MTB cycling: Last weekend, the first run of the iXS European Downhill Cup 2016 took place in Kranjska Gora in Slovenia under perfect conditions. In the Super Final, Johannes Fischbach (Radon Magura Factory) was able to assert himself ahead of Poland's Slawomir Lukasik (NS Bikes FroPro) and Johannes von Kleberlsberg (ASC Tiroler Radler DH Team) from Italy.
400 riders from 32 nations gathered in Kranjska Gora for the first of a total of six runs of this year's iXS European Downhill Cup. In addition to the opening race in Slovenia, this year's program includes races in Germany, Austria, France and the Czech Republic as part of the iXS European Downhill Cup. The iXS European Downhill Cup stopped in Kranjska Gora last year, for this year the two-kilometre route with a 300-metre difference in altitude was fine-tuned.
The women's race weekend was clearly dominated by the Italian Veronika Widmann (Bike Club Egna Neumarkt). Already in the qualifying runs on Saturday, she underlined her currently very good form with a lead of almost three seconds over the second fastest Carina Cappellari (Radon Magura Factory). On Sunday, the Italian (2:51.762 minutes) prevailed again and relegated Carina Cappellari (2:56.408 minutes) to second place with a considerable lead of 4,6 seconds. The women's podium was completed by Monika Hrastnik (SLO – Blackthorn).
32 riders had to qualify for the Elite Men's Super Final on Saturday. Slawomir Lukasik set the fastest qualifying run ahead of Austrian Markus Pekoll (MS Mondraker) and Johannes Fischbach. On Sunday, Johannes von Klebersberg impressed with a fantastic time of 2:25.767 minutes, which was only beaten towards the end by Johannes Fischbach (2:23.106 minutes) and Slawomir Lukasik (2:23.405 minutes). Markus Pekoll was fourth with a run of 2:25:884 minutes.
The second run of the iXS European Downhill Cup will take place from May 27th to 29th in Willingen. The iXS German Downhill Cup is already celebrating the season opener with the race in Winterberg next weekend.