News

Jiri Novak and Bart Brentjens started last saturday at the Author Sela Marathon in Teplice, Czech republic. The 91 kilometer race with 2100 altitude meters was won by Pavel Boudny (CZE) while Jiri Novak finished in 2nd at 0.06 and Matous Ulman 3rd at 0.17. Bart Brentjens finished in 28th but 1st Master !

Marek Konwa is getting the right form for the upcoming World Cups. It was yet another successful weekend for the polish Superior Brentjens rider. He won the XCE discipline on friday and was 2nd at the XCO race saturday of the Gora Swietokrzyskie MTB Cup in Poland that was won by Piotr Brzozka. Good job Marek ! We look forward to the Worldcups in Albstadt Germany (18/19 May) and Nove Mesto Czech Republic (25-26 May).

Hans Becking had a great result finishing 4th at the 2nd round of the Coupe the France in Saint-pompont. The race was won by Maxime Marotte (FRA) followed by Stephane Tempier (FRA) on 1.36 and in 3rd place Fabien Canal (FRA) on 2.19. Hans Becking finished 4th at 3.15 from the winner.

The Peak to creek race in Solden Austria is a relay race with teams that are formed of 8 athletes, all top class athletes from all over the world out of the sports of skiing, mountainbiking, mountain running, climbing, road cycling, ski mountaineering, paragliding, kayaking and rafting. In glorious weather the Peak to Creek race led the athletes from the  " Schwarze Schneide" to the white water of the Otztaler and took them literally from winter to summer. The clock started at 10.00, 3367 meters above sea level and around five hours later the exhausted but happy athletes were applauded at the finish on the sandy riverbank of the Otztal river.  The first stage started with skiing, then followed by mountainbiking, mountain running, mountain climbing, road cycling, ski mountaineering, paragliding, kayaking and the final stage of rafting with the whole team together. Bart Brentjens was part of the Team Silver who won the Peak to Creek race.

Bart Brentjens " What a great race ! I enjoyed it a lot, the mountainbiking was fun but the final rafting with the whole team together was the best !"

For a film impression go to : http://www.peaktocreek.at/main/EN/SD/MS/peak_to_creek/index.html

The Otztal Bike Festival started with the all new XCE disciplin on friday, followed by XCO race on sunday. Marek Konwa and Hans Becking both joined the XCE Eliminator, while Yana Belomoina and Anne Terpstra joined them on sunday for the XCO race. Marek Konwa had good manches in the eliminator race that put him in the finals, Hans Becking unfortunately was out in the first manche. Marek Konwa finished 3rd in the XCE finals, which was won by Daniel Federspiel (AUT). Hans Becking finished 24th.

On sunday was the XCO race. The women race was won by polish rider Maja Wloszczowska before Blaza Klemencic (SLO) and Esther Suss (SUI). Milka Superior rider Yana Belomoina finished 12th and Anne Terpstra 17th. The mens race was won by Karl Markt (AUT) followed by Thomas Litscher (SUI) and Maxime Marotte (FRA). Marek Konwa had a bad day and did not finish, Hans Becking finished 21th.

The first round of the Czech MTB Cup was in Teplice. Jiri Novak had a great start for this series by finishing in 2nd place, 0.50 seconds behind the winner Jan Skarnitzl and 0.34 seconds before Milan Spesny who finished 3rd. A great result for the Superior Brentjens rider.

Grant Ferguson, the 19 year old rider of the Superior Brentjens MTB Racing Team, crossed the line ahead of teammate Kenta Gallagher, while Hamish Bachelor from Fluid Fin Racing Team finished in 3rd. Kenta Gallagher attacked almost straight from the start of the seven lap race, and Ferguson was on his wheel with the bachelor brothers Hamish and Seb not far behind. The four rides stuck together and worked well together to leave the rest of the riders behind. At the bell Ferguson attacked on a small climb to the finishing circuit, and held that lead to the line. 

Grant Ferguson " I started quite well then Kenta got a gap and it split quite a lot, but then came back together with the four of us. I knew I didn't want it to come to a sprint so I wanted to try and go early, so I went on the climb up to the finish, got a bit of a gap and then held it. It's the first time I've won an elite race, so it's super !"

Jeroen Boelen is in a winning mood…he won already 4 races this season in Assen, Berlicum, Wageningen and last week the Wollebrand MTB race. This weekend he was also the fastest, taking the lead immediately from the start, in the dutch national race in Havelte. Jesper Slik finished in 2nd while Bram Rood took 3rd place.

Jeroen Boelen " It was a demanding race, because I did a 180 km roadrace the day before. I took the lead directly from the start, the last 2 laps Jesper Slik came closer but I managed to keep him on 10 seconds. I am happy with this win !"

The 17th edition of the national Wollebrand mountainbike race in the netherlands was won by Jeroen Boelen. It was a lonely race for Boelen, directly after the start he took the lead and immediately he had a gap on the chasing group of 4 riders, Jordy Luisman, Bram Rood, Frank Schotman and Niels Wubben. Even despite a flat tire in the 2nd lap the difference was so big that Boelen could stay ahead of them. Niels Wubben  from Rabobank development Team (2nd) and Frank Schotman from MPL Specialized (3rd) joined Jeroen Boelen on stage. 

A competitiorsfield like a worldCup was present in Heubach while a muddy track was waiting for the riders. The Bike the Rock festival in Heubach gets bigger every year. World Champion Nino Schurter, Julien Absalon, Milatz Moritz, Jose Hermida…they were all there. The expected duel between Schurter and Absalon was provided in the 2nd lap of the 6 lap race. No one could follow them. Bad luck for Absalon because of mud in his front derailleur and have to get off the bike was good luck for Schurter when he rode away. Nino Schurter won the race while Julien Absalon took 2nd and Florian Vogel finished 3rd. Hans Becking rode a solid race and finished on a strong 15th position just before his teammate Marek Konwa.