With the European Cross Country Cup race and the finals of the enduro and downhill races, spectators and athletes are offered a wide range of bike sports. The local rookies are also eagerly awaiting the international showdown.
Cross-country riders from five nations will open the Biketember Festival on Saturday, September 17 in the Bürgerau district of Saalfelden, including Austria's elite, led by national champion Karl Markt and teammate Gregor Raggl. For Markt, the final of the MTB Liga Austria in Saalfelden is about the overall series victory and thus, after his victory at the Austrian championships, the next prestigious title in the domestic cross country scene. The same applies to last year's young U23 winner, Max Foidl from Tiroler Biketeam Kirchberg, who had a strong World Cup season this year with his first top ten finish in the U23 and is eagerly awaiting his home race: "I rode my first World Championships in Saalfelden as a junior in 2012, and those were impressions and experiences that I will never forget. The course brings back memories and I immediately feel at home on it every time - a good mix of natural trails and man-made elements." The Austrians also face strong competition in Saalfelden from two Australian World Cup athletes, Daniel McConnel and Rebecca Henderson.
Young local heroine rocks iXS Downhill Youth
With a 250-point lead, a young local heroine comes to the grand finale of the iXS European Downhill Cup in Leogang. The overall victory in the "Pro Youth" class can no longer be taken from Saalbach's Valentina Höll. The fact that she can crown this with a run in Leogang is something special for the 14-year-old, who is regarded as the biggest young talent on the scene and was recently crowned "Rookie World Champion" for the second time: "Leogang rocks. For the first time in my life, I'm going through the World Cup start gate, which is good training but above all top motivation," says the Saalbach native, who is looking forward to showing why there will be a lot more to hear from the likeable rider in the future at her home race on Saturday.
For the third time, the enduro series finale will also take place in Saalbach Hinterglemm and Leogang as part of the Biketember Festival and will be held as the Austrian Championships for the first time this year. A correspondingly high-caliber field of starters can therefore also be expected in this third bike discipline of the Biketembers.
Junior race at Lake Ritzensee
The very youngest are also part of the Biketember weekend to perhaps one day follow a similar path to the young up-and-coming aces Valentina Höll or Max Foidl: At the Scott Junior Trophy on Sunday, the kids will show what they've already got at the Ritzensee in Saalfelden from 10 am. Between the competitions, numerous side events to take part in, a large EXPO area and the legendary Ö3 disco with LUKE K provide plenty of variety.
