Canadian in Freiburg or Woodpecker in Stuttgart: Which trail is more fun?

THE CANADIAN: MTB trail in Freiburg

The story of the Canadian Trail sounds like a modern-day freeride fairytale: Four Canadians from Bristish Columbia travel to Freiburg and build an officially authorised trail in the forest within a few weeks - for free. The costs for flights, accommodation and food (approx. 10,000 euros) will be covered by Specialized constructor and Freiburg local Peter Denk. The route from Kybfelsen to Freiburg-Waldsee winds its way down into the valley over 3.6 kilometres and 450 metres in altitude. The only way up is with muscle power. The Canadian curves smoothly down into the valley on forest soil and this is where the magic of the route lies: it tips the biker from one turn into the next: up, down, left, right - something is constantly happening and this turns the descent into a rollercoaster. There are only a few jumps, but they are well thought out and fun. In short: you want to have a home trail like this! No wonder the trail is so popular with the

Baden is so popular that it is frequently ridden. But despite the high frequency, the trail is surprisingly robust. The Canadian also proves that a fun trail doesn't have to be expensive. On page 110, we talk to one of the four Canadian trail shapers.

• Where: Freiburg-Waldsee
• Length: 3,6 km (450 hm)
• Favourite bikeEnduro : Enduro

WOODPECKER TRAIL: MTB trail in Stuttgart

The Swabian freeriders cannot be accused of lacking tenacity. Committed mountain bikers fought for the route in Stuttgart-Degerloch for almost ten years. In 2015, the time had finally come. The city agreed and even paid the construction costs (175,000 euros). The result was a 1-kilometre-long crushed sand descent in the middle of the city. It's easy to get up with muscle fat (it's only 120 metres in altitude) or with the cog railway. We visited the route in 2016 and have to say: unfortunately not great, we were disappointed. The Brechsandbahn wastes the few metres in altitude with too many straights where nothing happens. The few jumps were rolled round and offered little airtime fun in this condition. Newcomers to mountain biking may like the simple marble run (there is only a 1-metre gap drop that can be ridden around), but experienced bikers will hardly be able to get excited about a second run. To be fair, we have to admit that the few metres in altitude certainly didn't make it easy for the trail builders. But how the route could have swallowed up so much money is a mystery to us.

• WhereStuttgart-Degerloch
• Length1 km (125 hm)
• Favourite bikeTrailbike/Enduro

The bottom line: which MTB trail is better

The victory clearly goes to Freiburg! The route in South Baden is not only longer and has more vertical metres, the trail builders at the "Canadian" have also understood how to make a trail fun and varied. Here, you want to go straight back up and then blast down at full throttle. In comparison, the short crushed sand track in Stuttgart seems unimaginative. Stuttgart - unfortunately you're out!