World bikers climbing to the Castle
by Jiri Manda

In very attractive part of old Prague Mala Strana was on Wednesday 11th of June very interesting and popular 1 hour + 1 loop mountain bike race. On the start were 47 racers including also winner of Sydney Olympic games in Cross Country Miguel Martinez from France and Italian racer Dario Acquaroli, world champion in cross country from 1996 and most of Czech elite mtb racers.

This year it was already 9th year of the race and last 2 years wan Miguel Martinez and everybody had been really very curios if he was able to win third time in row. But he did not and it seems that the main reason of his "nonsuccess" Dario Acquaroli, who wan, came to Prague to take part in the race came on Miguel's recommendation.

Unfortunately Czech best bikers were saving their strength for Saturday race in Sumava mountains so whole race was under lead of these two bikers and Slovak Biker Lubos Kondis.

The race goes along about 1200 m long loop which on its first part goes down from 129 stairs and than bikers have to climb back to the top of the stairs along very steep uphill.

American biker Mark Tierney, one of enthusiastic viewers, said that the down hill from stairs had been really breathtaking and he admired all bikers who had taken part in this crazy race.

How difficult the race was shows also that only 15 racers of 47 racers in the start finished the entire race.

Results:
1. Acquaroli (It.) 1:04:15, 2. Kondis (SR/CS MTB) -1, 3. Martinez (Fr.) -2, 4. Ježek (Author) -3, 5. Vokrouhlík (Rubena Merida) -6, 6. Hrach (MIKY Sport) -26, 7. Slavícek (CCC Wella Trutnov) -49, 8. Sulzbacher (Rubena Merida) -1:00.