April 20, 2005 — From April 29- May 1, 2005 the 12th BIKE-Festival becomes a UCI MTB World Cup event. This year for the first time the UCI Mountain Bike Marathon World Cup Garda Trentino will take place within the BIKE-Festival in Riva del Garda (Italy). The World Cup replaces the previous “UCI Marathon World Series”.

Because of Riva´s experience as venue for MTB races, this site was added to the Marathon World Cup calendar 2005. The best riders of Europe’s mountainbike scene will get together at the beginning of May to complete the second run of the World Cup Calendar 2005.

Two weeks ago (10.4.) at the first race of the Marathon World Cup 2005 in Cyprus, Daniela Louis (Switzerland), winner 2004 in Riva, was already in a good shape. With her second place on Cyprus she now one of the favorites at Riva. German rider Regina Marunde has also already registered. The 36 year-old biker from Berlin is favored for the victory at the Lake of Garda. In 2004, showing that she´s added to the world´s best mountainbike rider, she won the adidas BIKE Transalp Challenge abreast with Katrin Schwing. Exciting is also the men´s competition. A good result may be expected by the Marathon World Champion 2004, Massimo de Bertolis (Italy). He already won the 94,6 kilometer long race in Cyprus the 10th April.

With a delay of 1:28 minutes to de Bertolis Southtirolean rider Roland Stauder there caught the second place. He will also start in Riva. Martin Kraler from Innsbruck (Austria) was not in a good condition. Because of illness the Fourth of the Marathon World Championships 2004 (Bad Goisern) did not finish the race. Kraler will challenge the competitors of the Marathon World Cup in Riva again. Not to be scoffed at is Christoph Sauser (Switzerland), the winner of Riva 2004, from Team Siemens-Cannondale, who also has registered as well as the Dutchman Bart Brentjens from the GIANT-Racing-Team. Brentjens finished the race Cape Epic (South africa) this year as winner with his team partner Roel Paulisson.

The pros have the possibility to register shortly before the start. So more competitiors may be expected. Next to the best mountain bikers of the world, the enthusiast athletes have the chance to compete for victory on three different distances. Spontaneus riders as well have the chance to register at the location in Riva. You can find more informations about the BIKE-Festival Garda Trentino on our homepage: www.bike-festivals.de