Although the race as part of the Après Tour Gera is not her last race, it will be her official farewell race: "I will still be riding a few more road races this year and it remains to be seen whether I will do a full cyclo-cross season afterwards, but the race in Gera will be my official farewell to the road," explained the eight-time world champion.
In addition to the German Road Championships in Erfurt (26 June), this year's sporting events include the Tour of Thuringia (UCI 2.1) from 15 to 21 July, where she will be riding for the Maxx-Solar Team. "That will certainly be an emotional story for me. Knowing that it's over now, this is definitely the last time I'll be at the start line with a race number on my back. But I'm sure I'll enjoy it and of course hope that something will come of it in sporting terms. For the region, the race and my fans - that would be great," says Kupfernagel, describing her next plans.
Just a few days after the end of the Tour of Thuringia and the Tour de France, the time has come on 30 July. "I decided to hold my farewell race in Gera for several reasons," says Hanka Kupfernagel. "Firstly, I was born in Gera, went to sports school there in 1989 and 1990, returned in 1992 and became junior world champion twice for SSV Gera. I think that closes the circle very well," says the 42-year-old.
It will be a mixed race in which spectators who have travelled a long way will also get their money's worth: Cycling greats such as Olaf Ludwig, Udo Bölts, Jens Voigt and Michael Rich have already confirmed their attendance. Kupfernagel's Cape Epic partner Carsten Bresser and of course her brother Stefan, who was a successful professional cyclist for many years and now lives near Koblenz as a graduate engineer, will also be taking part. National rider Elke Gebhard, former junior world champion Alexandra Sontheimer, Theresa Senf, Tanja Hennes and many others from the former competition have signalled their attendance. And the former world champion and team-mate from 2004, Anita Valen from Norway, has also expressed her interest in taking part.
You can find out which other former stars will be attending the family-friendly cycling festival and Hanka's "Goodbye Race" on the homepage of the AprésTour Gera can be viewed here.
