Kupfernagel targeting Olympic hat trick

By Susan Westemeyer

Hanka Kupfernagel is aiming high at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. As reigning time trial World Champion, the German can expect to be named to the German team for both the time trial and road races. But the 33-year-old is also contemplating the Olympic mountain bike event according to German news agency sid.

The two-time cyclo-cross World Champion is coached and managed by her partner and former cyclo-cross ace Mike Kluge. Kupfernagel explained that Kluge has convinced her that the mountain bike course is well suited to her ability. The mountain bike event also takes place two weeks after the road race, meaning that there is ample time to prepare for the event after the road cycling events have finished. "That could be something," she admitted.