Ischgl Overmountain Challenge, Jérôme Clementz dominates
The 2014 Ischgl Overmountain Challenge is now over, with victory going to the favourite, reigning Enduro world champion Jérôme Clementz of France. The Cannondale Factory Racing Team star retained his crown with a time of 31:14.53 minutes. In the women’s event it was Anneke Beerten of the Netherlands (Team Specialized Factory Racing) who – despite experiencing technical problems – triumphed with a time of 36:39.63 minutes, with defending champion Ines Thoma from Germany in second place. The men’s Masters Class was won by Robert Kordez from Slovenia with a time of 33:22.35 minutes.
This, the unofficial European Enduro Championships, was a great success: with 126 competitors from some 15 countries taking part, it was the perfect advertisement for the venue, the Silvretta Bike Arena.
The world’s elite Enduro riders sport met in fantastic conditions for the 2014 Ischgl Overmountain Challenge (IOC) – the second edition of these unofficial European championships – in the Silvretta Bike Arena, located in Tyrol’s Paznaun Valley. The almost wintery weather experienced during training on Saturday gave way to beautiful late-summer sunshine on the Sunday of the race. The Enduro event comprised a total of six stages in demanding high Alpine terrain, with a top-class field ensuring equally top-quality performances. Victory in the men’s event ultimately went to defending champion and reigning Enduro World Champion Jérôme Clementz of France, competing for the Cannondale Factory Racing Team, with a time of 31:14.53 minutes. “It was a fantastic race in ideal conditions.
Things just got better with each stage and I managed to gain time, especially on the last, most difficult stage”, he said. No surprises either in second place, which went to Enduro professional Jamie Nicoll from New Zealand, riding for the Polygon UR Team, with a time of 31:45.86. The long trip to Ischgl was definitely worth it: “A beautiful day and a great race. I was afraid that the XC boys would beat me on the stages with uphill stretches. But I was in good shape and I could keep up on the hard climb on stage six.” The Slovenian Vid Persak from Orbea Geax MTB Team came in third with a time of 31:50.35 minutes: „It was my first race after a five month brake due to an injury. So I’m super stoked about the result.”
The women’s event saw favourite Anneke Beerten from the Netherlands, representing the Specialized Factory Racing Team, once more plagued by technical problems. Her chain broke at the start of yesterday’s prologue – which she nevertheless won – and it was the same story today: during the crucial sixth stage she suffered a flat tyre and a broken rim, but still managed to beat defending champion Ines Thomas (GER) of the Canyon Factory Enduro Team with a time of 36:39.63 minutes . “It was a great race until stage six. But I’ve had some bad luck with my bike this weekend”, said the winner. Ines Thoma took second place in the sunshine and was fully satisfied with a time of 37:54.64 minutes: “I has a great race. I didn’t quite take it to the limit, as I have another important race next week. But coming second is still pretty good.” Third place in the women’s event went to Germany’s Hannah Röther of the VOTEC Haglöfs Enduro Team with a time of 45:01.73.
The men’s over-30 Masters Class was won by Slovenias Robert Kordez from Orbea Geax MTB Team with a time of 33:22.35 minutes. Second place went to Benjamin Herold (GER) from NRG-FOES Racing Factory Team with a time of 34:14.47 minutes, while Tommy Umbreit (GER) from team [w]ride_it came in third with a time of 36:41.23 minutes.
Endless trails, a fantastic mountain panorama, fun with friends and top-class Enduro bike action – the 2014 Ischgl Overmountain Challenge once more attracted Europe’s best Enduro talent to a dazzling mountain bike event. The high profile of the participants showed why this race is regarded as the unofficial European Championships, with the Silvretta Bike Arena offering perfect trails for mountain bikers. Together with its sponsoring partners, Cannondale, SRAM, Pepsi, Bike, and Freeride magazine, Ischgl once more impressively demonstrated its credentials as a trail mecca in the Alps.
Photos © Felix Schüller
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