The opening round of the 2024 Bundesliga took place in Kraichgau on Saturday. With some teams losing stars to WTCS Cagliari and others to injury, the race looked one of the most open in recent times as the winner could have come from anywhere. The unpredictability ultimately came to the fore as both the men’s and women’s individual and team wins were claimed by first-time victors.
In Kraichgau, a Sprint distance affair was on offer with the only slight difference to normal being that the swim was 800m long.
Women’s race
A hectic run into the water saw athletes thrashing on top of one another in a fight for position. Over the course of the 800m swim, though, the field gradually spread out.
World U23 champion Selina Klamt (Triathlon Potsdam) led out in 9:50 with European Youth champion Fanni Szalai (Absolute Teamsport KTT 01) and Anabel Knoll (triathlon.one Witten) a second behind. The field was stretched at the front, such was the pace of the leaders, and a breakaway seemed on the cards through T1.
In the end, a lead pack of eleven athletes came together. Anne Holm, Bianca Bogen (both Witten), Carlotta Bonacina (SG TSV Amicitia Viernheim/ Saar) and Robin Dreyling (Dr. Loges Triathlon Team Lüneburg) were among those to make it to the front. It took a big effort from the Viernheim/Saar pair of Tanja Neubert and Tabea Huys to make up ground on the bike after they swam around 20 seconds slower than Klamt. With their power on two wheels, though, they soon made up the distance.
In 2023, Viernheim struggled at times and ended the season in 14th place. Over the winter, however, they launched a collaboration with Team Saar and gained the likes of Neubert, formerly of Buschhütten, who trains in Saarbrücken.
Over the course of the bike, the experienced Knoll kept control of matters with her two teammates. With three Viernheim/Saar athletes also in the lead group, though, the team battle was set to come down to the third discipline.
A smaller lead pack of six did not take long to escape on the run. Klamt and Neubert, both of whom were fresh off racing at the Samarkand World Cup, led with Szalai, Knoll, Bonacina and Dreyling. Bonacina was the first to lose contact while in the closing part Knoll also slipped back.
In the ensuing sprint finish, Neubert had the most speed and held off the precocious youngster Szalai. Klamt then took 3rd place ahead fo Dreyling.
Neubert and Viernheim/Saar could therefore celebrate their first ever wins in the Bundesliga while Knoll’s efforts helped to keep Witten locked into 2nd place. Szalai’s star turn also went a long way in putting KTT 01 in 3rd overall.
Men’s race
Heading into Kraichgau, Sportunion Neckarsulm would have rued the absence of World U23 champion Simon Henseleit who crashed out at WTCS Yokohama two weeks earlier. Although Henseleit may have raced at WTCS Cagliari had he been able to, he would have been a big boost to his squad in Kraichgau. In the end, the German athlete was on hand to lend his support in person and, with Henseleit watching, Neckarsulm stepped up.
A trio of Aurelien Jem, Mitch Kolkman and Eric Diener all finished inside the top-5 and gave Neckarsulm a resounding victory.
Kolkman was the second fastest swimmer behind Zalán Hóbor (triathlon.one Witten, 9:01) but on a fast and flat course the bulk of the field came back together on the bike. While the Neckarsulm trio were well-placed, PUSCH-DATA-Team AST Süßen had threats of their own in the main pack. All four of their starters made the group while Maxime Hueber Moosbrugger and Jeremy Quindos gave them contenders for the individual podium.
PSD Bank Tri Post Trier, who had a great showing in Kraichgau in 2023, were likewise represented in the pack by all four of their starters.
The race therefore came down to the run and a pack of five pulled away from the field. Jem, Kolkman, Diener, Hueber Moosbrugger and Gjalt Panjer (Trier) were the quickest runners in the opening kilometres. Over the 5km, though, there was little to separate them and another sprint finish came about.
Jem had the best kick and won by 2 seconds over his compatriot Hueber Moosbrugger. Panjer then held off his fellow Dutch athlete Kolkman to take the bronze medal while Diener was the top German finisher.
While Neckarsulm earned a first team win, PUSCH-DATA-Team AST Süßen took 2nd overall ahead of PSD Bank Tri Post Trier.
View the women’s results here and the men’s results here.
