Team Bulls were left empty handed at the German XCM Championships, with Markus Kaufmann claiming his first national championship title in Singen, Germany.
Kaufmann, of the Vaude Centurion team, triumphed in the 94km (2,200m) race, to finish 13 seconds clear of Robert Mennen (Topeak Ergon Racing Team) and more than 2 minutes clear of Hannes Genze (Multivan Merida Biking Team).
Team Bulls’ chances of victory had been dealt a heavy blow before the race, with event favourite and former German Champion Karl Platt being ruled out of contention due to a virus.
Bulls’ Tim Böhme was involved in early action, but an attack by Robert Mennen 30km split the field, moving away with Thorsten Marx, Mattias Leissling and Genze, in what would prove to be the decisive move.
Despite a brave chase that saw him back within sight of the podium, a crash towards the end of the race left Böhme to rue his 6th place finish.
“The form is simply not the way it was two weeks. In March I went to the Cape Epic top form and I just couldn’t keep the high level over so many weeks. Today I did my best and haven’t really done anything wrong, but I’m very disappointed about the result. ” he said.
For 30-year-old Kaufmann the race is was the biggest of his four year professional career and his second victory of the 2012 season, following his win at the Uralan Marathon.
Brief results:
1. Markus Kaufmann – Vaude Centurion – 3:38:12h
2. Robert Mennen – Topeak Ergon Racing Team – 3:38:25h
3. Hannes Genze – Multivan Merida Biking Team – 3:40:38h
6. Tim Böhme – Team Bulls – 3:42:07h
11. Stefan Sahm – Team Bulls – 3:45:01h
14. Marcus Nicolai – Team Bulls – 3:49:50h