The start of the men's short race(Image credit: Marius Maasewerd/EGO-Promotion)
Elite men's short race podium at Saalhausen(Image credit: Philipp von Ditfurth)
Markus Bauer (Lexware Racing Team) and Julian Schelb (Lexware Racing Team)(Image credit: Philipp von Ditfurth)
Alexandra Engan (Rothaus Poison-Bikes)(Image credit: Philipp von Ditfurth)
Heiko Gutmann (Rothaus Poison-Bikes) goes under the banners(Image credit: Philipp von Ditfurth)
Thomas Litscher (Felt-Ötztal-X Bionic) takes a corner(Image credit: Philipp von Ditfurth)
The start of the men's race(Image credit: Philipp von Ditfurth)
Thomas Litscher (Felt-Ötztal-X Bionic) in the tunnel(Image credit: Philipp von Ditfurth)
Marco Minnaard (Rabobank Giant Offroad Team) through the tunnel(Image credit: Philipp von Ditfurth)
Thomas Litscher (Felt-Ötztal-X Bionic) and Heiko Gutmann (Rothaus Poison Bikes)(Image credit: Marius Maasewerd/EGO-Promotion)
Thomas Litscher (Felt-Ötztal-X Bionic) has time to wheelie at the finish(Image credit: Marius Maasewerd/EGO-Promotion)
Thomas Litscher (Felt-Ötztal-X Bionic) nails a corner(Image credit: Marius Maasewerd/EGO-Promotion)
The elite men's short race podium(Image credit: Marius Maasewerd/EGO-Promotion)
The elite women's short race podium(Image credit: Marius Maasewerd/EGO-Promotion)
Alexandra Engen (Rothaus Poison-Bikes) celebrates a win in the short race(Image credit: Marius Maasewerd/EGO-Promotion)
Alexandra Engen (Rothaus Poison-Bikes) leads(Image credit: Marius Maasewerd/EGO-Promotion)
Alexandra Engen (Rothaus Poison-Bikes) with Elisabeth Sveum (Merida Smart Safety) close behind(Image credit: Marius Maasewerd/EGO-Promotion)
Alexandra Engen (Rothaus Poison-Bikes) with others close behind(Image credit: Marius Maasewerd/EGO-Promotion)
Heiko Gutmann (Rothaus Poison Bikes)(Image credit: Marius Maasewerd/EGO-Promotion)
Thomas Litscher (Felt-Ötztal-X Bionic) and Heiko Gutmann (Rothaus Poison Bikes) at the start(Image credit: Marius Maasewerd/EGO-Promotion)
The announcer Sven Simon(Image credit: Philipp von Ditfurth)
Thomas Litscher (Felt-Ötztal-X-Bionic) won the short race of the International MTB Bundesliga in Saalhausen on Saturday. The Swiss rider finished ahead of Sweden's Emil Lindgren (Rabobank-Giant) and Dutchman Marco Minnaard (Rabobank-Giant). Swede Alexandra Engen was the fastest of a small women's field.
From the start, Litscher rode well as he marched through the six 400-meter rounds. Heiko Gutmann (Rothaus Poison-Bikes) tried to follow him, but he felt the fatigue of his earlier rounds.
"I wanted a little practice before the sprint at the Dalby World Cup," said Litscher. "When you go to the front, you have no dust in the lungs from the man in front."
Lindgren was second place at four seconds. The Swede has fought his way to that place from behind. "Thomas was too quick from the beginning, but in the end, I was probably just as fast," said Lindgren. "I'm happy, but last year, I was second, too. I like this position."
Minnaard had a strong last round, when he was able to pass three competitors. "In the beginning, I felt tired. I was surprised because I could 'do so well'," said Minnaard.
Markus Bauer (Lexware) powered to fourth in front of Markus Schulte-Lünzum (Focus-MiG) and Jochen Kaess (Multivan-Merida), who complained that he had been mistakenly placed in the second row and therefore had a clear disadvantage.
The men's short race was held with two semi-finals, in which each of the top 15 qualified for the final.
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In the women's short race, Alexandra Engen had a similar experience to that of Litscher. She went to the front right from the start. Behind the Swede, who had won the Münsingen sprint race, 'cross specialist Sabrina Swier (Focus-MiG) took the sprint for second place narrowly ahead of Elisabeth Sveum (Merida Smart Safety).
There were only eight women at the start.
(Report translated from mtb.rad-net.de).
Full Results
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Women
#
Rider Name (Country) Team
Result
1
Alexandra Engen (Swe) Rothaus Poison-Bikes
0:23:35
2
Sabrina Swier (Ger) Focus-MiG
0:00:03
3
Elisabeth Sveum (Nor) Merida Smart Safety
0:00:03
4
Annika Langvad (Den) Easton Rockets
0:00:04
5
Kajsa Snihs (Swe) IK Jarl Rattvik
0:00:06
6
Mona Eiberweiser (Ger) Ghost Racing
0:00:17
7
Hanna Klein (Ger) Rothaus Poison-Bikes
0:00:29
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Men
#
Rider Name (Country) Team
Result
1
Thomas Litscher (Swi) Felt-Ötztal-X Bionic
0:38:44
2
Emil Lindgren (Swe) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team
0:00:04
3
Marco Minnaard (Ned) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team
0:00:06
4
Markus Bauer (Ger) Lexware Racing Team
0:00:08
5
Markus Schulte-Lünzum (Ger) Focus MIG Team
0:00:08
6
Jochen Käss (Ger) Multivan Merida Biking Team
0:00:09
7
Lukas Kaufmann (Swi) Easton Rockets
0:00:09
8
Ola Kjoeren (Nor) Fokus Danica
0:00:09
9
Wenzel Böhm- Gräber (Ger) Focus MIG Team
0:00:11
10
Michiel Van Der Heijden (Ned) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team
0:00:12
11
Julian Schelb (Ger) Lexware Racing Team
0:00:15
12
Heiko Gutmann (Ger) Rothaus Poison-Bikes
0:00:15
13
Alexander Speisekorn (Ger) Best-Bike-Parts/Progress
0:00:16
14
Henrik Kippernes (Nor) Fokus Danica
0:00:17
15
Håkan Löfström (Swe) IK Jarl Rättvik
0:00:19
16
Stephen Ettinger (USA) USA National Team
0:00:23
17
Sascha Bleher (Ger) Focus M.I.G Team
0:00:25
18
Christopher Kamphaus (Ger) RC Victoria Neheim
0:00:27
19
Michael Schweizer (Ger) Stevens Racing Team
0:00:28
20
Fabian Giger (Swi) Rabobank Giant Offroad Team
0:00:29
21
Ole Quast (Ger) Harvestehuder RSV
0:00:29
22
Kerry Werner (USA) USA National Team
0:00:30
23
Fabian Strecker (Ger) Lexware Racing Team
0:00:30
24
Thomas Pfrommer (Ger) Team HAICO Racing
0:00:31
25
Andi Weinhold (Ger) Easton Rockets
0:00:32
26
Adrian Sauer (Ger) SC Hausach Neumayer Tekfor
0:00:42
27
Rick Reimann (Swi) JB Felt Team
0:00:43
28
Tobias Rotermund (Ger) MTB Race Team Höxter Merida Bike
