Expo, Sports and Parties: The BIKE Festival Returns to Saalfelden Leogang

With a large expo area, jampacked with new products for the 2020 season, some exciting races for all ages and serious party vibes, the event is set to draw in thousands of visitors, who can look forward to a number of awesome specials & deals.

The Saalfelden Leogang region is living up to its name as a mountain bike mecca. Already for the second time of the year, the bike scene is pitching their tents at the foot of the picturesque Steinberg Mountains. From 13 to 15 September 2019, the BIKE Festival will take place directly at the Epic Bikepark Leogang. Earlier in June, the Out of Bounds Festival set a new attendance record and gave people a bright preview of what’s in store for the 2020 UCI Mountain Bike Downhill World Championships.

The renowned BIKE Festival, well-known due to stops in Riva and Willingen, returns with a number of attractive offers: with several thousands of visitors expected, around 80 exhibitors and more than 150 brands on-site, and about 1,000 riders participating in the different races, the BIKE Festival is the place to be to learn everything about what’s coming in the next season and what’s been happening this year. The best news of all: the expo is free and visitors receive a 20% discount on bike park tickets – no matter whether purchased for one, two or three days. To accomodate all of the riders, the Asitzbahn will also be running longer – until 17:30 during the week, and until 17:00 on the weekend. First lift is at 08:00 in the morning – perfect for those early birds who want to experience those dawn shred vibes. 

Apart from the expo area, there are also a number of races that will be taking place during the weekend, tailored to MTB shredders and E-Bike rippers of all ages. One event that could of course not be missing from the schedule is the Scott Enduro Series – especially because the Saalfelden region is known for the varied and challenging single trail/enduro offer. Compared to last year, there are a number of new stages that will test the limits of the riders. Full details about the trails will be presented during the issuing of the start numbers. The race itself will take place on Sunday. The participants can also look forward to a special treat: the entry fee includes a two-day bikepark ticket. 

The Rocky Mountain BIKE Marathon is the highlight on Saturday. With three different distances on offer (32km / 20mi with 1,500m / 3,300ft. of vertical, 66km / 41mi with 2,800m / 6,170ft. of vertical and 78km / 49mi with 3,400m / 7,500ft. of vertical), this marathon will deliver racing of epic proportions. This year, the marathon will consist of three bikepark laps and trails in the surrounding area. The new Steinberg Line by Fox, which flows from the Asitz gondola station to the valley can be considered as one of the new highlights of the race track. Adrenaline-pumping racing is guaranteed – both for riders and spectators. 

A brand new addition to the schedule is the Red Bull Pump Track World Championship Qualifier, which will take place on the brand-new pumptrack on Saturday. The four fastest men and women will qualify for the big final in Bern. Registration is open for anyone and costs only 10 euros. On Sunday, the Kids Run will take place on the pumptrack – a perfect opportunity to check out the stars of tomorrow while they make their first steps, or better said, laps.

The action kicks off on Friday with the Ghost Recon Ride, which is open for riders that are 16 or older (younger riders permitted with adult supervision). This race is all about fun and the Scavenger Hunt will definitely deliver that as it will guide riders past some of the most scenic spots the Saalfelden Leogang region has to offer, all while riders will have to tick off checkpoints and complete a number of challenges. 

A Bike Festival wouldn’t be complete without the necessary amount of parties, so for those looking to dance deep into the night, Saturday night is their time to shine. The full schedule and more information about the BIKE Festival Saalfelden Leogang, as well as the registration forms for the different races, can be found here: leogang.bike-festival.de/en.