In the high alpine terrain of the Silvretta Bike Arena between Ischgl and the Swiss Samnaun, the fastest enduro riders in Europe were determined in wintry conditions as part of the first Ischgl Overmountain Challenge. The French enduro specialist Jérôme Clementz from the Cannondale Overmountain Team mastered the technically demanding special trail tests fastest and won with a top time of 20:44,56 minutes. In the women's race, the German enduro specialist Ines Thoma from the Canyon Factory Enduro Team was unbeatable with a time of 25:38,59 minutes. A total of 240 participants from 17 nations, including 17 women and 194 men, defied the difficult weather conditions and turned Ischgl in Tyrol into a meeting place for the European enduro scene this Sunday.
Favorite Jérôme Clementz coped best with the cold temperatures and the demanding track conditions and after the pedaling passages on the liaison stages still had enough strength to leave the brakes open on the timed trail special stages. "It was fun! The ground on stages one and three was very slippery but I managed not to fall. I did my best and didn't make too many mistakes. I'm really happy with the result.” The current leader of the Enduro World Series took about a minute from second-placed Gustav Wildhaber (Cube Action Team) and, with his outstanding performance, crowned himself the winner of the first Ischgl Overmountain Challenge. Despite a technical defect, Nicolas Lau (Cube Action Team) was still able to set the third-best time and completed the podium.
In the women's category, the best German enduro rider Ines Thoma impressed with a strong performance and clearly relegated Pauline Dieffenthaler (Cannondale Overmountain Team) and Swiss rider Anita Gehrig (Specialized Twins Racing) to second place with their best time.
In the Masters class, Dutchman Wilfred Van de Haterd (Team Nicolai) used his experience and was able to celebrate the best time in the Masters class.
The fastest mountain bike enduro riders in Europe were challenged over 4 stages and a total of 670 meters uphill and 1300 meters downhill. Due to previous snowfall, the route had to be shortened in advance, but remained extremely demanding and selective and demanded everything from drivers and material. The second trail special stage in particular was tough that day. With a short but extremely steep uphill and a subsequent technical trail, some decisions of the day were made there.
The Ischgl Overmountain Challenge was the test run for the UEC Enduro European Championships, which will be held here in exactly one year.
//Result gentlemen
1. Jerome Clementz (Cannondale Overmountain) 20:44,56
2. Gustav Wildhaber (Cube Action Team) 21:07,25
3. Nicolas Lau (Cube Action Team) 21:12,74
//Result ladies
1. Ines Thoma (Canyon Factory Enduro Team) 25:38,59
2. Pauline Dieffenthaler (Cannondale Overmountain) 28:01,16
3. Anita Gehrig (Specialized Twins Racing) 28:22,12
//Result Masters
1. Wilfred Van de Haterd (Team Nicolai) 25:26,41
2. Peter Nilges (BIKE) 25:29,58
3. Christian Hofer 27:33,86
//Photos
Christopher Bayer