TWO FROM TWO IN GERMAN TIME TRIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

It was a 100% success rate for CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto on day one of the German Road National Championships, with both Antonia Niedermaier and Justyna Czapla crowned time trial champions in their respective elite and U23 categories.

Antonia’s victory was made all the sweeter by it being her maiden German elite title – matching the accomplishment of teammate Zoe Bäckstedt, who took the British elite TT crown just a day earlier. After winning the U23 title in 2023 and finishing second in the elite category in 2024, she finally upgraded to the big, elusive title.

Antonia clocked 31:10, averaging a slick 43.3kph on the eclectic 22.6km loop that mixed long climbs, twisty descents, urban sections and bike-only lanes.

For Justyna, her ride was one of vindication and confidence, as she successfully defended her 2024 U23 title with a commanding 1:03 minute margin over Linda Riedmann (TJV).

“It means a lot to me to defend this title knowing that TT is my strength and that I can show myself from my best side there. It was also my goal for today and I’m really happy that I did it, especially with a big time gap.

I would say that everything went according to plan today. I knew the course well and stuck to what we had discussed. Steffen also guided me nicely from the car, so I was able to get the most out of it.”

When asked what’s changed for her, and how she’s grown as a rider since her last national title, Justyna reflects:

“I’ve learned that I can go into the races with more confidence, but also have good perspectives for my future years in cycling. I’m happy with my development, even if it’s not always easy. You get stronger, but for me it’s also important to still keep the focus on experience and the team helps me a lot with that!”

Interestingly, CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto has claimed the U23 title in all four years since the category was introduced – first with Ricarda Bauernfeind in 2022, then Antonia, and now twice with Justyna.

In her first year eligible for the cateogry, Joëlle Messemer finished 8th in the U23 category while Jule Märkl made it a strong team showing by rounding out the top ten.

Already tomorrow, all four time-triallists will be joined by Rosa Klöser and Ricarda for a demanding road race. The course spans six laps, totalling 118.6km with over 2100m of climbing. It’s a flowing loop that constantly demands pressure on the pedals through the climbs, and sharp concentration on the technical descents.

Put simply, there’s little room for recovery. It’s hard to imagine the peloton easing into any lap, especially when some climbs require significant effort just to stay in motion.

With six strong riders on the start line, the team is well represented and in prime position to possibly secure another two national jerseys…

Viel Glück!