Today, 13th December, the online registration for both Rocky Mountain BIKE Marathons powered by Vaude begins at 12:00pm (Western Europe Time). The races are organised as part of the 20th Garda Trentino BIKE Festival from 3rd to 5th May and the 16th Willingen BIKE Festival powered by ŠKODA from 14th to 16th June.
Next year, the Garda Trentino BIKE Festival will celebrate its 20th birthday. Appropriately for the big anniversary, there will be a completely new route for all marathon fans in 2013. At the request of many participants, the singe track portion of the three courses was considerably increased. Festival head, Uli Stanciu, spent a few weeks on the Lago di Garda and worked out the new courses. As in previous years, it is again split into three different courses. The new concept of the Garda Trentino Rocky Mountain BIKE Marathon powered by Vaude offers a unique racing experience for experienced mountain bikers and pros as well as beginners and marathon novices. The starting shot for the race will be fired on the Saturday of the festival next year. The marathon in Riva del Garda also forms the start of MarathonMan Europe, Europe’s biggest MTB marathon series.
The routing of the Willingen Rocky Mountain BIKE Marathon powered by Vaude has also been scrutinised. Positive feedback from participants regarding the relatively new course route, however, prompted route director Volker Schröder to only change a few sections and to keep the majority of the course the same as it was last year. The marathon, with its attractive courses (52 km, 1462 hm / 95 km, 2743 hm / 121 km, 3544 hm) will once again be the highlight of the Willingen BIKE Festival powered by ŠKODA as well as the sporting challenge for approximately 2000 participants on the second day of the festival.
More information – and registration – can be found online at www.bike-festival.de.