Marathon Aces To Start at Ziener BIKE Festival Willingen

Press Release / 18.05.2017

The Ziener BIKE Festival Willingen celebrates its 20th anniversary from May 19 to 21, 2017. The huge outdoor fair will not only attract more than 35,000 spectators who can test the latest products and developments for the season. About 2,000 marathon fans are also expected to enter the famous Rocky Mountain BIKE Marathon which kicks off Saturday morning at 7:30 AM.

Traditionally, a big and deep field of international stars will participate in Europe's flagship event of marathon racing. In 2017, it's the protagonists of last edition who are aiming to make it on the podium again.

Besides defending champion Hielke Elferink (NED) of Craft-Rocky Mountain, who comes to Northern Hesse with the confidence boost of winning the Lake Garda season opener in the women's category, it's Peter Hermann (GER) of team Centurion Vaude, who will be the one to beat on the men's side of things.

After finishing third back in 2014, he won in 2015 and came in second last year over the long distance – with the tiny mere of 19.4 seconds behind of triumphant Robert Mennen who had pedalled 5:09 hours but won't start this year.

However, to claim a fourth consecutive top-3 finish, Hermann has to outperform a strong competition.

Team Bulls, a pro team of marathon aces, sends no less than three athletes to the Upland region featuring the likes of German powerhouse Karl Platt, 2013 winner and one-day-event specialist Tim Boehme (GER) as well as reigning Swiss Champion Urs Huber.

In addition, Former Belgian champion Joris Massaer, Uwe Hochenwarter (AUT) who came in third last year on the 130.04 km long track which is peppered with 3,476 metres of climbing as well as his fellow countryman and teammate of Craft Rocky-Mountain Lukas Islitzer are also able to make it on the podium.

In the women's event, the Dutch champion has to keep an eye on Katrin Schwing Trek Team leader Katrin Schwing (GER) who came in second last year and triumphed back in 2015 as well as last year's third Sarah Reiners (GER) of Focus Rapiro Racing – although Elferink brought home quite a comfortable lead a year ago.

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