The Weekend in Hausach is divided into two race days. Two slalom runs have to be completed on Saturday. The Hausach course is technically very demanding and always a challenge for the starters. The technical points are awarded in the slalom and the starting position for the XCO on Sunday is determined. The XCO race was then on the programme on Sunday. The course was made even more challenging by the overnight rain. Steep climbs and technical passages characterise this classic race on the classification calendar. Nico Brandl celebrated his debut in the BIKE Junior Team in the U15 category. 2023 is his first season in the team.
Race report Elias Hückmann, U17
The race in Hausach was very important for me, as it was the opening race of the national junior classification. On Friday, I watched the fastest lines in the slalom with my technique coach Philipp Richter. I then spent the rest of the day training on the downhill until I had a good feeling and, above all, was able to complete smooth descents.
Slalom on Saturday
The slalom competition then took place on Saturday afternoon. However, there was another official training time beforehand. I used this for three more clean runs. So I was able to roll to the start with a good feeling. My first run was smooth and safe, and it was also fast, so I was able to achieve one of the fastest times in the first of two runs. An hour later, I confidently set off on my second run. I completed this run even faster. These runs secured me seventh place and a starting place on the front row for the XCO race the following day.
XCO race on Sunday
I was really looking forward to it, as I knew from my previous races this season (Obergessertshausen, Gränichen and Capoliveri/Elba) that I had "good legs". So after a successful start, I managed to take the lead after the start loop. A crash in the field of riders helped me to open up a small gap on the chasing pack. However, a strong rider (Benedikt Benz) closed this gap again. However, nobody was able to follow him and we fought for first place for two laps. But then I realised that I was a bit stronger on the climb, so I went all out on the next long descent. I managed to open up a gap. As this was on the last lap in the last part of the race, I held this gap and was able to finish my race weekend in Hausach with a win. All in all, I had three exciting days with lots of racing action, which brought me great joy on my bike.
Race report Paulina Lange, U17
Finally, me and the whole team travelled back to Hausach for the first national junior classification. After arriving on Friday, it was time for a track check and to prepare as well as possible for the slalom. I had chosen my lines and was confident that the competition would go well the next day.
Runs on Saturday
My first run was actually quite good, apart from a stumble and a bad start, as I didn't get into the pedals for a while. So I was still a bit disappointed because I didn't quite make it into the top places. However, I had to concentrate and focus on the second run. This time, luck was on my side and I was able to complete a very good run and move up to fifth place. I was more than happy with my second run, but of course I was all the more annoyed that the first run had ruined a podium.
Motivated Sunday
I started the race on Sunday from the front row with full motivation for a podium place. Unfortunately, after just a few minutes I realised that my legs weren't fresh and good enough to keep up with the other girls. I tried to get into the race for the first time and find my rhythm. But the front runners were already ahead of me. My legs got a bit better in the middle of the second lap and I tried everything again to catch up. In the end, I had to admit defeat once again with a very thankless fourth place, but I really hope so, to find my power again on my favourite track in Gedern and to be able to fight for the very top places.
Race report Max Ebrecht, U17
The first race weekend of the MTB-BNWS took place in Hausach again this year. Like every race in the BNWS series, the competition consists of a qualification (slalom, trail) and a main race (XCO). The slalom took place on the usual Hausach course, which has steep sections but is not too technical. The XCO course is medium-technical, with longer, winding trail sections and short but steep climbs. The tactic for me at the weekend was to ride down the slalom safely and smoothly and finish in the top 20 in order to have a good starting position for the XCO race.
The slalom
The slalom course is a section of the XCO course, with a rock garden and a few tight bends. My runs were both very stable and I was able to implement my tactic of not risking too much and securing a decent starting position. I was able to improve by a second in the second run. Overall, I finished 19th, which I'm quite happy with - especially because I was able to end my qualifying losing streak from last year.
The XCO race
After finishing 19th in the slalom, I was allowed to start from the fourth row of the grid. My goal was to finish in the top 5. The start went really well and I was able to establish myself in the leading group in the start loop. Over the next four laps, I drove steadily between the leading duo of Hückmann/Benz and the chasing pack around fourth place - at times even quite alone, which is not so easy because you can easily lose your feeling for the race pace. At the beginning of the last lap, a chasing duo slowly approached. Fortunately, I managed my strength well and was able to parry the attack and ride away. Shortly before the finish, I unfortunately slipped away again, but was able to hold on to fourth place in a final sprint. I'm very happy with the weekend and am already looking forward to my next race at the ÖKK Cup in Chur (CH).
Race report Nico Brandl, U15
At the weekend I travelled to Hausach for the first round of the national junior classification. It was a special weekend for me as it was my first with the new BIKE Junior Team.
Saturday trail course
The slalom took place in two rounds on Saturday. In the first run, I managed a confident run with the third-fastest time. Unfortunately, I didn't manage the same in the second run, I made a serious mistake in the top third which lasted almost to the end. I was overjoyed that I still managed to finish 10th overall. That meant starting from the second row of the grid on Sunday.
Sunday: Top 5 for the newcomer
I was fully motivated at the start and was able to keep up with the eventual winner on the first lap. Unfortunately, I couldn't keep up the pace and was caught by a group of three riders. It was a fierce battle right to the end, which I finished in fourth place. I'm happy about that, the season has only just started and my form already seems to be good. Next week I'm off to the next Bayernliga race in Waldkirchen, close to home, where I'll meet the winner of this weekend again.
