Melanie Maurer, the 2022 duathlon long and middle distance world champion, wants to climb as high up the podium as possible one last time at the Powerman Zofingen on 8 September 2024. After that, the 36-year-old from Wikon, who now lives in Hindelbank, wants to dedicate herself to other goals.
Melanie Maurer, who studied sport and psychology and runs her own business as an endurance coach, really hit the ground running in June this season: Firstly, at the beginning of the month, the long-awaited European Championship title over the duathlon middle distance in Alsdorf, Germany, and in the middle of the month, victory in the national individual time trial in Thun. On 17 June, Maurer, who grew up in Wikon, Lucerne, and now lives in Hindelbank, Bern, celebrated her 36th birthday. Shortly afterwards, she won the silver medal at the Swiss Road Time Trial Championships in Aire-la-Ville/GE. This was followed by second place in the legendary Alpe d'Huez duathlon at the end of July and victory in the Nyon duathlon in the first half of August. Maurer has also realised her love of triathlon, where she wants to be more active.
Melanie Maurer, after winning World Championship silver at the Powerman Zofingen in 2018 and 2019, you won the long-awaited World Championship gold in 2022, followed by another World Championship silver last year. With what goal are you starting on 8 September 2024 for the 35th Powerman Zofingen?
I want to fight for the World Championship medals again and just have fun in general.
This sounds like a definitive last World Championship start in Zofingen. Is a general retirement from top-class sport in the near future?
No, absolutely not. It's just a farewell to the Powerman Zofingen. There are a lot of competitions that take place on the same weekend and that I would still like to do. For example, the Jungfrau Marathon.
What are you most looking forward to on 8 September 2024? The duel with the German defending champion Merle Brunnée?
I'm looking forward to seeing lots of familiar faces on the course and Lotte Claes. I only ever see the Belgian, who won silver at the 2022 World Championships and bronze again last year behind me, in Zofingen. She is a very likeable and talented athlete who has just finished 16th in the Tour de France Femmes.
Would you like to encourage Petra Eggenschwiler, who snatched World Championship gold from you in an epic race in Zofingen in 2018, to take part in the Powerman 2024 once again?
Petra said she had other competition plans.
Interview: Raphael Galliker
Caption:
After her World Championship title in 2022, Melanie Maurer, who was born in Wikon and lives in Hindelbank, would like to win another medal, preferably gold again, in her farewell race at the Powerman Zofingen on 8 September 2024.
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