Better train than mountains: In February, Franziska Brauße wins the European title in the individual pursuit. Image: dpa
Women’s cycling is developing rapidly. Nevertheless, the 24-year-old Franziska Brausse – Olympic and world champion – has to accept several jobs in order to be successful.
At kilometer 46, the sports director makes an announcement. He holds the steering wheel of the police car with one hand and the radio with the other. With his left eye he controls the road and the race, with his right he watches the road book on his laptop. In English he says: “Girls, twelve kilometers to the hardest mountain. Eat and drink and be in a good position in case the other teams try something.”
It is the final stage of the Thuringia Tour. Start and finish in Mühlhausen, 126 kilometers, 1450 meters in altitude. Steffen Radochla leads the professional cyclists of the Ceratizit-WNT team through the most important tour of women’s cycling in Germany. Start number 53: Franziska Brausse, Olympic champion and multiple world champion, but on the track. On Wednesday she became German champion in the individual pursuit, on Thursday in the team pursuit. She doesn’t like mountains. As she cranks up a steep climb, she asks herself, “Why am I riding here?”
