The organizers and the 1,100 volunteers around Lake Hallstatt deserved it: the 25th edition of the Salzkammergut Trophy turned out to be a superlative mountain bike festival with ideal weather conditions. 2,450 participants from 30 nations started in a wide variety of competitions and were cheered on by around 15,000 spectators. As always, the most spectacular mountain bike event in Europe was covered in the media by the Upper Austria News.
“The external circumstances were perfect and the atmosphere in the audience was more ecstatic than ever before,” says Peter Perstl from the organization team. “The winning duo of the marathon distance, Barbara Mayer and Konny Looser, were celebrated like superstars.”
Two lean years are over
The bikers and their fans have also had two tough years. Because of the pandemic, the trophy has only been able to take place in a sluggish manner in the past two years. After all, last year’s makeshift solution of being able to ride the Trophy individually with GPS time measurement throughout the summer has proven so successful that this option is also being offered this year (until October 31st).
Ski flying ace Andreas Goldberger was there again this year. As in previous years, the Wahl-Salzkammergütler took special care of the youngest participants. In the U7 and U9 competitions, Goldi took on the role of the lead driver. And his own two children took part in the Kids Junior course.
Also indispensable is the Trophy Devil, who once again cheered on the drivers from the side of the track. The Hallstatt ceramist Thomas Gschwandtner, who is also responsible for the design of the trophies, is hiding behind the Gottseibeiuns, painted blood-red and which makes even the most exhausted biker smile.
As Peter Perstl reveals, the preparations for the 26th Salzkammergut Trophy (July 15, 2023) have long since begun.
Source: Nachrichten
