Full-grown and established – The European Enduro Series is now a riding benchmark

Five races in four countries, and the first European Championship – from challenging Alpine trails to sandy slopes and deserving winners in all classes – the European Enduro Series in 2015 was highly varied and very demanding, with victory deeply sought after by the European Enduro elite. The planning for 2016 has almost been completed and with Vittoria Industries Ltd, the world´s leading manufacturer of bicycle tires, the EES welcomes a new strong partner. An inaugural prologue, five races in extraordinary places, and a European Championship in the heart of the mountain biking world guarantee big names and spectacular action for the next season!

Markus Reiser (GER) – the winner of the EES 2015 at Punta Ala (EES #1) © Antonio Lopez

It started at the “Rock Oh” in Punta Ala, stopped at the Alpine mountains in Sölden, crossed borders at the Reschenpass, caused a stir in Molveno-Paganella, and finally came to a crowning end at the beach of Malaga (Benalmadena). In the second season of the EES only 100% Enduro Trails were part of the programme, and they saw diverse weather conditions – sun, rain and even snow. With all the variation and difficulty on the five stops, it was not surprising that there were four different winners in the men’s, and five separate winners in the women’s elite classes! The final race in Spain decided the 2015 overall winner when Markus Reiser (GER) managed to become the only rider to win two races, pushing Michal Prokop, the three time 4X World Champion from the Czech Republic, into second place. The 2014 champion, Robert Williams from Great Britain, finished third in the overall ranking in the 2015 EES season. In the women’s class, Lisa Policzka from Germany, who started the season as a hobby rider, managed to place second three times, and won in the season finale. The German won the overall rankings ahead of Swiss Monika Büchi, and fellow German rider Sandra Börner. The historic first UEC MTB Enduro European Championship also took place, with the Dutch woman Anneke Beerten, and Jérôme Clémentz from France winning the titles in the Elite classes in Tyrolean Kirchberg.

Kevin Maderegger (AUT) claimed the overall victory of the Men Juniors. Here he is rocking the trails at Sölden at EES #2 © Manfred Stromberg

The 2015 EES had not only diverse trails, but diversity in ages in the Masters 30+, 40+, 50+, and Juniors classes. Strongly fought victories, and outstanding individual performances were part of every race. The German mountain bike veteran Antje Kramer, quit her unparalleled career with the European title in the Women Masters class. Roberto Masciadri took the title in the Masters 50+ class against fellow countryman Zortea Carlo, and the oldest participant of the series, Derek Laughland (1957!) from Great Britain. Remo Heutschi (SUI) unfortunately wasn’t able to finish the season due to injuries, but secured his victory in Masters’ 40+ class after only three races. Benedikt Purner (AUT) dominated the Masters’ 30+ class throughout the season and was only defeated once – by one of the world’s best downhill marathon bikers, the Swiss René Wildhaber, in the UEC MTB Enduro European Championship in Kirchberg. Kevin Maderegger (AUT) claimed the overall victory of the Men Juniors. However, Austrian Daniel Schemmel, second in the EES overall ranking, won the European Masters (UEC) title in the Juniors.

EES #3 – Sandra Börner (SUI) loved the trails at Reschenpass © Andreas Vigl

Guest appearances of great riders were excellent bonus additions: Ines Thoma (GER), fifth in the 2015 EWS took first place in Sölden. Raphaela Richter (GER), despite the double burden of concentrating on school, still has enough focus and drive to finish an excellent third place in the European Championships in Kirchberg. The Frenchman Nico Lau, a Tweedlove Festival winner, triumphed in Sölden.

The European Enduro Series has matured into an established bridge between national competitions and the Enduro World Series. The master Endurist who seeks competition and rankings at a high level, will again find it in the EES in 2016. They will be competing on new, handpicked venues, on breath-taking trails, with international racing elite, in both professional, as well as amateur classes, and across several age groups. The European Championship will be run as part of the Bike Festival in Riva.