It is two weeks to go before one of the BIKE Four Peaks Stage Race. The European Marathon season is well and truly started, and the top racers have been racing for months on end since many of them began in January and February, either in the Gran Canaria or South Africa.
Due to his title three-peat at the predecessor event Trans Germany (2010, 2011 and 2012) Christoph Sauser is the main aspirant for the top spot in the overall ranking at the first ever BIKE Four Peaks. Especially as the 2011 XCM World Champion now has a lot of experience being the one mountain biker everybody is chasing down.
“Being the one everyone is looking for helps. It makes you a favourite so you have to ride fast,” said the Specialized Racing athlete in a short interview. “And when I compete, I want to win!”
Sauser has been highly specific in his preparation, skipping the first two XC World Cup races. “This year, I won’t compete in any cross country race before the event and thus can prepare better.” And maybe have his revenge for the unsuccessful Marathon European Championships in Singen. Just a few weeks ago, Sauser missed the title on the home straight due to a technical problem.
As a result, Alban Lakata (Topeak-Ergon) brought home ECS Gold. However, the repeated National Champion is not only the main rival for the Sauser. The Austrian veteran is in a great shape for months now and is hoping to keep his form for the up-coming events. While others trained in warm climates, Lakata developed strength and his aerobic capacity by ski-touring all through winter.
“It’s my goal to keep the momentum for the BIKE Four Peaks and to get the fine tuning for the World Championships which are subsequent to the race,” notes Lakata. The 2012 Transalp winner might be aiming for the worlds as his Swiss rival does but it’s obvious that the BIKE Four Peaks are on his priority list.
“Of course I would like to win. But I guess I’m not the only one. There are a few who will go for it.” Besides Sauser, the Topeak Ergon Racing team member names Markus Kaufmann (GER) and Urs Huber (SUI) as top candidates for the podium. As a result, he points out that “it will be a tight battle until the very last metre!”
All mountain bike amateurs who are willing to lock horns with the who is who of the scene can still do so as some entries still remain open for public.
For further information about the race visit bike-fourpeaks.de.