Ischgl European Open

The European Open trial run for the 2014 European Championships took place this weekend in Ischgl, Austria. Known as the Over Mountain Challenge the event would see racers complete 2 stages in Austria before dropping over the mountain and into Switzerland then the final stage back to Ischgl. Alpine weather can never be predictable and with snow arriving midweek covering the race track, the organisers made the difficult decision to alter the race track. Switzerland was off limits so the race course was shortened by dropping one stage.

Now with 4 all-weather stages Friday evening saw the opening party and registration, training started on Saturday morning followed by an evening prologue. After a wet and snowy week in the resort, participants awoke to a sunny morning and practise got underway. Considering the rain leading up to the event the stages rode well on the Saturday, the evening was then spent preparing for the prologue course followed by a single race run. Some World class riders attended the event, Nico Lau, Mark Weir, Gusti Wildhaber and newly crowned Enduro World Champion Jerome Clementz, thus making it a highly competitive field after the large prize purse.

The prologue started in the centre of Ischgl and with riders starting and finishing at the same point, meant some uphill. The Trail Solutions crew did a great job of creating a prologue stage, building jumps, berms and a massive wall ride. Many locals came to spectate and this created a great atmosphere with main sponsor Cannondale handing out noise batons!!! In the end it was Nico Lau of the Cube Action Team who took the win closely followed by team mate Gusti Wildhaber, surprisingly race favourite Jerome Clementz was off pace finishing in 8^th, almost 4 seconds off the lead time. I had a disappointing prologue finishing in 34^th position and 8 seconds off due to a slight technical issue.

Prologue through the town!

Sunday morning and I woke to dry conditions, a surprise since rain was forecast. Riders set off in groups with 2 minute intervals and headed up the hill. Stage 1 was a short cycle to the start and for me this was a nice awakening and got the body warm before dropping into the technical stage 1. Out the start gate and riders battled a tricky right hander before dropping into a rutted walking path littered with rocks and roots to catch the unwary rider out. Since it was a short stage, times were going to be tight, I rode it well considering the slippery conditions and was 4^th on that stage, a time on par with Gusti Wildhaber and just shy of Nico Lau, Jerome set a blistering pace 8 seconds ahead.

Stage 2 after the tough climb

The Silveretta Gondola took riders to 2300m where stage 2 started, from there riders descended down some tricky and tight single track that to ride at speed was challenging. Then came the dreaded climb of 80m vertical almost every rider struggled with it, the first half could be ridden but the remaining part had to be hiked and many took to it with their bike on their back. I rode strong but nearing the top the legs began to suffer and it felt like each step I took the top looked further away. Once at the top however riders were rewarded with a fun single track section to complete the stage. Jerome showed his dominance and fitness level on this and put some serious time in, I finished in 7^th position.

A short ride to stage 3 and riders were greeted with a purely downhill stage, tight twisty turns following one of the marked walking paths back to Ischgl village. This was the only stage affected by the rain and many riders struggled to keep the bike upright. Such a short stage, sub 1 minute 30 made tight racing and in the end it was Nico Lau who took the win despite puncturing. I finished just 4 seconds back and in 4^th position again only 2 seconds off eventual race winner Jerome. Again boarding the gondola riders were taken to the top station before having to pedal 2.5km to the start of stage 4 at 2600m.

On the tough climb in stage 2, lung buster!!

Stage 4 like 2 was very physical and started with a sprint into some long sweeping turns, it was a trail that just flowed, bermed turns and fade away jumps. The mid section featured a loose rocky section where at full speed riders were hitting around 50kmph you were then back in to the flowing trails. I looked ahead and rode the trail smart, saving a lot of time by setting up wide for corners and looking ahead. The stage finished nicely with some natural trails alongside a flowing river before spitting you out at a farm out building. This time Gusti Wildhaber took the stage win, I again finished 7^th after a pretty solid ride. Racing now over there was an amazing descent back to the village before handing back my timing chip and getting my results. I came in 6^th overall an amazing end to a great trip. This was my best result and a real confident boost, bring on the World Enduro Series Final in Italy in a month!

The event was a test run for a potential 2014 European Championships to be held here and from a riders perspective it ran smoothly, information was well communicated and all the staff were friendly and very approachable. Massive thank you to the Trail Solutions team for all their hard work and hospitality not only at this race but across the whole year!!!