BIKE AID rider Anton Schiffer triumphs at the German Hill Climb Championship
Saarland’s professional cycling team BIKE AID are celebrating another success: on Saturday (14 September 2024), Anton Schiffer secured the title at the German Hill Climb Championship in Wenholthausen. On this challenging Sauerland route, known for its steep slopes, Schiffer managed an essentially tactically perfect race.
Schiffer and four other riders broke away in a leading group after just 30 kilometres. However, a strong attack twelve kilometres before the finish line shaped the race. He left his competitors behind with an impressive solo finish and crossed the finish line as the deserved winner. Second-placed Moritz Kretschy from the Israel Premier Tech team was powerless against Schiffer on this particular day.
From career changer to top rider
Anton Schiffer, who (like many of his BIKE AID teammates) began cycling as a second career, quickly rose to the top of the German continental riding tree. He only began sport cycling in 2022, when Patrick Lechner discovered him and offered him a place in the BIKE AID Development Team. In 2024, Schiffer demonstrated his potential with some impressive results: seventh in the overall rankings at the Tour of Antalya (UCI 2.1), climbing jersey winner at the Tour of Hellas (UCI 2.1) and second place at the Zwift Academy, cycling’s largest talent scouting programme.
‘This title means a huge amount to me’, Schiffer said after the race. ‘It shows that my training methods and hard work have paid off.’ Alongside his career as a cyclist, Anton Schiffer is studying sports science in Cologne. As a training control specialist, he uses his specialist expertise to perform at his best time and again.
This title means a huge amount to me
Anton Schiffer
BIKE AID: Out-of-the-box talent scouting
Although this was not a professional UCI race, this national title win marks another milestone in what has been a hugely successful 2024 season for BIKE AID. It is particularly noteworthy that Schiffer was able to prevail against the whole German Continental scene – and teams who appeared at the starting line with significantly larger contingents.
‘Anton’s performance today was plain impressive. He showed perfect timing at the crucial moment’, was the praise offered by BIKE AID‘s team leader Matthias Schnapka. ‘Last year, Vincent Dorn – also a career changer without any past road experience – stood on the climbing championship podium. This confirms our concept: we offer a real chance to talented riders without a traditional career.’
This confirms our concept: we offer a real chance to talented riders without a traditional career.
Matthias Schnapka, team leader of BIKE AID
From 26 September, Team BIKE AID’s never-ending journey continues at the Tour of Huangshan in China.