As the fifth round of the Specialized-SRAM Enduro Series 2015 descended on Schöneck, 250 riders set off on the tough 7-stage course, including many of the favourites with their eye on the overall series, Yet there can only be two winners, and this was the day for Michal Prokop and Raphaela Richter.

After dutifully collecting start numbers on Saturday, training on the seven remarkably diverse stages was the order of the day. While stages 1 and 4 saw riders take to the prepared tracks in the Bikewelt Schöneck, scored with burms and the odd root garden, stage 2 headed through a city park towards the city centre, which marked the start of stage 3, leading riders over artificial, rather un-enduro-esque obstacles and demanding tons of pedaling.

Michal Prokop konnte seinen Vorsprung in der Gesamtwertung weiter ausbauen.
Michal Prokop took the victory and extended his lead in the title race.

After a long transfer, the steep, sinuous and rooty stage 5 flew down alongside the ski jump, culminating in a spectacular finish by the jump’s base. Yet another long transfer brought riders to the flatter stage 6, before the seventh and final stage began in the unusual surroundings of a car park before swooping into a jump-filled stretch of Bikewelt Schöneck and finishing at the heart of the race goings-on.

Bei den Damen deklassierte Raphaela Richter die Konkurrenz.
Raphaela Richter dominated the womens’ field.

Diversity came in the form of the evening’s prologue, which united parts of stages 1 and 7 with some brand new sections that riders hadn’t specifically trained for – although they were granted to walk the course. As the impending sunset hampered the descent for the pros, the excitement in the finish zone did little but grow.
At the end of the day Michal Prokop (CZE – Specialized Racing) raced to victory in the Elite Men’s category, and Raphaela Richter (GER – Radon Factory Enduro Team) lived up to the odds as favourite, riding the fastest time in the prologue. In the race for the Pro Masters title, Wilfred van de Haterd (NL – Nicolai Factory Team) cinched the win. Anna Eberhard (CH – Grassi Enduro Racing) and David Schatzki (GER – MTB-Bande Schatzki) both respectively won the amateur categories.

Die letzte Stage führte spektakulär über die Jumpline der Bikewelt Schöneck.
The last stage followed the jump line of Bikewelt Schöneck.

Brilliant conditions and warm temps welcomed riders on Sunday to stages that were now distinctly more ridden-in and dusty, consequently reducing traction and creating more challenging conditions. With a total time of 12:36.52, Michael Prokop was victorious ahead of his fellow countryman Premek Tejchman (CZE – Commencal) and Markus Reiser (GER – Focus Trail Team), riding the wings of his victory in Samerberg. Fabian Scholz (GER – Focus Trail Team) took fourth place, while Maximilian Gast (GER – BikeDevilz, MTB Coach) claimed fifth. Michal Prokop is still heading up the general classification, building on his lead ahead of Fabian Scholz. Taking the scratch results in consideration, he looks highly likely to win the overall series.

Das Podium der Herren.
The podium of the Pro Mens’ category.

Raphaela Richter (GER – Radon Factory Enduro Team) once again dominated the Elite Women’s field with a gap of 1:14.78 ahead of second-placed Chiara Eberle (GER – Mhw Cube Racing Team) and Monika Büchi (CH – Schmid Velosport/RC Gränichen. Victorious in Samerburg, Monika Büchi is still within reaching distance of the overall victory, but given the current form that the young Radon rider has shown recently, it is closer on paper than in reality.
André Kleindienst (GER – Endura Bergamont) was the fastest rider amongst the Pro Masters, with Tommy Umbreit (GER – Redheads Team) in second and Benjamin Herold (GER – Team NRG) in third place.

Die Siegerehrung der Pro Women.
The fastest Pro Women.

In the Open category, victory went to David Schatzki (GER – MTB-Bande Schatzki), who finished ahead of Silvan Merfurt (CH – Grassi Enduro Racing) and third-placed Claudio Negro (CH – Scuderia Cravallo). For the females, Anna Eberhard (CH – Grassi Enduro) claimed a decisive win, leaving Claire Fiebig (GER) to take second place and Kerstin Rosenkranz (GER – Denglish Racing) for third.

Die drei schnellsten Teilnehmer der Pro Masters.
The winners of the Pro Masters’ category.

With the fifth and penultimate round of the Specialized-SRAM Enduro Series now behind us, September invites the series back to the Austrian Alps, more specifically to Leogang, where the crucial overall points are up for grabs.

Words: Martin Stöckl Pictures: Hanno Polomsky


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