Hope dies first. Until a second ago, everything around me looked like a cosy day at Puls-Parterre. Grannies in health moccasins were puttering through the morning silence in search of the nearest cafeteria. Apart from that, there was nothing more than fun-free lawns and a so-called conference and visitor centre, whose bistro appeals to hunger pangs with "light and hearty food". It is the concept of health resorts to avoid excitement and hecticness. That's the point. I have no idea why Patrick suggested the rehab clinic in the already under-touristy little town of Orscholz as the meeting point. Nowhere is there any indication of sizzling life, of pulse peaks, of mountain bike action. I didn't even put a water bottle on my bike.
"Moin!" comes from the direction of the visitor centre. A glance in the direction of the call immediately dashes any hopes of a relaxed kilometre. The troop, which rolls towards me in a precise two-by-two formation, does not fit into the overall picture of the place in any way. Quite the opposite. Without exception, the riders look ready to perform. They wear uniformly printed minimalist clothing. The pedalling movements are smooth, the mountain bikes hard and flat. Patrick Müller (29) is the first to shake my hand. "Monz Zweiradshop - always there for you" is written on the jersey.
"So, so, you think you can't bike in Saarland?" he asks again why I'm here, accompanied by the laughter of the others. I nod. After all, the result of the annual BIKE reader survey was clear. Zero per cent intend to travel to the Saarland. Otherwise, only Berlin and Hamburg attract so little interest. This raises questions. Can there be mountain bike regions that are as bad as their reputation? Can an area be so devoid of expectations that masses of bikers pant through the Alps year after year in search of that Heidi feeling and at least a little solitude somewhere?
The Saarland should be at the top of the readers' favourites. Hardly any other federal state produces more glamorous mountain bike events. The World Cup race in St. Wendel attracts tens of thousands, while the marathon in the same town is one of the oldest and most popular in Europe. This year, the marathon world championships will be held. A few kilometres to the south, in St. Ingbert, one of the finest downhill clubs in the country, the "Soulridern", has formed. The conditions in Saarland are perfect. One third of the state consists of forest. The mountains are criss-crossed by award-winning hiking trails. There are "sensory benches" at viewpoints that look like Rolf Benz sofas. There is no two-metre rule. The region's landmark, the Saarschleife, is a spectacular freak of nature. Why does nobody want to go there?
You can find everything about the MTB-Revier-Check Saarland as a PDF download below.
Information about mountain biking in Saarland
The heart of the downhill scene beats with the Soulriders in St. Ingbert. www.soulrider.com. The team of the same name specialises in leisurely runs along the Saar Loop. It also organises a fine marathon, www.team-saarschleife.de. The bike capital of Germany is St. Wendel: World Cup, marathon, World Championships and much more. Info, www.st-wendel.de. Marathon in St. Ingbert: www.rsc-mtb.de.
The MTB Locals in Saarland:
