June 14, 2004 – Today in one month’s time, the winners of the 2004 UCI MTB Marathon World
Championships,
which take place July 9-11 in Bad Goisern,
Austria, will have been determined. As the event draws closer, more and more
bike pros
and potential winners of the sought after rainbow jersey trek
off to the small town in Upper Austria to take a closer look
at the World Championship course.

Also today, a hot favourite for the title checked out
the route in the beautiful Salzkammergut: Last year’s
winner Thomas Dietsch from France tested the course
together with local riders of the DT Swiss-Merida-Austria team, MTB Austrian
Vice Champion 2003,
Adi Harrer, as well as the two MTB Challenge overall champions
2003, Roland Galler and Günther Pernkopf. His impression of
the 106K loop:
“In comparison to the marathon route of the past two years, the World
Championship course is
a lot more demanding and challenging. Especially the long
steep up-hills are tough”, says the Frenchman who rides for
Bianchi Agos. “What I like in particular is that this year
there are fewer sealed roads.”

Dietsch was also impressed by
the technical single trail sections. “After we passed Bad
Ischl, I thought, ‘well this was it. But then we hit the
incredible climb up to the Bad Ischler Salzberg, the toughest
ascend of all.” After his test ride, he can hardly believe
that the athletes, who compete on the 200K distance
at the Salzkammergut Trophy on Saturday, must ride this
strenuous loop twice.

For the Worlds, Thomas Dietsch is hoping
above all for good weather. In the rain with deep, muddy
grounds it would be very tough for the Frenchman to finish
with a top ranking. “I assume that you have to ride slightly
under five hours to win this race,” he says.

Those who do not have the time for a short trip to Bad
Goisern prior to the Worlds, can at least check out the
marathon route on paper. As of today, all route maps and
elevation profiles can be downloaded from the official
Website: www.salzkammergut-trophy.at

Practical help for photographers: on the course maps the
best spots are already marked and the organizers have
listed estimated passage times. Shuttle buses will take
you to the more distant locations on both Saturday and
Sunday. Those who want to get to the summit even
quicker, can book a seat in a helicopter shuttle service
for 58 euro. Visit www.euroheli.at for information on round trips over
the marathon course.