Nico Lau and Ines Thoma Prevail Over the Dusty Trails in Sölden

Ines Thoma is back and won stop #2 of the EES 2015 of the Elite Women Class in Sölden today. “Due to the many lift rides the heat was pretty bearable and the stages here in Sölden did make a lot of fun to ride”, she said later in the interview. German Lisa Policzka and Suisse Monika Büchi were close on her heels, but Thoma satisfied her role as favorite rider wholeheartedly. Nico Lau (FRA) also did not give his competitors any chance and won the Men Elite Class confidently in front of Michal Prokop (CZE) and Markus Reiser from Germany. In the end Lau was satisfied with the result and was fascinated of the fast and technical trails in Sölden. For him, there could not be a better training for the next stop of the EWS in France.

Benedikt Purner (AUT) once again was at top of the podium of Men Masters 30+ Class and predicts his home country Tyrol an international career in the bike scene with the new ‘Bike Republic Sölden’. Daniela Michel from Switzerland dominated the Women Masters in the scenic area of the Ötztal Alps. Kevin Maderegger from Austria won the Men Junior Class. Junior European Enduro Champion Daniel Schemmel (AUT) came in second place after his fellow-countryman.

Due to the unbearable heat of this weekend it was not possible to start the race directly from the glacier, but the riders and organization team were pretty happy with the stages. The shimmering heat dried the trails and the riders had to challenge themselves on the dusty and high alpine stages. Technical and rocky parts mixed with the flowy ‘Teäre Line’ and fast sections, this was a race every enduro rider could dream of. “This is enduro”, the riders described the trails around Sölden. With the newly founded ‘Bike Republic Sölden’ the area wants to create an extraordinary enduro terrain in Tyrol where people from all over the world and at every level can ride single trails and will have fun in the mountains.

The second stop of the EES 2015 convinced with a great atmosphere, many spectators and midsummer temperatures that made it a challenge for both the riders and the spectators in the finish area. The high alpine terrain and the sunny weather made it a spectacular event with sporting highlights and great atmosphere. So to say, the best conditions to have the next stop of the EES on July 25 and 26 at Reschenpass and the three borders region.

Czech's Michal Prokop races to 2nd place in Sölden and now has a 1 and 2 to his name in the 2015 EES.

Ines Thoma dominates the women's elite class and wins all five stages.

Fifth place for UK's Robert Williams in today's heat race.

Fastest men in the Masters 40+ class: Remo Heutschi from Switzerland.

French racing madness - Nico Lau, the winner of the Mavic Trans Provence, also wins in Sölden.

First of seven junior racers becomes Kevin Maderegger from Austria. He'd have finished 7th in the elite class with his time of 26:38.

It's time to celebrate after a hot race in the Ötztal.

Champagne for the girls - well done, everybody!

Oldie, but goldie, Benedikt Purner is in top form and wins the Masters 30+ class.

A lot of high mountains surround the trails in the 'Bike Republic Sölden'.

Third on the men's podium today - Markus Reiser from Germany, 33 seconds behind the winner.

It was definitely a dusty race is soaring heat.

Enduro at its best!

The trails in Sölden are good fun!

Top 20-finish for Kai Wendschuh from Germany.

Into the woods - that was the way to stay 'kind of' cool...

Best placed Slovak today in Sölden: Matej Vitko as 9th.

Awesome riding - the trails were in perfect shape.

Sandwiched between to Brits - Germany's Tobias Reiser on 6th.

Steep, flowy and technical - the stages of the 2nd stop of the 2015 EES in Sölden had it all!

Here are the final RESULTS.

For additional information on the EES 2015, the regulations and registration, please visit the following platforms:
http://europeanenduroseries.com
https://www.facebook.com/europeanenduroseries

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MENTIONS: @TrailSolutions

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Racing and Events Ines Thoma