After previewing the men’s teams for the season’s Bundesliga (you could read part 1 and part 2), it is time to turn to the women’s series.
Whereas the men’s teams race with five men (of which the top-4 finishers count towards scoring), the women have four athletes per team at races with the top-3 counting. As such, the women’s teams can be carried a little further by a smaller team or just a couple of top performers.
The official team lists are still to be finalised. German athletes can still be added but it is unusual for any new international faces to join teams at this point. There could therefore be some changes, although nothing drastic.
EJOT Team TV Buschhütten
2022 position: 2nd
Star names: Sophie Coldwell (GBR), Lena Meißner (GER), Lisa Tertsch (GER)
Led by Rainer Jung, Buschhütten were dominant in the women’s series between 2012 and 2021. Last season, however, they were pipped to the title.
One year on, they will be looking to roar back with a vengeance.
Buschhütten have a truly star-studded line-up. On the German front, they can call upon WTCS medallists Lisa Tertsch and Lena Meißner; last year Tertsch highlighted her value as she won in Schliersee and finished 3rd in Nürnberg. Moreover Annika Koch is a part of team and finished 2nd in Berlin and 4th in Schliersee in 2022.
Tanja Neubert and Koch’s fellow medallist from last year’s World U23 Championships, Kate Waugh, are also on the roster.
Alongside Waugh, there are a number of internationals. Sophie Coldwell is probably the leading athlete among them although Rachel Klamer finished on the podium in both of her appearances in 2022.
With Miriam Casillas Garcia, Natalie Van Coevorden, Emma Jeffcoat and Luisa Baptista also available, it is certainly a loaded team.
It is hard to say who will actually race. One vulnerability they ironically could face is with putting a team out due to athletes not being available. A large part of Buschhütten’s defeat last year came from finishing 9th at the final race in Hannover when many of their stars were not able to race. Prior to that, they were in joint 1st place.
On paper, then, Buschhütten have the talent and depth to regain their crown. The season will be hotly contested, though, and if at any point too many of their stars are unavailable, they could find themselves in a pickle.
Triathlon Potsdam
2022 position: 1st
Star names: Laura Lindemann (GER), Nina Eim (GER), Selina Klamt (GER)
We then come to the team that snapped Buschhütten’s winning streak.
Potsdam were nothing short of brilliant last year. After winning in Kraichgau and Berlin, they then finished 2nd in Schliersee and Nürnberg behind Buschhütten. They then won the final round in Hannover to seal the title.
After finishing 2nd in 2019 and 2022, it was a richly deserved triumph.
One of the smaller teams in the division, they are based around one of the DTU centres with Ron Schmidt as coach. Laura Lindemann is the star of the team and in all three of her appearances last year, the team won (indeed she won in both Kraichgau and Berlin).
Potsdam can also call upon Nina Eim, a bronze medal winner in Berlin last year and a serious talent, particularly over the Sprint distance.
They have lost Marlene Gomez-Göggel which will hurt. After all, she was a reliable performer for them last year. However, Jule Behrens, the 2021 World and European Junior champion, can step up. Likewise, Julia Bröcker is a good youngster and they have Selina Klamt waiting in the wings.
On the international front, Audrey Merle and Tilda Mansson scored for Potsdam last season in Schliersee. Meanwhile Oliva Mathias also chipped in with a 5th place in Kraichgau.
Potsdam will need another near-perfect season to defend their title. Notwithstanding the loss of Gomez-Göggel, Potsdam have all the pieces necessary to achieve it.
Absolute Teamsport KTT 01
2022 position: 6th
Star names: Maite Küstner (GER), Anna Busse (GER), Franca Henseleit (GER)
After finishing 4th in 2018, 2019 and 2021, KTT 01 stumbled a little last season and slipped to 6th.
A big factor that will influence their season will be whether Franca Henseleit races this year. She was an important part of the team in 2022 but is currently studying in the USA. With finishes of 6th in Kraichgau, 8th in Berlin and 11th in Nürnberg, she was a significant part of the team.
Alongside Henseleit, Anna Busse and Maite Küstner impressed last season. Busse finished 11th in the opening two races while Küstner repeatedly finished inside the top-30.
With the trio of Henseleit, Busse and Küstner, KTT 01 finished 4th, 4th and 3rd. Without them, they finished 9th and 10th. Forecasting how their season will go therefore largely depends on if they can get their star trio onto multiple start lines.
If Henseleit is unavailable they could be vulnerable without an obvious third scoring woman to step into her shoes. However if Busse, Küstner and Henseleit bring their A-game, KTT 01 could challenge for the podium.
Triathlon.One Team Witten
2022 position: 3rd
Star names: Anabel Knoll (GER), Sian Rainsley (GBR), Marlene Gomez-Göggel (GER)
Last year’s 3rd placed finishers have an illustrious history in the Bundesliga. They are eleven time champions, including a streak of victories between 2004 and 2010.
Anabel Knoll is a key athlete for the team. She finished 2nd in Kraichgau and 5th in Berlin last year and was the team’s highest ranked athlete in last season’s WTCS. In 2022 Witten did not finish the in the top-6 in any team ranking when Knoll was absent. In many respects, she could prove to be the team’s talisman.
