Saturday we drove south to the 4th race of the U.S. forces Europe mountain bike championship race series. The is the first one we have made it to, the first one being in Aviano, Italy, which we will make it to next year. This race has the reputation as being one of the most brutal courses in Germany, the guys added more singletrack for this year’s installment making it a 15km lap, with 60 or so percent singletrack, the rest two track and rough grass sections. I was thoroughly impressed with the course, felt like being back in Colorado on the Super Loop race course in Winter Park.
Much to my disappointment, the directors decided on just 2 laps, I was campaigning for 3. A Leman’s start was in order, and I got my bike moving behind only one other who I passed within the first few seconds, and basically didn’t look back from there. First lap was good, building a 10 minute lead, but the second lap I lost some motivation and ended up giving back 5 minutes. I must say this course challenged the handling of the 29er like no other has with some very tight, twisty stuff.
Crossing the finish line.
Angela had a super race, winning the overall women’s class by 13 minutes!! If only the BWRE kits had arrived by Friday, they would have been on the podium. Overall, I finished 1st out of 25 competitors, one of them winning the 2 previous races where I did not attend.
Up next is the Hirschau marathon where the start is 5km from our front door.
Awesome! Congrats to both of you. Where was the race? Sounds like I should go for it next year.
thanks, race was on post at Hohenfels, south of Amberg 30km. I’ll post a report on BWRE.