Cycling: The first UEC MTB Enduro European Championships took place on Sunday, June 21st, 2015 in a veritable mud fight in Kirchberg, Tirol/Austria.
Under the most difficult conditions and with snow at the beginning of summer, Anneke Beerten (NED) and Jérôme Clementz from France show their class and win the elite class of the Enduro European Championships. They are the first European champions in enduro mountain biking.
"It was an absolutely cool last run and for me it was really the best of the day", Anneke Beerten was the fastest in the Women's Elite Class today in Kirchberg after crossing the finish line and was quite enthusiastic about it. Anita Gehrig from Switzerland and Raphaela Richter (GER) tried to make her life as difficult as possible, but in the end Beerten came out on top and held the historic prize in his hands. There were no surprises in the men's elite class. Jérôme Clementz, the top favorite and currently probably the best Enduro biker, was the fastest on the legendary Fleckalmtrail and compatriot Rémy Absalon had no chance of fulfilling his dream of becoming the first Enduro European Champion. Vid Persak from Slovenia completes this strong podium.
Antje Kramer (GER) is the first European Enduro Champion in the Women's Masterclass, although she doesn't describe herself as a specialist for wet and muddy trails. Nevertheless, it was one of the greatest days for her and she had a lot of fun on the trails in Kirchberg. Winner of the Men Master 30+ class: the unique René Wildhaber from Switzerland, who only decided to take part in the race a few days ago.
Austria's Benedikt Purner crashed badly on Stage #4, but still managed to win second place in the Men Master 30+ class. He is overjoyed with his result: "It really exceeds all my expectations. I had a bad crash on the last stage and didn't know if I could even finish the race. But everything went well for me.” Daniel Schemmel (AUT) is the first and proud European Champion of the Men's Junior Class.
In total, 198 riders from 18 nations took part in a tough and muddy race at the first-ever official UEC MTB Enduro European Championships. In four stages, the drivers had to demonstrate all their technical and driving skills in order to survive in the unforgiving environment of the Kitzbühel Alps. Stage #1 was right in the start and finish area and led over to Stage #2, the famous Gaisbergtrail and the course of the 2014 Austrian Downhill Championships - very fast and extremely muddy. A relaxed ride in the chairlift made it up to Stage #3, where the riders had to give their best on the Lisi Osl Trail.
Named after the MTB Cross Country overall World Cup winner Lisi Osl, the upper section of the trail was flowy and then ended in a technically demanding passage in the forest. The following Stage #4 pushed the participants to their limits on the 7km long Fleckalmtrail. There they had to climb 1000 meters on the longest single trail in Tyrol. In today's conditions, it was completely soaked in mud and the riders were pushed to the very limit of their physical endurance in this mud fight, standing knee deep in the mud at times.
The direction that enduro sport has taken is exactly right - the bikers agree on that. The very first Enduro European Championships were a complete success and both the participants and the organizers are satisfied and extremely enthusiastic about the event. The extremely wet and muddy weather presented a real challenge for participants, organizers and equipment. With no serious falls or injuries, the race was a great prelude to future events and will definitely go down in sporting history. After all, the first UEC MTB Enduro European Champion was crowned today.
Result of the first UEC MTB Enduro European Championships:
ELITE MEN
1. Jerome Clementz FRA
2. Remy Absalon FRA
3. Vid Persak SLO
WOMEN'S ELITE
1. Anneke Beerten NED
2. Anita Gehrig SUI
3. Raphaela Richter GER