Rund um die Altsatdt Nürnberg (GER) September 14th 2008
Written by Marc   

Final UCI Worldcup race in Nürnberg (GER)

After the Trophée d’Or, where I caught a cold, it was very difficult for me to find motivation for one more race on the last day of the holidays (school started on Monday 15th). The rainy weather on Saturday didn’t inspire me more, but fortunatley at our arrival in Nürnberg the sun showed up for a few moments.

Normally the race in Nürnberg ends in a massive sprint, so I didn’t stress myself during the first laps, was often at the end of the bunch and (how those things always go...) missed the attack-group of 18 riders around Judith Arndt. The proof that woman are considered as 2nd class riders was given during the last lap, when the main bunch was stopped to let pass a 2nd category men’s race (just for information: the men’s winner took 5800 euro for 142km and the women’s world-cup winner 1200 euro for 129km, and just how the heck can one justifie that? Is that what they call equality?) .

Samatha Galassi, Alice Marmorini, Nadejda Vlasova and Suzie during the team presentation

The commissioner on the motobike was a very good educated person, telling us to "shut up" when we dared to argue! (What a wonderful world...)

After that stop, where we lost a few minutes on the leading group, the race was over and the final sprint was just for the spectators. I finished 50th but I could’ve done a lot better, the course suiting me perfectly.Anyway, I thought that it would be the last race for the season, but we got a call from Italy that I’ll have to do the Grand Prix de France in Noyon on Sunday the 28th. I’ll do it, but without any ambitions, my training being reduced to fool around on mountainbike with my son Fränz (who has a real talent and a great technique) and a few hours on the road with my daughter Trixy. Then I’ll take a few weeks off before starting cyclo-cross.

 

Marc