"City cycling" in Penzberg: 505 participants, over 100,000 kilometers

Created: 2022-08-10Updated: 2022-08-10 3:29 PM

By: Sandra Gerbich

Ambitious city cyclists: (from left) Individual winner Gerhard Niemeier, Martina Oswald, Carmen von Drachenfels and Ernst-Otto von Drachenfels (Team NutriDual), team winner Wally Karl, Angela von Drachenfels (Nutri Dual), team winner Gottfried Karl and Daniel Pavlovic (NutriDual) and Andreas Wowra (Department of Environment and Climate Protection) and Mayor Stefan Korpan.

© Sandra Gerbich

Penzberg – The people of Penzberg have set new records in “city cycling”.

And in more ways than one: 595 participants cycled 100,039 kilometers.

Mayor Stefan Korpan (CSU) spoke of amazing numbers at the award ceremony in front of the town hall.

This year has topped the performances of previous years in all areas.

"The competition is not just about fun and health, but above all about getting as many people as possible to switch to cycling in everyday life," explained the mayor.

You can get more and more people to use the bike, which is important in terms of CO2 emissions and climate change.

"You can see that you can do without the car - it just takes a push."

According to Korpan, the fact that this motivation works is shown by the new record figures: 595 cyclists rode a total of 100,039 kilometers over the three “city cycling” weeks.

"Arithmetically, they avoided 15 tons of CO2." Due to late registrations, the number even increased to 597 cyclists and 102,008 kilometers after the award ceremony.

A total of 36 teams started in Penzberg.

Last year, 460 pedalists took part, covering 90,254 kilometers.

High school at the top of the circle

The Penzberg Gymnasium provided by far the largest team: According to Korpan, 329 students and teachers took part.

Together they cycled 33,688 kilometers.

With this value, the high school team even won the school bike competition in the Weilheim-Schongau district.

This competition took place parallel to the "City Cycling".

The three-week school bike competition was held in the district for the fourth time.

In 2019 he started with a total mileage of 87,481 kilometers.

This year the cyclists covered 139,284 kilometers.

The more than 1000 students came up with a CO2 avoidance of 21.5 tons - compared to using a car.

With a per capita value of 1145 kilometers, the couple Karl made it to first place in the team ranking.

Wally Karl even took first place in the individual ranking two years ago, this time she won with her husband Gottfried Karl as a team of the "late recruits".

The 76-year-old is the real passionate cyclist, reveals the 84-year-old husband.

"It's so nice for cycling here," says Wally Karl.

The paths are ideal, and there are always opportunities to stop off.

Together they covered an impressive 2,289 kilometres, "whereby Wally had the largest share with 1,774 kilometres", the husband lets his wife go first.

With a per capita value of 1145 kilometers, Wally and Gottfried Karl made it to first place in the team ranking.

© Sandra Gerbich

Wolfgang Sacher again took first place in the individual ranking.

However, he was unable to attend the awards ceremony.

In 2015, Sacher initiated Penzberg's participation in "City Cycling" and this time cycled 2,412 kilometers.

More and more detours

Gerhard Niemeier, himself a passionate cyclist, made it to second place in the individual ranking.

At first, the 52-year-old only ever cycled to work from Haunshofen near Tutzing to Penzberg.

"Towards the end I made more and more detours," says Niemeier.

In the end, his commute to work would have led him via Murnaus to Penzberg.

So he had come to a proud 2219 kilometers.

Niemeier was only "recruited" by the NutriDeal team two weeks before the start of the competition.

"They just needed a driver."

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In addition to Sacher, this team also included third-placed individual rider Carmen von Drachenfels (2,069 kilometers).

The Penzberg company sent 31 cyclists into the race.

Together they cycled 19,839 kilometers, which brought them second place in the team ranking – around 640 kilometers per person.

In addition, the company donated one euro to the local blue light organizations for every “city bike” kilometer ridden.