iXS German Downhill Cup RD.2 - Report

At the first weekend of June, the Bikepark Tirol opened its doors to a huge number of riders and spectators of a nerve-racking downhill race - again. In fact, it is already the second race of the iXS German Downhill Cup that takes place in Steinach am Brenner. In spite of the rather pessimistic weather forecast, 435 riders from 19 different countries arrived early on Friday morning ready to race regardless of wind and rain.

This year’s view is pretty similar to last year’s – it seems like, somehow, there is no luck for the riders as far as the weather conditions at Steinach am Brenner are concerned. After last year’s rain, this weekend’s wet conditions were not exactly what everyone was hoping for. But as a little rain never stopped a mountain bike race, everything went according to plan. The track itself had been shortened to 2 kilometers, but it still has 300 vertical meters of descending on offer. As a 2 km track is still a rather long one by German standards, this stage can definitely be seen as enrichment for the riders of the German Downhill Cup.

After two training sessions on Friday and Saturday, Markus Pekoll (AUT - MS Mondraker Team) used his technical abilities to push his pace. He reached a best time of 3:54.939 min in Saturday’s Seeding Run – setting the bar high for Sunday’s race. Nicole Beege (GER - Liteville/Syntace) dominated this first run in the Elite Women’s category.

Since the weather stayed all the same throughout the whole weekend, the riders still had to face a rather wet track in the final run on Sunday. After three days of hard racing, Mike Hörner (GER - Maxxis/Kore) dominated the Masters category, while Benedikt Purner and Gerhard Senfter (both AUT - O´fetzn Racing) followed. In the U17 category, Sven Beckers (GER - Team Rookies Racer) edged out the Seeding Run first place finisher Phillip Tanzmann (GER - Parthen Powersports) and developed a 17 sec lead and Moritz Hallmanns (GER - Team Firebike-Drössiger) went third. In the Women’s category, Katrin Karkhof (GER - Last Factory Team) set a time of 5:06.240 min and therefore finished 2.1 sec ahead of Saturday’s first place Nicole Beege, while Elke Rebeder (AUT - Mauna Loa DH Pro Racing) finished up the day in third.

Last but not least, the Elite Men category went for the win on a track that was now far from easy. With a time of 4:02.505 min Jasper Jauch (GER - Syntace Racing) occupied the Red Bull Hot Seat for a good part of the final run, since he was the first rider to start in his category due to a DNF (did not finish) result in the Seeding Run. It was not until the Top 30 that the lead was taken over by someone else. By the time Noel Niederberger (SUI - Gstaad-Scott) sat down in the Red Bull Hot Seat, only 4 competitors were left. Last year’s winner Benny Strasser (GER - Bikeunit) put in an intense attack, but failed to take over the lead, as well as Maximilian Bender (Canyon Bicycles) and Mads Weidemann did.

Finally, the fastest rider of the weekend was 17-year-old Noel Niederberger who set the best time of 3:52.151 min. The early favorite and Seeding Run first place Markus Pekoll finished in third place, right behind Maximilian Bender who went second.

In spite of the difficult conditions on the track due to the weather, it was a perfect second run of the iXS German Downhill Cup and Steinach am Brenner once more managed to demonstrate its position as a more than worthy host. While the second run of the series is in the books, the riders are already concentrating on the next stop which is scheduled to go off in Bad Wildbad in only eight weeks’ time. Word is that this upcoming race might be one of the most exciting weekends of the season, as not only the GDC, but also the German Championships will take place at the same time.

All other race dates and information can be found on ixsdownhillcup.com or at facebook.com/iXS.Downhill.Cup