Even if season 2016 has not yet arrived, it is time to have a look at next year’s agenda. The dates for the iXS races have been fixed just in time for Christmas and just in time for you to start planning your annual vacation! This is how our 14th season will look like:
It took some time, but finally the time has come to release the iXS agenda for 2016. This time, we really faced a lot of problems and complications, mainly due to last-minute changes every single time we had agreed on what turned out to be a not-so-final version over and over again. As always, we tried to avoid overlaps within the iXS Cups, as well as with other races and series. This turned out to be rather difficult since as you can see there rarely is a weekend without a race.
According to the principle “never change a running system” lots of traditional venues stayed the same. However, there also have been some obvious changes:
This year, Willingen will be part of the iXS European Downhill Cup for the first time, adding another German high-class race to the competition. Todtnau, on the other hand, will not be found in next year’s schedule, after hosting last year’s German Championships. With Willingen in the EDC and Todtnau gone, the iXS German Downhill Cup would lack 2 races – but we came up with some great alternatives! The second race of the GDC will take us to Brandnertal. After hosting a more than successful RDC race last season, we decided that the Bike Park should definitely also be among the GDC hosts next season. The German Champions 2016 will be hosted in Tabarz once again and already for the fourth time after 1996, 2000 and 2008.
iXS European Downhill Cup – Leogang 2015 – Carina Cappellari
The iXS European Downhill returns to its traditional venues: First, the season will definitely be opened in Slovenia. At this point, however, we are not yet sure if this race will take place in Maribor or in Kranjska Gora. Maribor still has some financial problems, and Kranjska Gora proved to be such a worthy substitute that it definitely qualifies for a perfect venue in 2016 again. Of course we will let you now, as soon as the final decision is made.
The second race at the end of May will then take us to Willingen and the BIKE festival, which provides the riders with its shortest, but definitely not easiest track of the season. In mid-June the third race invites you all to one of our all-time favorites with Schladming’s Planai, before we will make our way to Spicak for round four. The fifth race takes us to Les Deux Alpes for another high-speed race, before returning to Leogang for the season finals at the Biketember Festival.
iXS European Downhill Cup – Spicak 2015 – Johaness Fischbach
The iXS Swiss Downhill Cup currently includes three races next season, but we are still working on expanding this schedule at the moment. We will let you know, as soon as everything is set.
What definitely should be mentioned as well is the iXS Dirt Masters Festival in Winterberg which celebrates its 10 th anniversary this upcoming season – and that will be huge! In addition to GDC and RDC races, the festival also offers a Fourcross ProTour event, as well as some Slopestyle contests and much more. In addition this year’s special focus will be on the visitors and riders, who want to ride their bikes without competing in the contests. For the first time, you will be provided with the opportunity to do so at the new Flowtrail, and the other bike park trails like the Conti-Track or the Freecross.
Of course we also did not forget about our youngest riders! At present the Rookies Cup includes 4-5 races, as well as another round of the iXS International Rookies Championships in Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis in early August. This special event will be broadcasted as a live stream on Pinkbike and should definitely be obligatory for every ambitioned young athlete.
iXS European Downhill Cup – Schladming 2015 – Sławek Łukasik
You should also keep in mind that changes in this schedule are still possible, although we hope to stick to this version as closely as possible. At present, we are still talking to some possible venues, especially in Switzerland, which might be added to the agenda. So stay tuned!
More info: ixsdownhillcup.com