German back to defend Latrobe title

A FLAMBOYANT German will be back to defend his Latrobe Wheel victory for this year’s Christmas Carnival.

After making his Tasmanian debut last summer, Moritz Augenstein is back as a marked man and likely to be one of the back markers for the Tasmanian Christmas Carnival series.

“Last year I had no idea about the history of the carnivals,” Augenstein, 22, said.

“To win the wheelrace in Latrobe on my first try was very special for me.

“It was my first time to Tasmania for the carnivals and it was also my first wheelrace. So to win a wheelrace as first European rider against Welsford and the other big names was very special.”

He has enjoyed a stellar 2019 since his last trip to Tasmania, with a number of podium performances around the world, including victory in the under-23 Six Day Cup in Rotterdam, third at the German National Championship in the Madison and fifth at the European Championship in the madison.

Augenstein will follow a similar journey to his successful trip last year, arriving in Australia well in advance of the Melbourne Austral on December 21, where he will join up with fellow carnival rider Josh Harrison of Maloja Pushbikers.

The pair will then make the trip to Tasmania to ride in Launceston, Latrobe, Devonport and Burnie.

“I love the weather and the landscape in Tasmania. Between races last year, I saw wild penguins,” he said.

“That was very special for me as I’ve never seen them before.”

But it will be mostly business for the powerhouse rider, who will go straight into the Rotterdam Six Day race in early January.

“The very hard races in Tasmania are perfect to prepare for the Six Day races,” Augenstein said.

“I hope I can defend my title in Latrobe and can get some more good results in the other wheel races and scratch races.” 2019-20 Tasmanian Christmas Carnival Program: Rosebery Dec 21, Launceston Dec 27, Latrobe Dec 28, Devonport Dec 29 and 30, Burnie Dec 31, Hobart Jan 5, St Helens Jan 18