SWG support women's cycling
The PZ Gießen Racing Team starts its third Bundesliga season. With the help of Stadtwerke Gießen.
Just in time for the start of the women's "Müller - Die lila Logistik Rad-Bundesliga" season, Stadtwerke Gießen (SWG) and the PZ Gießen Racing Team can announce that the deal is complete: The two partners signed a cooperation agreement in mid-March. Specifically, SWG will be supporting the 16 young female cyclists from this season onwards. The professional racing team is backed by a traditional club from the region: Radsportgemeinschaft Gießen & Wieseck e.V.
In 2023, the newly formed women's team made it into the national league and successfully established itself in the highest German class. "This is only possible with committed sponsors," explains Marina Steinmüller, Sports Director and Team Manager of the PZ Gießen Racing Team, adding: "We are very grateful to now have another reliable partner at our side in SWG."
Cycling racing at national league level is indeed an expensive business. This can be seen from the venues. The season takes the team to places such as Münsterland, just outside Berlin, Saxony and the Black Forest. Such distances mean that the team has to travel the day before and spend the night on site. This is the only way the riders can pedal well rested on the day of the competition. What's more, the team doesn't just consist of the nine athletes. At least three people support the riders at every race - from the sporting director to the mechanic. Marina Steinmüller is of course also always involved. She drives the team car, looks after the athletes and organises everything that is needed for the various races.
Riding at the top again
The PZ Gießen Racing Team will start with the same line-up as in 2024, apart from one new addition. "We want to be at the top again this year," says Marina Steinmüller, setting out the goal for the third Bundesliga season. In other words: a similarly good ranking as in 2024, when the athletes dressed in mint, lilac and petrol achieved an excellent sixth place in the final table. The 2025 season kicked off on 6 April with a road race in Rheinzabern in the southern Palatinate. The home race in Giessen, the "Rund um das Stadttheater" criterium, is scheduled for 27 July. Here, the women will complete an 800-metre circuit through the city of Giessen 50 times - covering a total distance of 40 kilometres. "This format is particularly attractive for spectators because the riders pass by frequently. As a result, the spectators can follow the numerous battles for position directly on the course - in other words, experience pure bike racing right here on site," promises Marina Steinmüller.
Building up young talent
In addition to the professional team, RSG Gießen & Wieseck has founded a second women's team - PZ Gießen Evolution. "In this team, we allow talented riders to gain important competition experience, among other things," reveals Marina Steinmüller. In this way, the club ensures the next generation of talent, who - if everything goes well - can then join the national league squad. "Promoting our own talents and carefully introducing them to top-level sport is much more sustainable than recruiting new riders every year. This approach was an important argument for us to join the PZ Giessen Racing Team as a sponsor," says Stephanie Orlik, responsible for sponsorship in SWG Marketing, explaining the cooperation.
PZ Giessen Evolution is also a statement in women's cycling. Because there is still a lack of high-quality women's races of their own outside the national league. The women cyclists from Giessen want to change that. "If we enter as many women as possible in good races, we will increase the visibility of this attractive sport. And thus play our part in the further development of women's cycling," Marina Steinmüller summarises.