RMC Stein: podium in Hähnlein and Bundesliga group title
Michael Birkner and Robert Mlady claimed third place at the World Cup round in Hähnlein at the end of August. The Bavarian cycling federation reports that the RMC Stein pair went through their preliminary group without dropping a point – 4-1 against Dorlisheim, 4-1 against Sulz 2 and 4-3 against Großkoschen – which meant nine points and top spot in the group.
Mosnang proved too strong in the semi-final: Stein went down 5-6, and the Swiss pair went on to win the tournament. In the other semi-final Dornbirn had beaten Großkoschen 4-3, so it was Großkoschen again for Stein in the bronze-medal match – and again 4-3, this time in the Franconians' favour.
The league picture may matter even more. At the rearranged match day in Iserlohn, Stein held on to first place in the 1. Bundesliga and finished the season as group winners, eleven points clear and with the tightest defence in the division. For the first time the national coach handed the pair the championship trophy, and the result also moves Stein to the top of the World Championships ranking.
The World Cup series continued two weeks later in Großkoschen, where Dornbirn came out on top, as rad-net.de and radball.at both report.