Fast, slippery, tense and exciting – that is how in short words we can describe the first day of Xross Challenge race at the Tara Mountain.
The most beautiful, but also relentlessly rough Serbian mountain has once again welcomed Hard Enduro riders from 10 European countries, who on their motorbike coped with the wild nature. The moment that marked the first day of the biggest Hard Enduro race in Serbia was a tense duel between Austrian rider Philipp Bertl and Miha Spindler from Slovenia, from which Spindler got out as a winner by being less than a minute faster from reigning champion. All this is just an intro into two more exciting racing days.
The first test that Xross Challenge put in front the riders was Prologue – where they tested their agility and capability on the polygon with dirt jump and big wood logs. Those obstacles were a challenge for themselves, but things got even more complicated – everything was slippery and wet because of the rain, so riders ended up in mud. The best in class A was Philipp Bertl, followed by Miha Spindler and Cavin Gallas. The most capable among riders in class B was Tomas Zupan and in class C Vanja Fabijancic.
After exciting Prologue riders had a couple of minutes to catch a breath, and then the race started and that’s where the things got more interesting. Riders had 55 kilometers long track and seven checkpoints ahead of them, that should have been an easy ride, but Tara once again justified her title of the harshest mountain beauty. Extreme uphills, slippery descents, stones, overflowing streams, ridges and woods gave quite a headach even to the most experience riders. A fierce battle was fought between the two favorites, Bertl and Spindler who have followed each other closely throughout the race, but in the finish Spindler was faster.
– Although Bertl started the race first, I passed him very quickly. But I had bad luck, I fell twice and lost my pace and Bertl took the lead once again. But we were very close through all the race and I was faster in the finish. I liked the race because it’s fast, and I love that. In addition, my motorbike has served me well, the amortization is excellent – said Spindler after the race.
It looks like Tara has told Philipp Bertl that the defend of the title is not going to be easy.
– During the offroad day some parts were fast, but especially in the end there was a lot of water, some grass parts were deep in water so it was difficult to find the line. I missed the track to times and that was a little problem for me but I am looking forward to next day. I won the Prologue, and yeah it was slippery because of the rain from the last day, but I like this kind of Prologue because I can use my skills from the trial bike. I am looking forward to the next two days – says Bertl.
German rider Kevin Gallas is the first time at the Xross Challenge race, but he made it clear that he is a serious contender for the champion titile.
– This was a very fun first day. Prologue was great, and than ride through the wood was great, but I was surprised with the stream. The water was so strong that I almost lost my motorbike. In addition, the stream is very steep, and I almost fell over the handlebars couple of times. It’s very dangerous, you have to be focused all the time, but that’s what makes this race interesting – Gallas told us at the end of the day.
It remains to see what the race will bring in the next two days, but given that the slogan of the biggest Hard Enduro race in Serbia is Fear It, Face It – there’s no doubt that riders will test themselfes and their bikes to the limits.
