XS German Downhill Cup: 15th “Absolute Abfahrt” in Ilmenau (GER)

For the 15th time the “Absolute Abfahrt” (= Absolute Downhill) took place within the iXS German Downhill Cup in Ilmenau, Germany. 450 riders from 13 countries participated the iXS event.

For the 15th time the “Absolute Abfahrt” (= Absolute Downhill) took place within the iXS German Downhill Cup in Ilmenau, Germany. 450 riders from 13 countries participated the iXS event. On an exciting course, spoiled with perfect weather conditions, the podium was covered with two South-African athletes in the men’s elite competition: Stefan Galicki (RSA - Giant South Africa) took for a long time the Red Bull Hot Seat, when the last rider Johann Potgetier (RSA – Mongoose) displaced him from the top podium place.

Potgetier was the only rider, to crack the 2 minutes time-mark with 1:59 min. After the second placed Galicki, the German rider Christian Müller (GER –Zonenschein) surprisingly finished 3rd place.

The women’s elite competition was a German home game: Harriet Rücknagel (GER – OnTheEdge) was the fastest female rider, followed by Sandra Rübesam (GER – Giant Germany) and Kim Schwemmer (GER – Allianz).

The Marzocchi sponsored event in Thuringia (GER) is a downhill classic among the World Cup’s Tour stops. The 1,5 km course with 220 metres of altitude on the Lindenberg has a spectacular finish line over an ancient ski jumping area. Thousands of spectators made again a great spectacle out of the Absolute Abfahrt in Ilmenau.

The next iXS German Downhill Cup event in two weeks takes place in Bad Wildbad’s (GER) bike park, parallel hosting the German Downhill Championships.