Not far behind Knoll was Sian Rainsley. If Witten can get Rainsley onto a couple of start lines, she will no doubt be an invaluable part of the team.
The big change this year is the addition of Marlene Gomez-Göggel. With her onboard, Witten really could be challengers for the title, particularly as Potsdam could be a little weaker for having lost her.
As a result of their WTCS ambitions, Knoll, Rainsley and Gomez-Göggel will not be available at every race. Nonetheless, behind that trio Witten have an array of talented triathletes.
Rani Skrabanja is developing into a strong athlete while the Swiss youngster Anja Weber finished 8th World Junior Championships 2019, raced at World Cups in 2022 and took a bronze at the Tiszaujvaros European Cup last year. With Zsofia Kovacs also available, Witten have the depth to contend at every race.
Witten thus possess the top end talent and the depth to mount a challenge to Potsdam and Buschhütten.
SSF Bonn Triathlon Team
2022 position: 10th
Star names: Eva Daniëls (LUX), Hannah Stegmaier (GER), Marike Schneehagen (GER)
Last season Bonn finished 11th, 12th and 13th at three of their races. At the other two, they finished 7th and 3rd. It is tricky, then, to gauge what their level really is and how they will fare this time.
Eva Daniëls was vital when the team finished 3rd in Schliersee as she herself took 3rd place. If the team are to return to the 6th place finishes of 2019 and 2021, Daniëls will be pivotal.
Hannah Stegmaier had a very good season last year, as did Marike Schneehagen. While Bonn do not have a lot of depth in the way Witten or Buschhütten do, they have a small cluster of talented athletes that should carry them through most races.
As with their men’s team they could look for a big year ahead.
Triathlon Team DSW Darmstadt
2022 position: 9th
Star names: Finja Schierl (GER), Lucie Kammer (GER), Katharina Möller (GER)
When all three of Finja Schierl, Lucie Kammer, Katharina Möller raced, Darmstadt finished 3rd and 6th. When only two of them raced, they took 8th overall.
However, with only Kammer starting, Darmstadt finished 12th and 13th.
The team evidently has a great combination with Schierl, Kammer and Möller to carry them through most races. All three are young athletes but have punched above their weight in recent seasons.
In 2021, Schierl finished 10th at the European Junior Championships while Kammer was the bronze medallist at the German Junior Championships in 2018. To break into the top-6 this year, both will need to rise to another level.
Last year Kammer did a lot of the heavy lifting to keep Darmstadt afloat but she cannot do it alone. The 2002 champs will need to find athletes to support their leading three, especially when they are not available.
Isabel Neese a talented youngster and has finished in the top-10 before (9th Kraichgau 2019). If she can bring some similar results to the table this year, then Darmstadt could look for a high overall finish.
It’s been a long time since Darmstadt were at the top of the table, but they have the potential to get back there in the coming years.
Team Berlin
2022 position: 4th
Star names: Celine Kaiser (GER), Lara Thekla Ungewickell (GER), Lina Völker (GER)
Berlin’s tremendous season flew a little under the radar. In 2022, finishes of 6th, 10th, 5th, 6th and then 2nd saw them take 4th overall. But for that 10th place in Berlin, they could have even made the podium.
While they have Isabel Krueger to provide some experience, it is clear that Berlin is quite a young team.
Kaiser won an Asia Cup in 2022 although will need to be confirmed that she is racing for Team Berlin this season. Alongside Kaiser, Lina Völker was a reliable performer last year but may be looking a little more at middle distance this year.
Berlin could also call upon Mirjam Huber last season. Recently she won the German Junior test in Kienbaum so could be on course for a breakout year.
The podium might elude them this year given how strong Potsdam, Witten and Buschhütten look. If any of them slip up, though, Berlin will be ready to pounce.
TSV Amicita Viernheim
2022 position: 5th
Star names: Leana Bissig (SUI), Merle Brunnée (GER), Livia Wespe (SUI)
Leana Bissig was very consistent when she raced in 2022 and regularly provided valuable points. She will realistically be the leading performer for the team this year.
Alongside Bissig, Viernheim have Ursula Trützschler, who finished 6th in Kraichgau in 2018, and Merle Brunnée, who has a 10km PB of 35:48, on their roster. Most interestingly, Brunnée is a doctor and combines that with triathlon. To succeed in either triathlon or medicine is a challenge in itself but to do so simultaneously is remarkable.
Viernheim also have a number of promising you athletes on their team.
Livia Wespe won a European Junior Cup in Izvorani in 2021 and last year finished 16th at her first Senior European Cup in Alanya. She will be one to watch in 2023. Similarly Nadine Klive raced at the European Juniot Championships in 2021.
One of the youngest members of the team, Rebecca Bierbrauer, was only born in 2004 so it might be a little premature to expect major contributions from this year. Nevertheless, she could be one to watch for Viernheim in the coming seasons.
Last year’s 5th place will be a tough act to follow for the team. Yet Viernheim possess the strength and depth necessary to repeat their achievement and maybe, should the stars align, perform even better.
