In the blistering July heat, the fourth round of the hotly contested Specialized-SRAM Enduro Series took place in Samerberg, Germany. After a fiercely fought prologue on Saturday and Sunday’s four stages, the top step of the podium was reserved for Markus Reiser and Monika Büchi who both clinched victory.
Markus Reiser
After signing on and collecting start numbers, 10am on Saturday saw riders head off on the 28km course that climbs a total of 1,100 metres for a spot of training and that much needed recon of the route. Despite Europe’s soaring temperatures, resulting in the previous night’s rain showers, riders encountered just a few muddy sections in the morning but these later dried out to become as dry as bone.
The first stage took riders through the bike park, forcing them to adapt to the ever-changing terrain of bumpy roots and high-speed sections. Next up and in start contrast, Stage 2 brought technical, tight rooty corners to the table, before the speed-inducing and openly marked stage 3 demanded maximum exertion to overcome the rocky terrain.
After feedback from riders, the organizer decided against timing stage 4. Putting many amateurs out of their depth, the risk of injury was also too great for the pros who would take this stage at high speed. The fifth and final stage once again demanded full concentration from the riders; after a tame start, the lower part sped along a dried-out streambed crammed with a mixture of loose and secure rocks and left little room for error.
Fabian Scholtz
Saturday’s prologue gave the riders their first chance to clock a decent time on paper for the race. Held in the lower part of the bike park, it was a short sprint over multiple berms and tables before reaching the finish line. Clocking 1:01.820 minutes, Fabian Scholz (GER – Focus Trail Team) clinched the fastest pro male time, while Stephanie Teltscher (GER – Focus) was the fastest pro female with 1:16.399. In the Pro Masters category, Andre Kleindienst (GER – Endura Bergamont Factory Team) snatched first place, and Martin Klauber (GER – Radstation Lindau) and Barbara Stettler (SUI – Thömus Veloshop) respectively rode the fastest times in the amateur categories.
As the amateurs started toeing the start line from 8am on Saturday morning, there was a nice chill in the air as they set off on the now-familiar stages. As the temperatures rose by the time the pros started at midday, the race became even more taxing.
Elite men podium
Markus Reiser (GER – Focus Trail Team) eventually seized a narrow victory with a time of 10:05.42 ahead of the German champion Fabian Scholz and Ludwig Döhl (GER – Cube Action Team) in the Pro Men’s category. Leonhard Putzenlechner (GER – ENVE Composites) and Marcel Rieder (GER – RSV Sonthofen) completed the podium. Amongst the Pro Women, Monika Büchi (SUI – Schmid Velosport) secured not only the day’s victory with 12:23.51 minutes, but now takes the lead in the series classification too. Second place was claimed by Lisa Policzka (GER), ahead of Chiara Eberle (GER – Mhw Cube Racing Team).
Pro masters podium
Tommy Umbreit (GER – Redheads Team) beat Wilfed van de Haterd (NED – Nicolai) to take victory in the Pro Masters’ category, while André Kleindienst (GER – Bergamont) settled for third place.
In the Amateur Men’s race, the victor Christoph Höß (GER – Radstation Lindau) was followed by Clemens Bachmann (GER – BSG Flughafen Stuttgart) and Dennis Braun (GER). The fastest time from the Amateur Women’s category was ridden by Kathi Kruypers (GER – Trek Gravity Girls), ahead of Barbara Stettler (SUI – Thömus Veloshop) and Stephanie Frankl (GER – WOMB Girlsridetoo.de).
Elite women podium
With Samerberg now behind us, there are just two races remaining in the Specialized-SRAM Enduro Series. In two weeks time, the riders will descend on Schöneck for the penultimate stop, before the series final takes places in Leogang on 18/19 September.