The Rothaus-Cube MTB Team for 2010 (Image credit: Armin Küstenbrück)
The Rothaus-Cube MTB Team has picked up five new riders for the 2010 season. The team introduced its new line-up for 600 bike dealers at the Cube Factory Days in Waldershof, Germany, this week. Under 23 world championship silver medallist Alexandra Engen and Nina Wrobel are joining the cross country part of the team while Austrian Silvio Wieltschnig and two Danish sisters Norgaard, Anna-Sofie and Kristine, are joining the marathon division.
For next season the team, managed by Patrik Faller and based in Freiburg, boasts a total of 13 riders. "Cube is growing and we are growing. Cube is an international actor and we therefore have to fine-tune our structure both on the marathon as well as on the cross country side," said Faller. "Therefore we've enlarged the team with riders who can continue to reinforce our international presence."
The addition of Engen and Wrobel brings Rothaus-Cube's women's cross country roster to four. Wrobel won a World Cup race in 2006 and has had health problems for some time, but is working her way back to her peak.
"It will be a year of change, I have my medical studies, but I will try to find the right mix and hope to do World Cup races again," said Wrobel.
Engen, who will live in Freiburg from January to September, says she's feeling no pressure for 2010. In addition to her silver at worlds, Engen took second at the Under 23 European Championships.
"I love to race, and I like to improve. I bike with all my heart and I go as fast as possible. That's all I can do." Faller has Engen in mind as his team moves toward the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
Rothaus-Cube is no stranger to marathon racing. Danish duo Anna-Sofie and Kristine Norgaard will race the TransAlp from Füssen to Riva.
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"We enjoy riding and the rest comes automatically," said the 32-year-old Kristine, who together with Rothaus-Cube biker Milena Landtwing won the women's class of the 2009 TransAlp.
After a break to give birth to her son, Anna-Sofie is returning to racing. "It's good to be back again," she said. She's been training for some time and is hoping to resume racing where she left off in 2008.
Wieltschnig will bring experience to the marathon team. The man from Villacher in Austria has more than 15 years on the racing circuit. "The Rothaus-Cube MTB Team is a new motivation for me," said the 36-year-old, who love stage races. Wieltschnig works full time in finance and is the father of a nine and a half year old son. In 2010, he'll focus on the TransAlp where he last finished number two overall in 2006. Team Rothaus-Cube for 2010
Cross country: Barbara Benkó (Hungary) Alexandra Engen (Sweden), Hanna Klein (Germany), Nina Wrobel (Germany), Felix Euteneuer (Germany), Heiko Gutmann (Germany)
Sue George is an editor at Cyclingnews. She coordinates all of the site's mountain bike race coverage and assists with the road, 'cross and track coverage.
