iXS German Downhill Cup RD.3 - Report
After the first two races of the season, the German Downhill Cup headed to Bad Wildbad last weekend. Check out this great report from the weekends racing!
After the first two races of the season, the German Downhill Cup headed to Bad Wildbad last weekend. At the same time, the little town again acted as the host of this year’s German National Championships. Harriet Ruecknagel and Marcus Klausmann took the win in a challenging and nerve-racking race.
It was already the 21st German National Championships of mountain bike downhill: this year at the now classic venue of Bad Wildbad. The little town already hosted the event for the 6th time, again luring numerous ambitious riders to one of the most demanding tracks Germany has to offer.
Last weekend, 450 riders from 13 different nations made their way to the third race of the iXS German Downhill Cup and this year’s German Nationals 2013. On Friday, the participants had the chance to get used to the course during a first track walk. Although 250 vertical meters on a 2.1 km track seem rather feasible, the stage was far from easy. With many roots, rocks and high-speed sections which were even harder to ride due to the dry and therefore extremely dusty conditions, the riders had to face an intense track - even with the weather on their side. Afterwards the riders continued with their first training sessions preparing themselves for Saturday’s obligatory training and the Seeding Run.
On Saturday, some of the participants showed their strong ambitions towards the title. The reigning German Champion Harriet Ruecknagel (GER - RAD-ART) took the women’s qualifying by a 2.865 second lead in her first race of the season, while the reigning German Champ in the Elite Men category Johannes Fischbach (GER -RRP Ghost) scored the men’s top spot, only a few seconds ahead of his strongest competitors and former title-holders Benny Strasser (GER - Bikeunit Double Distribution) and Marcus Klausmann (GER - Ghost Factory Racing). Based on such a result in the Seeding Run, the final run was apt to be exciting.
On Sunday, the weather was on its best behavior again: sunshine and warm temperatures lured a huge crowd of cheering spectators to the bike park.
After setting the best time in the Seeding Run, it was left to Harriet Ruecknagel to hold it together under the pressure of expectation as the hottest favorite in the Elite Women category. Kim Schwemmer (GER - Herobikes Combat Unit) pushed the pace and set a best time that was even faster than Ruecknagel’s time from the previous day. The next starter Nicole Beege (GER - Liteville) did not finish the race and now all eyes were on the current champion. Harriet Ruecknagel finished with a new best time of 4:08.603 min and, therefore, managed to defend her title once again and to start off her season with victory. The podium was rounded out by Kim Schwemmer in second and Sandra Ruebesam (GER - Propain Bikes) in third.
In the Elite Men category Christian Textor (GER - Team Bulls) dominated the race for quite some time as he set a time of 3:20.785 min. But there were still 30 more riders to come…
In the end, the mentally challenging track seemed to take its toll and many of the odds-on favorites were slower or did not finish at all. Guido Tschugg (GER - Ghost Factory) for example ended up in 103rd and Andres Sieber (GER - Radon Factory) finished in 75th due to a flat. While Textor still occupied the Hot Seat, Marcus Klausmann, Benny Strasser und Johannes Fischbach were the last riders who had the chance to take his seat. And again, Marcus Klausmann managed to live up to the crowd’s expectations: He took the top spot with a 5 second lead and a time of 3:15.275 min. With Benny Strasser having a huge fall and therefore ending up around 100th, Fischbach was the last one to dislodge Klausmann from the Red Bull Hot Seat, but only finished in second place in the end. The German Champion 2013 in the Elite Men category therefore is Marcus Klausmann, followed by German Vice-Champion Johannes Fischbach and Christian Textor in third place. All other results and information can be found on ixsdownhillcup.com or at facebook.com/iXS.Downhill.Cup
Photo Credit - Thomas Dietze
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