Team Auto Eder is officially the U19 junior team of the UCI WorldTeam BORA - hansgrohe. "Since the team was founded in 2007, it has been our aim to support young and ambitious racers in the best possible way and to offer them the environment to develop without pressure, but still in a targeted manner - and to make the connection to professional cycling in the long term. Well-known professionals such as Michael Schwarzmann and Georg Zimmermann have already graduated from our junior school and have shown us that it is a successful model," emphasizes team boss Ralph Denk. The youngsters receive professional coaching, top equipment and now the eight young riders from Germany, Belgium, Hungary, Switzerland, Denmark, Estonia and the Czech Republic have also been able to enjoy a training camp in Ötztal.

Laura Stigger with BORA youngsters on the slopes

The Ötztal is not only an Eldorado for skiers, mountain freaks, cyclists and mountain bikers. There are no fewer than 25 cross-country ski trails in Tyrol's longest valley, including the large cross-country ski center in Niederthai with perfect snow conditions. And this is exactly where the young skiers from BORA - hansgrohe trained last week. As a prominent training colleague, Laura Stigger also strapped on her cross-country skis. "It was great fun and the boys are in a really good mood. We spent a day in Niederthai and covered a few kilometers. For me as an Ötztal native, cross-country skiing or ski touring in winter is the perfect preparation for a hard and long season. And I can do it right on my doorstep. After the first training camp, I'm off to South Africa in January. I can hardly wait for the new season to start, but there's still a lot of work to do to be fit for 2023," says Laura.