Georg Zimmermann conquers the German road racing championship!

Georg Zimmermann conquers the German road racing championship!

What an exciting day for Hessian cycling! In an exciting edition of the German Road Cycling Championships, 27-year-old Georg Zimmermann from Augsburg triumphed over all odds. He secured his first championship title in a highly dramatic race that took place in picturesque Linden, near Kaiserslautern. The competition not only challenged the athlete through high temperatures and 3,330 meters in altitude, but also through a technical defect that briefly caused him to break out in a cold sweat.

Zimmermann, who competed for the Intermarché – Wanty team, was able to beat Felix Engelhardt in the sprint and didn't miss the win. “It was the greatest success of my career,” he cheered after the race, adding that the emotionally charged race pushed him to his limits. Despite a puncture that almost caused him to give up, he was able to catch up again thanks to the support of his teammate Jonasrutsch.

Strong teamwork and strategy implementation

Slip and Zimmermann's plan was clear: put themselves at each other's service and wait, instead of immediately joining a breakaway group. Slip had already explained before the race that the profile suited Zimmermann better and that they would react flexibly to developments in the race. “We had the right feel for the bike route,” said Schiebe. Previously, both drivers had had mixed results in past championships - Zimmermann's best result was a third place in 2021 and twelfth place in 2022, whilerutsch took fifth place in the same year.

The races of the German Road Cycling Championships, which are held annually by the Association of German Cyclists, offer a varied competition. The route profiles change from year to year, which suits both sprinters and racers. Championship titles are awarded not only in road races, but also in individual time trials and mountain championships. This diversity has contributed to the tournament becoming increasingly popular on German soil and producing numerous talents, as is the case with Zimmermann.

A look into the future

Zimmermann will take on his second challenge just one day after his triumph, on July 5th, when he sets off for the Tour de France. He is full of excitement and admits that wearing the championship jersey in France makes him feel like he has “accomplished 33 percent of his career goals.” His goals include not only a stage win in the Tour, but also participation in the Olympic Games in Paris.

The German cycling community is holding its breath to see how Zimmermann performs in the coming competitions. Wearing the championship jersey, which stands out in Germany with its impressive black, red and gold chest stripe, not only gives the 27-year-old a special shine, but also a touch of additional sui generis pressure. One thing is certain, we will continue to look forward to his successes.

In the other competitions, Maximilian Schachmann won the men's time trial title, while Antonia Niedermaier brought home the women's championship title. Franziska Koch successfully defended her championship jersey from last year. The championships in Linden were a celebration for all cycling fans and showed that the future of German cycling is brighter than ever before.

Let’s see how the exciting 2025 season unfolds!