MTB News: The nineteenth edition of the popular World Games was held this year from September 07th to 09.09th. held in idyllic Saalbach Hinterglemm. The title of “World Games Champion” is fought in various marathon disciplines as well as in downhill. The aim of the organizer is fun for everyone. This year there was also the popular Kids Downhill and the Junior Trophy for young marathoners.
Since 2011 I have participated in all but one World Games. The relaxed atmosphere at this event has probably given me a taste for it over the years and I would describe the World Games as the trigger for my racing fever. Since my Whistler trip prevented me from taking part in the race last year, I was happy to finally be able to take part again in 2017.
Already on Thursday there was the possibility of free training in all categories. Due to work, however, my arrival was postponed to the evening, which is why training only started on Friday after a short night. As was the case with the Glemmride Festival, which I also reported here, the aim was to find the fastest line on the ProLine. After two and a half hours of training in the best weather, the official training time was over and the qualification was due. A solid race brought me to 5th place in the end.
After qualifying, the bike was put aside and the perfect summer weather was used for a trip to the Reiterkogel with the friend who was traveling with us. With lift support we went up the mountain and after a short walk we were already at the reservoir. With such a view, the time was quickly forgotten and so we completely lost sight of the lift times. On the way back to the mountain station, we realized that we had long since missed the gondola. Actually, I could have done without the unplanned descent after a whole day on the bike. Then there was a round on the mini golf course, which Joker Card holders can use for free, and a BBQ at the campsite to round off the summer day.
On Saturday there were another three and a half hours of training available for the downhill riders. For me it was the perfect opportunity with Erich Wieland and Stefan Mauser, who were also on the podium at the Glemmride, to refine the choice of line a bit again. The two team riders from the clothing label 250London not only stand out because of their eye-catching clothes, but also because of their high speed. Even in training, I struggled to keep up. After I was able to look at one or the other line, after a longer breather, due to the good qualifying result, I went to the final at the start of the pro line in the late afternoon.
Unfortunately, my race didn't go quite as well as the day before and I had to settle for 15th place.
Things went much better for my training colleagues and Erich took first place ahead of his teammate Stefan. The young talent and Saalbach local Valentina Höll once again showed an absolutely outstanding performance. With her time, the 15-year-old was the fastest woman of the day and would have finished 11th among the men.
After the finale, the energy reserves for the evening at the pasta party in the marquee had to be replenished. Meanwhile, the "World Games Champions" were crowned at the award ceremony marathon, which lasted around two and a half hours thanks to the countless categories in marathon and downhill. The highlight of the evening, for some maybe even the highlight of the weekend, was, as in previous years, the band "Gerry & Gary with their used underwear". Even if the memories have faded a bit, I can remember a party with a relaxed atmosphere, where everyone from the ambitious marathon cyclist to the relaxed leisure shredder had a good time together.
I am already looking forward to next year and can recommend this event to everyone.
The downhill results at a glance:
Women Fun: 1st place Valentina Höll
Men Fun: 1st place David Botter
Men Senior Masters: 1st place Rainer Narr
Women Masters: 1st place Stefanie Siciliano
Men Master: 1st place Frederic Abbou
Women Expert
1st place Lisa Kreuzer
2nd place Margarethe Forstik
3rd place Franziska Leitner
But Expert
1st place Erich Wieland
2nd place Stefan Mauser
3rd place Jannik Abbou