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The Dutchman Fabio Jakobsen won the EM road bike race - despite defective radios
Photo: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images
From the point of view of the Federation of German Cyclists (BDR), the EM road race as part of the European Championships in Munich was not very satisfactory: When the Dutch favorite Fabio Jakobsen won, Phil Bauhaus was the best German in 18th place, hopeful Pascal Ackermann was on the finish line Odeonsplatz is no longer there after a fall.
"He was really hot yesterday and said: Tomorrow I'll be European champion," said Jens Zemke, sports director of the BDR.
However, 45 kilometers from the finish, Ackermann's title dream ended at a narrow road, the 28-year-old collided with the barriers and did not finish the race.
Technical failure irritates Zemke
Functionary Zemke was also annoyed by a drop-out in the »tour radio«, which is important for communication, in the initial phase of the race - a technical mishap for which Zemke sharply criticized the organizers.
"When we cycle races in Italy, we have radios, I think that's what Fausto Coppi's sports directors used in the 1960s," said Zemke, "but they work.
It's a bit embarrassing that we in Germany - a high-tech country - are not able to install a few decent radios.«
Zemke described the consequences of the interim technical failure: "For two hours, racing drivers stood left and right who had defects and for whom the cars were not called." That was complicated: "Some stop to relieve themselves.
The next one stops and has a flat tire and the cars go by.
I've never experienced anything like this.«
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