The second round of the Specialized SRAM Enduro Series has now gone into the history books – an event that was dominated by challenging weather conditions and rugged rock filled trails. In the end it was Nicolas Lau and Anneke Beerten who put down the fastest times on the technical trails of Riva del Garda.
The Specialized-SRAM Enduro Series was part of the Bike Festival at Lago di Garda for the second time. Racers grew nervous as persistent rain fell during the days leading up to the race, all knowing that the rocky trails would be all the more challenging in the wet. However when the first practice day arrived, the trail paradise around Riva del Garda was bathed in sunshine, presenting the region at its best.
Anneke Beerten
Under bright sunshine more than 350 riders from 15 countries were able to complete all the 5 Stages in practice. And practice was certainly needed, the trails were formidable, rocky and technically demanding, you really had to hit the right line – typical Lake Garda! As many of the rock gardens and rock slabs were still damp from the rain of the previous days, the level of difficulty increased even further.
Kicking the event off was a one minute flat course where riders had to fight against the clock to show their pedaling strength. As at the stop before in Terlago, Michal Prokop (CZE – Specialized Racing) set the fastest time of the day and started 0.655 seconds ahead of second-placed Rene Wildhaber (SUI – Trek Factory Racing) and Nicolas Lau (FRA – Cube Action Team) for the race on Friday. In the women’s category Anneke Beerten (NED – Specialized Factory Racing) repeated her victory and won the XS Power Ride Prolog in front of Ines Thoma (GER – Canyon Enduro Factory Team) and Alba Wunderlin (SUI – Stützrädli).
Nicolas Lau
On Raceday the weather showed no mercy and showered riders and tracks with constant heavy rain. The weather conditions also ensured that in addition to the already pre-closed fourth stage, the third stage was also closed for female starters on the race day. However, the remaining four or five stages provided plenty of opportunity for exciting racing.
Fabian Scholz
With short timed stages, even a small mistake could cost places – so intense concentration was needed. The racing was spectacular for the spectators, who braved the weather in great numbers, especially on Stage 6. The bike control on show by some riders, who nailed down rock sections that were even hard to walk down, caused a series of open mouths for the watching crowds.
Where we speak about bike control, the name Nico Lau is usually not far from thought: The young Frenchman handled the wet and slippery conditions best. With a total time of 7:23:42 minutes he beat Ludovic May (SUI – Canyon Enduro Factory) to the second place with a 5 second gap. René Wildhaber was in third position. The fastest woman of the day was Anneke Beerten again, she placed first with a total time of 8:11:42 in front of Ines Thoma (+10.95) and Raphaela Richter (GER – Radon Factory Enduro). In the Masters category Remo Heutschi (SUI – gravityunion.ch) was the first and extend his overall lead to André Kleindienst (GER – Bergamont Hayes Factory) and Walter Martinschitz (AUT – mountainbiker.at).
The Specialized-SRAM Enduro Series continues – in three weeks at Samerberg – with hopefully better weather. For more information visit enduroseries.net or facebook.com/enduroseries. Photos: Axel Brunst