Racing

The Big Picture | UEC Enduro Championships – Race Day Action

22.06.2015
by

The racing is over in Kirchberg, Austria, and what a day it was! After almost a week of rain the trails were running thick with mud and the rooty sections were looking wild. This did not deter the 198 riders who were keen to make their challenge for the first ever European Enduro Championship title. The days racing would take in some of Kirchbergs most legendary trails, the Gaisbergtrail, Lisi Osl Trail and the 7 km long Fleckalmtrail, dropping 1000m and crowned Tyrol’s longest stretch of singletrack. The clouds had lifted and excited racers enjoyed their first glimpse of the amazingly panoramic backdrop of the Kitzbühler Alpen.

However, this event also marked a potential turning point for enduro, as the racing was carried out with full UCI recognition. This is the first time that such an event has been run and the winners would be honoured with the award of Official UEC European Enduro Champion, a title that would look great in anyones trophy cabinet.

Full results can be found here, and they say a picture is worth a thousand words, so here’s a veritable encyclopedia from yesterday’s action.

With a undecided forecast, the weather looked like it could go either way
With an undecided forecast, the weather looked like it could go either way
198 riders from over 18 nations would challenge for the title
198 riders from over 18 nations would challenge for the title of UEC European Enduro Champion
The first championships under UCI rule, the race organisers had to be sure to check everything
As this was the first championships under UCI rule, the race organisers had to be sure to check everything
Stage one was a short and pumpy affair, perfect for warming up the legs and 'getting one out the way'
Stage one was a short and pumpy affair, perfect for warming up the legs and ‘getting one out the way’
Rene Wildhaber only had a 'UCI Master Licence, they are cheaper' so had to race out of the elite field, he won of course
Rene Wildhaber getting ready to drop into Stage One, he only had a ‘UCI Masters Licence, they are cheaper’ so had to race out of the elite field, he won of course
Endura Bergamont rider Katy Winton raced her way to a solid fourth position
Endura Bergamont rider Katy Winton raced her way to a solid fourth position
The top of Stage One was well surfaced until......
The top of Stage One was well surfaced until……
The dreaded roots at the bottom
The dreaded roots at the bottom
More than a few engaged the 'safety foot', here Remy keeps it moving
More than a few engaged the ‘safety foot’, here Remy keeps it moving
Michal Prokop has a tough day, a transponder error would see him seeded with slower riders for the final stage
Michal Prokop has a tough day, a transponder error would see him seeded with slower riders for the final stage
Riders had to pedal under the lift to the top of Stage Two. Not all were smiling.
Riders had to pedal under the lift to the top of Stage Two. James Shirley smiling through the tears.
Cube Action Team rider Scott Laughland fires out the gate
Cube Action Team rider Scott Laughland fires out the gate
Stage Two was the famous Gaisbergtrail, the downhill section of the Austrian Downhill Masters in 2014
Stage Two was the famous Gaisbergtrail, the downhill section of the Austrian Downhill Masters in 2014
A big turn in big mountain terrain
A big turn in big mountain terrain
Rudolf Biedermann had style for miles
Rudolf Biedermann had style for miles
Tobias Reiser was rocking the new Focus SAM Carbon
Tobias Reiser was rocking the new Focus SAM Carbon
The luge at the bottom of Stage Two as a flat out bog fest!
The luge at the bottom of Stage Two as a flat out bog fest!
The lift company insisted that bikes be washed before heading up on the lift
The lift company insisted that bikes be washed before heading up on the lift
Organisers saw pity and let the riders use the lift to get to the top of Stage Three
Organisers saw pity and let the riders use the lift to get to the top of Stage Three
Kirchberg provided an amazing backdrop for the days racing
Kirchberg provided an amazing backdrop for the days racing
Whatever this guy is putting on his goggles, he should have sprayed on his jacket
Whatever this guy is putting on his goggles, he should have sprayed on his jacket
Fully pinned down the Lisi Osl Trail, Named after the overall winner of the MTB Cross Country Worldcup
Fully pinned down the Lisi Osl Trail, Named after the overall winner of the MTB Cross Country Worldcup
No corner cutting here, stick to the line!
No corner cutting here, stick to the line!
There were a few sizable features at the bottom of Stage Three
There were a few sizable features at the bottom of Stage Three
No fancy electrolytes for the Focus boys, just good old fashioned Coke
No fancy electrolytes for the Focus boys, just good old fashioned Coke
We hear that shit brown is the new black, coming to a bike shop near you soon
We hear that shit brown is the new black, coming to a bike shop near you soon
This is Austria, so there was plenty of cake.
This is Austria, so there was plenty of cake.
Many riders changed their kit between stages Three and Four, nobody liked claggy jerseys
Many riders changed their kit between stages Three and Four, nobody likes a claggy jersey
Riders were resorted into 'fastest last' and headed back up the 1000m gondola to the top of the infamous Fleckalmtrail
Riders were resorted into ‘fastest last’ and headed back up the 1000m gondola to the top of the infamous Fleckalmtrail
Anneke smashed it to victory, and brought a lot of the trail down with her
Anneke smashed it to victory, and brought a lot of the trail down with her
Stoked to be soaked
Stoked to be soaked
The alpine forest was an explosion of green
The alpine forest was an explosion of green
A racer cuts between the trees near the end of the Fleckalmtrail
A racer cuts between the trees near the end of the Fleckalmtrail
Jerome was on fire, taking the win with a good margin
Jerome was on fire, taking the win by a good margin
Matteo wasted no time in knocking the lumps off
Cannondale Mechanic Matteo wasted no time in knocking the lumps off
There were casualties too, drive trains were hammered in the claggy mud
There were casualties too, drivetrains were hammered in the claggy mud
Action Team rider Greg Callaghan had to sit this one out, what might have been?
Action Team rider Greg Callaghan had to sit this one out, what might have been?
James Shirley embraced the new trend of 'helmets on the podium'..... insert your own polishing his helmet joke here...
James Shirley embraced the new trend of ‘helmets on the podium’….. insert your own polishing his helmet joke here…
The event brought a little Austrian flair to enduro racing
The event brought a little Austrian flair to enduro racing
Rene Wildhaber would have come second overall if he were not racing on a Masters Licence
Rene Wildhaber would have come second overall if he were not racing on a Masters Licence
Anneke Beerten, our new UEC European Champion
Anneke Beerten, our new UEC European Champion
Jerome Clementz, what more needs to be said... He can sure ride a bike
Jerome Clementz, what more needs to be said… He can sure ride a bike
Antje Krammer, Jerome Clementz and Anneke Beerten, all deserving champions
Antje Krammer, Jerome Clementz and Anneke Beerten, all deserving champions
Our new enduro champions (left to right), Daniel Schemmel AUT , Antje Kramer GER , Jérôme Clementz FRA , Anneke Beerten NED , Remo Heutschi SUI and René Wildhaber SUI
Our new enduro champions (left to right), Daniel Schemmel AUT , Antje Kramer GER , Jérôme Clementz FRA , Anneke Beerten NED , Remo Heutschi SUI and René Wildhaber SUI

Words and photos: Trev Worsey

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