Race Recap: Specialized-SRAM Enduro Series #1

For the third time in history, Treuchtlingen in Germany played host to the Specialized-SRAM Enduro Series, kicking off the battle for positions that will last the entirety of the 2015 season. Exactly 550 competitors from 12 nations entered the race, at the end Michal Prokop and Raphaela Richter were the winners.

Award Ceremony Elite Men - Gusti Wildhaber, Michal Prokop, Noel Niederberger

With many riders having arrived on Friday, Saturday gave opportunity for that much-needed training and recce of the course. Thanks to the previous week’s summer-like weather, the track appeared dry and dusty, which – combined with some newly created and excitingly varied stages – ensured that riders’ moods were high. After the initial training session, it started to get serious for the riders as 5pm heralded the start of the first race, the Lupine Prolog. On a floodlit slalom descent, crucial precision was demanded in order to guarantee a clean and crash-free ride into the spectator-packed finish. Fastest Elite Men rider was Daniel Ludwig (GER - Scott Germany) and Kim Schwemmer (GER- Herobikes) who managed to convincingly beat the women´s field.

Markus Reiser (GER - Focus Trail Team) during the Prologue

At 8am on Sunday morning the riders began their respective races with 24km and five stages for the amateurs, and 32km with seven stages for the Elite. Spectator-lined, dusty, dry trails awaited the riders, and the atmosphere was rapturous, particularly along stages three and four, which guaranteed high spirits and even higher speeds for the riders.

Björn Stukenkemper (GER - Bayeride)

Fabian Scholz (GER - Focus Trail Team)

Petrik Brückner (GER - Radon Factory Enduro)

Stone quarry at stage 4

By the end of the weekend the results were in and the Michal Prokop (CZE - Specialized Racing) took victory in the Elite Men’s category with a time of 11:37.05. Gustav Wildhaber (SUI - Cube Action Team) took second and Noel Niederberger (SUI - Swiss Downhill Syndicate) completed the podium in third.

Michal Prokop (CZE - Specialized Racing)

Noel Niederberger (SUI - Swiss Downhill Syndicate)

Raphaele Richter (GER - Radon Factory Enduro) led the women’s category with a minute advantage, clocking 14:06.09 ahead of Monika Büchi (SUI - Schmid Velosport) and Kim Schwemmer (GER - Herobike), second and third respectively.

Raphaele Richter (GER - Radon Factory Enduro)

Finish Area

After this successful season opener, it is now just two weeks until the second round of the Specialized-SRAM Enduro Series, which takes place as part of the BIKE Festival in Riva del Garda/Italy.




www.enduroseries.net

---

MENTIONS: @Specialized @SramMedia

Posted In:
Racing and Events Specialized SRAM