Kerschbaumer: “Sooner or later you will become world champion”

When asked about his medium-term goals, mountain biker Gerhard Kerschbaumer only has to think for a moment. Determined and self-confident, he makes it clear: “I want to become an elite world champion. It doesn't have to happen this year, but sooner or later. I still have time. This title has always been my goal. It will remain that way. And I know that I can do it."

He was world champion in the juniors and also world champion in the U23 class. That was in 2013. When it was time to make the jump to the elite category, nothing worked for a long time. It was only two years ago that he made his breakthrough and showed that he can be at the top. Last year the knot finally broke. After finishing second in the World Cup in Val di Sole, he took his first World Cup victory in Andorra and also made it onto the podium in the last two races. At the World Championships in Lenzerheide, Switzerland, he was crowned runner-up behind the top favorite Nino Schurter.

At the World Championships in Lenzerheide, Gerhard Kerschbaumer celebrated silver. © on

“This season I want to be at the top again. The shape is already right,” says Kerschbaumer. The highlight will take place from the end of August with the World Championships in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Canada. Then the contractor wants to win a medal again. “The route suits me,” he says happily. In 2017 he achieved his first podium finish here in the World Cup with third place, and in 2018 he came second. First place this year as a logical consequence? “The competition is damn strong. Nino Schurter in particular is difficult to beat,” says “Gery”. “Go into the race without pressure” Although Kerschbaumer is in better early form this year than ever before and has so far been spared from the pollen allergy, he is presenting himself cautiously for the start of the World Cup. “I’m going into the race on Sunday without any pressure,” emphasizes the 27-year-old. He is already satisfied with a place in the top ten to begin with. “I won't be disappointed if it's not enough for a top place. I know what I can do and will improve over the course of the year,” emphasizes the contracting agent. Lechner wants to go back to the front While Kerschbaumer has reached the top and has now more or less established himself there, Eva Lechner wants to go back there. The woman from Eppan has had some difficult years on the mountain bike. She now wants to attack again with a new team. After several years in the service of the US Luna team, Lechner has been competing for the “Torpado Südtirol” team from Veneto since the beginning of this MTB season. The racing team is supported, among others, by the state of South Tyrol with its umbrella brand. This time the woman from Eppan deliberately looked for an Italian team. For the US team, the many sponsor appointments in the USA and the obligation to race there were also a burden. Now she can concentrate on the essentials again. “Power density extremely high” “The performance density is extreme, it is difficult to get back to the top,” says Lechner. She would like to compete for podium places again sooner or later. She last won a World Cup race in Cairns, Australia, in April 2014, marking her third World Cup victory overall. After that, Lechner had a hard time, there were no podium places, and the woman from Eppan barely made it into the top ten. In cross-country (cyclo-cross) she was still able to keep up with the top and has regularly been on the podium in recent years, only this season didn't go well. Eva Lechner will zurück zu alter Stärke. © Torpado-Südtirol-International" data-fancybox="inline-52161" target="_image" href="https://s3-images.sportnews.bz/_images/scale/1280x1280/img/2019/05/eva-lechner-will-zurueck-zu-alter-staerke.jpg"> Eva Lechner wants to get back to her old strength. © Torpado-South Tyrol-International

Lechner is feeling good for the start of the World Cup in Albstadt. Just this weekend she won an international race in Slovenia. “Look what’s possible at the World Cup, I want to catch up again,” said Lechner.

When the starting signal for the World Cup is given this weekend, another South Tyrolean, Greta Seiwald, will be at the start alongside the veterans Gerhard Kerschbaumer and Eva Lechner. The 22-year-old U23 rider made it into the top 20 twice last season and would like to take the next step this season. Jan Laner and Julia Maria Graf from Gsies, who were called up by the Italian national team for the World Cup, start in the juniors. ____________________________ A big SportNews -Preview of the 2019 World Cup is available here .

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Kerschbaumer: “Sooner or later you will become world champion”

When the Cross-Country World Cup kicks off in Albstadt this weekend, Gerhard Kerschbaumer and Eva Lechner will also be there. While the contractor has made it to the top, the woman from Eppan wants to go back there.

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