Nielsen overcomes mud, cold for win

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The Danish Mountain Bike Club hosted the opening round of the Shimanoliga.dk series in Klinteskoven on Sunday. The UCI category 2 race drew riders from Germany, Belgium, Sweden and Norway and was run in rain and fog.

Klaus Nielsen (Team Mühle-PronghornRacing/DMK) took the most convincing win of the day in the men's elite race, showing he is ready for a good season.

"Unlike last weekend where I was training heavily right up until the race, this week I have been recovering and eating well, so I was ready to give it some gas and show I still belong among the best," said Nielsen.

Annika Langvad and Jonas Pedersen, from Holte MTB club, took wins in the elite women's and under 19 men's races.

Silver medallist at the Masters World Championships, Mads Bødker (JC Cykelklub / Team T-Bikes) won the Masters 40+ category. Technically, he could have raced the 50+ category, but the competition wasn't tough enough, so he chose to race with the younger riders, who had to put up with getting beaten by a gray-haired gentleman over 50 years old.

With more participation than in years, the child and youth classes showed promising talent for the future.

The race marked the first time there was a mojuntain bike race at the Møns Klint.

"Unfortunately it was raining, and that made the tracks soft and muddy, which was seen on and felt by the riders as they finished their race," said Jens Larsson, the man in charge of the race. "Many had had to run sections, but all agreed that the Møns Klint is a beautiful place and will come back, hopefully next time in sunshine."

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