Spectrum: The Haibike MTB Festival Tegernseer Tal has been one of the sporting highlights in the region for 13 years. Around 25.000 cyclists from 40 nations visited the successful event in Upper Bavaria in those years. The great success continued last weekend with 5.000 visitors and over 1.300 starters, but the future of the event is uncertain.
Also this year, the colorful supporting program around the popular MTB marathon in the Tegernsee valley transformed the town center of Rottach-Egern into a bike park. 40 exhibitors presented the latest bikes and parts to the festival visitors, and the rush to the stands was correspondingly large. The absolute highlight of the event has always been the MTB marathon, in which 1.150 starters took part this year.
As part of the Ritchey Mountain Bike Challenge, the marathon race in the Tegernsee Valley is one of the most important events in Germany. The new track concept had a positive effect on the accident statistics, fortunately there were no injuries worth mentioning. Matthias Leisling was able to win the long distance with a time of 3:54:09 hours, while the women's race was won by Vice German Champion Silke Schmidt (4:46:04 hours).
E-bikes are very popular, and the Haibike MTB Festival Tegernseer Tal is no exception. Increasing numbers of starters underpin the increasing popularity of e-bike MTB sports. At the third edition of the Haibike ePerformance Race, 37 e-bikers started the short distance. 120 young drivers aged between two and 14 got their money's worth at the Kids Cup. Every young biker was proud to take home a medal and certificate.
Actually everything would be perfect if the uncertain future of the Haibike MTB Festival Tegernseer Tal wasn't in the air. The organizers are encountering increasing difficulties in finding attractive and safe routes. Property owners have to agree to drive through and enter their property, so the organizing team has to contact 200 owners each year.
Unfortunately, the increasing skepticism and rejection of mountain bikers is also evident here. According to the organizer, the reasons for the negative attitude of the owners are disruptions to alpine operations, obstruction to agricultural and forestry work and damage to paths and fences by mountain bikers. According to the organizer, many property owners simply want to have their peace and quiet and therefore do not agree with the route.
Of course, it would be very unfortunate if such an attractive event were not to take place again. Not only many mountain bikers would certainly suffer, but ultimately tourism as well. In the region, however, there is also a crisis on another point: So far, no significant progress has been made with the planned MTB route network - despite intensive efforts by the organization team.