Selina Joerg will be competing at her first ever Craft Bike Trans Germany, a four-day mountain bike event which leads from Sonthofen, Germany, via Pfronten, Germany, Lermoos, Austria, Seefeld, Austria, to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, beginning of June.

The Sonthofen resident is not the first winter sport athlete, who addressed herself to this task. Some biathletes also chanced their luck before. However, Joerg is the first snowboarder of the national team who ventures on this project.

By lining up in her home town on June 6, “Selma” will combine two things: her love for mountain biking as well as the necessary training for a new winter season.

In October, the 24-years-old, who was the best ranked German snowboarder at the last Winter Olympics by placing fourth in the parallel giant slalom, will already hit the parallel course of the World Cup again.

To be in shape for this, mountain biking as well as road biking are part of her summer program.

A passion that never died

“Before I moved to the sport college in Berchtesgaden with 14 I did a lot of mountain biking. We had this so-called 'Bike Team Upper Allgau' and we took part in many cross country and trial events on the weekends. I still have this passion for the sport, so my coach doesn't have to push me to get on my bike.”

But although the winter sport ace with 71 World Cup starts to her belt, who won her first and so far only World Cup race in Nendaz, Switzerland, in January 2007, knows what matters in mountain biking, she says that the Trans Germany is kind of awe-inspiring.

A little bit of fear but ready to go

“Of course, the Trans Germany is a household name as Sonthofen was a stage town quite a few times now. But to be honest I have a hell of respect for it. My goal is to just make it to Garmisch-Partenkirchen in a decent time. On the other hand, I'm also a top athlete so I have this natural instinct for competition in me. We'll see how it turns out in the end,” explained Joerg, who already did some homework for the race.

“I checked the stages and the altitude profiles online already and have to admit that I underestimated it a little bit when I spontaneously said yes when the Sonthofen Sport Referent asked me if I want to start.”

The sergeant of the German army however partly pedaled the first stage already but had to make a u-turn when she got stuck in the snow a few weeks ago.

For the next weeks, some more training units are on the agenda, but have to stand in line for a while as Joerg's studies are also currently in full swing.

“Nevertheless, I'm trying to train every day and work on my stamina to have the adequate reserves for making it to Garmisch-Partenkirchen on June 9.”

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