Kupfernagel’s return to it.

Hanka, yesterday at the start of the cross season, you have won the
first race in Switzerland. How satisfied are you?

Answer: I have never started a cross season this early before. And
winning right away is very nice, of course. The competition was high
quality an the track very difficult.

Now that the cross season has begun what are your aims for this winter?

Answer: I would like to take part in all world cup races and most of the
big series‘ „Super Prestige“ and „GVA-Trophy“ races in Belgium. This
adds up to 25 races until the world cup. Nevertheless, I am still
negotiating with the organizers.

Next week you are on an excursion to new terrain, you start at the
German Omnium Championship on the track at Berlin’s Velodrome. How did
that arise?

Answer: It all began with a private bet. Now I want to see for myself
what is possible on the track.

What’s the background of your decision to take part in the German Omnium
Championship in Berlin?

Answer: This summer, I have started in a derny race on a track in
Heidenau and it was lots of fun. That made me remember national coach
Thomas Liese who asked me if I might want to return to the track some
time. And now would be a perfect time.


Have you prepared for it in a special way?
Answer: I have trained at the concrete tracks in Zurich several times
and my lap times over 3000 meters weren’t too bad. Time will see that
happens next on Friday and Saturday in Berlin.

You have not been nominated for the street world cup in Denmark by the
German Cyclist Alliance. Have you followed it anyway?

Answer: Yes, in contrast to last year I watched the races live. Nice to
see that some medals were won by cyclists of over 30 years.

What are your plans for the time after the German Omnium Championship?

Answer: On Monday I’m participating in the Charity Bike Cup close to
Stuttgart. Then I continue directly with the cross races. During October
the first world cup races in Pilsen and Tabor take place.
 

(Click on photo to see details.)

Successful start to the new cross season

September 25 2011

25th September 2011, Baden near Zürich

A perfect start into the new cyclo-cross season was laid by La Hanka at "Süpercoss" in the Swiss town of Baden. After six laps on the demanding 2.5-kilometer circuit, she finished
with a 30 second lead to the Swiss Champion Ackermann, Havlíková Pavla from Czech Republic was a further 44 seconds back in 3rd. Second best German Martina Zwick from Wörth (3:22 minutes back) finished eighth.

"I have never started my Cyclocross Season so early and with a victory, which of course is very nice," said Hanka who was pleased with her start-finish victory. "From the start, I rode a fast pace. When I first had turned around to get a little air, there was already a safe gap to Ackermann, from then I just kept working".

This coming weekend Hanka is on the move again, this time in the velodrome on the 1st and 2nd October, for the German Championship in the Omnium at the Berlin Velodrome.

More information about the Cross Süper it here

(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.)

Cycling for charity

August 2 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 5 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 9 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 6 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 5 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.)