Three weeks before the local World Championships in Aalen, the 23-year-old mountain biker successfully defended her German Championship title (XCE) in Ravensburg.

For the Bavarian born rider, there was no sign of her usual young and wild style in Ravensburg. Marion remained focussed and rode all the heats from the front of the field. "I didn't want to risk any crashes or scuffles, I just wanted to stay out of all the problems in the race. It worked," said the smiling Marion after the German Championship.

In the men's race, Simon Gegenheimer, the winner of several German championships, chose playing it safe over taking risks and was eliminated in the semi-finals against reigning German champion Felix Klausmann and new German champion Louis Krauss. However, his team-mate Nils Riecker kept the racing team's colours flying high in the men's event and not only secured his place in the final, but also the bronze medal.