MTB Sport: Also this year the association "Ride Free Osttirol" organized the annual snow downhill race "Ride Hard on Snow". After taking part in this event for the first time last year, it was clear to me that I definitely had to be there again.
In addition to drivers from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Slovenia and Italy, the 71 international participants even included a group of French drivers. Yes, the Ride Hard on Snow is popular. As usual, the entire field of riders had to overcome the specially groomed 2,5 km long FIS World Cup route for women from the Moosalm down into the valley with the fastest time in order to qualify for the final of the 32 best.
You can see for yourself in my video contribution that a race on a Ski World Cup course always guarantees plenty of action.
After training and a joint lunch on the Moosalm, the women started the qualification, with Lisa Prochiner snatching the best time.
For the men everything was already done in the qualification to position themselves as well as possible for the finals. With a time of 1:20,07 and a lead of a good three seconds, Manuel Widmann clearly secured the qualifying victory ahead of Christoph Eder and his teammate Siegi Zellner. I had to settle for 11th place, 4 tenths down on Siegi.
Before the highlight of the day, the KO final, a best trick contest was held at the finish. 15 participants ventured over the ramp in the finish area. With a flawless frontflip, Florian Schimpl was able to celebrate victory at this side event.
At 19:00 p.m. it was time. Matthias Garber rang in the Grande Finale with an impressive Speedglider landing. With specially installed floodlights, there was a man-to-man duel on the 1,2 km long final course on the Hochstein. The motto for the final was clear: only victory counts. So even in the round of the best 32 there were impressive duels. Unfortunately, some favorites like Elias Schwärzler or Siegi Zellner had to say goodbye early on, while Manuel Widmann fought duel after duel into the final. Unfortunately, after a fall in the semi-finals, I only made it into the small finals, where I also had to admit defeat against Marcel Ziegler and thus ended up on the thankless 4th place. On the last run In the evening Manuel Widmann was able to show his outstanding performance again against Stefan Müller and thus deservedly won the Ride Hard on Snow 2018. The qualification winner Lisa Prochiner was also able to secure the day's victory in the women's category.
Thanks for the pictures go to Hannes Berger.