Cycling: Last weekend the second stop of the European Enduro Series took place in the newly founded Bike Republic Sölden. Nico Lau and Ines Thoma once again lived up to their role as favorites and won the race.
“This is enduro ,” is how most riders described the trails in Sölden. With the newly founded ‘Bike Republic Sölden’, the region has created exceptional terrain and, with the new, nearly 5-kilometer-long valley trail, an absolute highlight of the program. Against the breathtaking mountain backdrop of the Ötztal Alps, the riders had to prove their skills and fight against the oppressive heat.
Due to the unbearable heat it was not possible to start directly from the glacier this weekend, but the riders and organizers were still more than happy with the stages. The shimmering heat dried up the trails completely and the participants had to prove themselves on the dusty trails and the high alpine stages.
Technical and rocky sections alternated with the flowing 'tear line' and fast sections. A race that every endurist can only dream of.
“The heat was quite bearable thanks to the many lift shuttles, and the stages here in Sölden were absolutely fantastic ,” said Ines Thoma after her victory in Sölden. The Canyon team rider once again demonstrated her skills and dominated the women's field. Although Germany's Lisa Policzka and Switzerland's Monika Büchi were hot on her heels, Thoma fully lived up to her role as favorite.
Nico Lau also didn't give his competitors a chance and confidently won the Men Elite Class ahead of Michal Prokop and Markus Reiser from Germany. At the finish, Lau was extremely happy with the result and fascinated by the fast and technical trails in Sölden, which provided perfect training for the next stop of the EWS in France.
Full results available at European Enduro Series.