During World Championship competitions, Niedermaier sheds tears.
Antonia Niedermaier, a promising cyclist from Germany, enters the World Championships as an underdog. However, things don't go as planned for her. The cold weather and the recent demise of Swiss cyclist Muriel Furrer take a toll on her. The 21-year-old is visibly emotional during the race, shedding tears on the track itself and even after crossing the finish line, as her teammates recount.
Furrer's death has left a deep impact on Niedermaier. The young cyclist broke down in tears during the World Championships and continued to cry after completing the race. "It was mainly emotional. It hit me really hard," Niedermaier shared with ZDF.
The tragedy also brought back painful memories from her past. Last year, Niedermaier had a severe fall at the Giro Donne, caused by Slovenian Urska Zigart. Despite crashing face-first, Niedermaier managed to escape without any fractures. The news of Furrer's death brought back those memories. "When I heard she had passed away, it all came back. It affected me greatly," Niedermaier revealed.
Niedermaier carried the weight of Furrer's death throughout the race. "I was scared the entire time because of what took place this week. I rode carefully," she admitted. In the end, Niedermaier finished 18th, managing to secure bronze in the U23 classification.
The cold and constant rain made the race even more challenging for Niedermaier. "It was incredibly tough from the start. I could hardly grab my bottle or gels. By the end, I couldn't even change gears because my hands were so cold," Niedermaier pointed out. Despite the hardships, she was satisfied with her medal count, having secured bronze and gold in the juniors, and silver in the mixed team time trial.
The German team had high hopes for a medal through Liane Lippert. "We were more focused on what Lippert could achieve in the elite category. She was given special protection at the start. I did my part and then focused on the U23," Niedermaier explained. Lippert came close to securing bronze in the sprint, but ultimately the title went to Lotte Kopecky (Belgium), followed by Chloe Dygert (USA) and Elisa Longo Borghini (Italy).
Sports took a toll on Antonia Niedermaier during the World Championships, as she struggled to perform due to the cold weather and the recent demise of fellow cyclist Muriel Furrer. The loss of Furrer was particularly emotional for Niedermaier, who broke down in tears during and after the race.
