Recently on Cyclingnews.com |
 Dauphiné Libéré Photo ©: Sirotti |
Tales from the Peloton
Nürnberg, Thursday, March 13, 2003
German women's cycling on course to the next level
Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung begins 2003 with huge ambitions
 |
The German insurance company, Nürnberger Versicherung, officially presented their elite women's professional cycling team on Thursday, March 13, 2003. The management of the only German professional women's team proudly presented their two new "prize" acquisitions for the coming season, namely Petra Rossner, 2002 World Cup Champion, and Judith Arndt, current champion of Germany. Rossner, Arndt and the rest of the Nürnberger squad were presented to a wide range of media and press representatives, sponsors and guests at the luxurious Maritim Hotel in central Nürnberg.
The team leader from last year, Hanka Kupfernagel, silver medalist from the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, returns to the team after recovering from an injury-plagued 2002 campaign. The team has been reinforced by young, highly talented, riders to meet the requirements of the coming season. Nürnberger team management plans a successful 2003 season based on a promising mixture of experienced professionals and a talented new generation.
 |
Other new signings to the team include the Swede Madeleine Lindberg, third in 2000 world road championships, and the two most promising German riders in the peloton, 21 year old Trixi Worrack, 2002 U23 European Champion, and Liane Bahler, last year's U23 German National Series champion.
"From our point of view we would like to see German women's cycling rise to a higher level, not only with results but also through the identification and promotion of talented younger riders. We have built a talented, harmonious and experienced team which promises much in the future whilst bringing German women's cycling to a higher level," said team manager Herbert Oppelt who, together with director sportif Jens Zemke, built the team.
"For us it is important to put the professional structures in place that will allow the team to take a step closer to our main goal: to be the best team in the world. With this in mind, we purposefully strengthened the team while still maintaining a future-oriented approach that will prepare the new generation of young talents for the hard reality of everyday life as a professional cyclist."
 |
Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung begins the 2003 season with 12 top riders. Along with world class riders like Rossner, Arndt and Kupfernagel is the Swedish duo of Jenny Algelid-Bengtsson, Swedish time trial champion and twice winner of the Rund um die Nürnberger Altstadt classic, and Madeleine Lindberg, stage winner in the Tour de France and Thüringen-Rundfahrt. Also joining the team for another year is top Australian rider Margaret Hemsley. The team is further strengthened and supported by the best of German cycling talent Trixi Worrack, Liane Bahler, Conny Cyrus , Kerstin Scheitle, Birgit Söllner and Patricia Hempel.
Further information on the team can be found under at www.equipe-nuernberger.de.
Photos
Images by foto roth
- Margaret Hemsley in the team uniform
- Hemsley walks on stage
- Margaret Hemsley looking smart
- The team pose for a photo
- The team models their casual uniform
- It's fun to stay at the YMCA
- Spin, spin, spin
- The girls ride during the presentation
