10. June 2024

E-EDR Race report #3 Leogang

A premiere: For the first time this season, the ROTWILD Schwalbe Gravity Team was able to take part in the race in Leogang with its full line-up! The wet conditions made the race all the more challenging.

Venue: Saalfelden Leogang, Austria
Course length: 84.5km
Stages: 9 stages, including 2 power stages
Elevation gain: 2692m

For the first time, we competed with a full team at the 3rd World Cup in Leogang, Austria. On Thursday, Kelan, Torben and Helen started training for the 9 stages. The two power days were particularly tough - the wet conditions made them a real challenge and only a few managed to complete them without putting a foot down. In addition to some familiar routes, there were also new stages that offered a varied race. The rooty trails were particularly challenging due to the wet conditions, or as our teammate Kelan aptly put it: "If you rode the entire stage super clean and didn't have any sketchy moments, you probably just didn't push hard enough."

On Saturday, we started the first stage well rested and motivated. The renewed rain during the night promised an exciting race and confirmed our choice to ride a cut Dirty Dan at the back. Kelan was unlucky right at the start and had to tackle the first power stage partly running and partly riding due to a flat tire. Despite the puncture, he pulled out all the stops again with a top 3 stage and several top 10 stages. Torben had been battling with a slight cold all week, but made it into the top 20 with confident runs. Helen, who was riding her first E-Enduro World Cup, was able to gain a lot of experience and was delighted with 2nd place on stage 6, putting her in 5th place. All in all, it was a cool race with some great stage results that show the potential for the upcoming races.

"If you rode the entire stage super clean and didn't have any sketchy moments, you probably just didn't push hard enough."

Kelan Grant, ROTWILD Schwalbe Gravity Team

Race results

Helen Weber, 5th place WOMEN ELITE

Stage 1: 2:10.618, Gap: +32.874, P7 (Powerstage)
Stage 2: 7:46.096, Gap: +26.872, P5
Stage 3: 9:17.681, Gap: +27.387, P6
Stage 4: 4:01.199, Gap: +18.185, P6
Stage 5: 2:46.949, Gap: +3.807, P4
Stage 6: 4:28.709, Gap: +11.062, P2
Stage 7: 1:31.697, Gap: +25.378, P6 (Powerstage)
Stage 8: 3:23.475, Gap: +7.561, P4
Stage 9: 2:49.713, Gap: +11.060, P5

Torben Drach, 20st place MEN ELITE

Stage 1: 1:27.082, Gap: +21.090, P24 (Powerstage)
Stage 2: 6:17.702, Gap: +38.914, P25
Stage 3: 8:00.657, Gap: +31.325, P21
Stage 4: 3:21.579, Gap: +12.009, P12
Stage 5: 2:28.678, Gap: +11.045, P24
Stage 6: 3:43.770, Gap: +22.137, P23
Stage 7: 0:59.765, Gap: +9.524, P21 (Powerstage)
Stage 8: 2:59.702, Gap: +11.432, P22
Stage 9: 2:24.057, Gap: +9.365, P21

Kelan Grant, 17st place MEN ELITE

Stage 1: 1:40.225, Gap: +34.233, P30 (Powerstage)
Stage 2: 6:10.700, Gap: +31.912, P19
Stage 3: 7:49.901, Gap: +20.569, P12
Stage 4: 3:17.062, Gap: +7.492, P4
Stage 5: 2:21.291, Gap: +3.661, P3
Stage 6: 3:31.457, Gap: +9.824, P9
Stage 7: 1:01.677, Gap: +11.436, P24 (Powerstage)
Stage 8: 2:55.966, Gap: +7.696, P9
Stage 9: 2:19.229, Gap: +4.537, P6