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Wegmann aims for third national title

published 24 June 2009

German course could be more suited to sprinters

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Fabian Wegmann (Team Milram) looked pretty pleased with his race win.

Fabian Wegmann aims to defend his German national championship road title on Sunday and win his third straight title but the Team Milram rider knows that the course profile does not suit him.

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"It will be very difficult, but I'm really ambitious," he told Cyclingnews at the Milram Tour de France squad presentation Tuesday in Dortmund, Germany.

Being German champion for two consecutive years "was good," Wegmann said. ”To wear this special jersey is a great feeling, and every time I put it on I'm reminded of my win. It's not like the with other wins as you can forget them very quickly. You wear the national jersey for a year, or in my case two years, and for me, it was two very nice wins and a great experience."

Wegmann, who turned 29 earlier this week, said that the main problem was the course in Cottbus. "240 totally flat kilometres isn't really what I do best," he said.

It seems likely that the race will come down to a mass sprint, in which case his favourites would be, "Gerald Ciolek, Andre Greipel and Heinrich Haussler."

Greipel, of Team Columbia-Highroad, has said that it would be difficult to win with just four teammates compared to the 17 German Milram riders. "I see it that way too. It's clear that it will be hard for him and we will try to make his life hard," Wegmann said with a laugh.

If he is successful,Wegmann would be third rider to win the title three years in a row. The others were Hennes Junkermann (1959-1961) and Winfried Bölke (1965-1967).