The mountain bike season is slowly drawing to a close. However, the cyclocross specialists are already warming up their engines for the start of the season. As is tradition, this will take place with the first race of the EKZ-CrossTour in Baden. The start list is already well filled with well-known riders such as Sven Vanthourenhout (BEL), Philipp Walsleben (GER) and Julien Taramarcaz (SUI). But numerous mountain bikers are also riding a double sporting life this winter. Florian Vogel, Fabian Giger, Martin Gujan and many others can also be found on the entry list.

The organizers would also like to see more mountain bikers at the start, namely with the wide tires. All five races of the EKZ-CrossTour will feature a cyclo-cross with a race time of around 25-30 minutes. These races may be ridden on cross bikes and mountain bikes. In the U13/U15 category, starting on a mountain bike is not only possible, but also very welcome.

Race in Baden secured
The future of the first tour stop in Baden was uncertain. The three-year permit granted in 2012 expired with the upcoming fifth event on Sunday, September 13, 2015. Thanks to the constructive mediation of city councillor Ruth Müri and sports coordinator Andres Greter, the organizing association Süpercycling Baden was able to find an alternative route and thus a compromise solution. The application for approval from the organizers was approved by the city council.

The uncertain future of the cyclo-cross on the Baldegg in Baden was caused by the route below the Liegehalle. Around two hundred meters of the route, as well as the wash area required by the international regulations, were located on a lean meadow. This violation of the building and usage regulations led to a discussion about the continued existence of the event, which has been part of the "Aargau Top Sport" association, the seven largest annual sporting events in the canton of Aargau, since 2014.Minimum ride permitted
Due to the requirements of the International Cycling Union (UCI) and the extremely limited space available on the Baldegg, it was a difficult task to find a new route that complied with the regulations. After various discussions with different parties involved, the nature and environment commission decided that a minimum route through the rough pasture was permitted. This cleared the way for a new course layout, including two transition zones and a wash area. The characteristics of the course, which is extremely attractive for spectators, can now be retained.The new course layout will be implemented at the fifth event in Baden on September 13, 2015. Race data EKZ-CrossTour

13.09.2015	Baden/AG
04.10.2015	Dielsdorf/ZH
01.11.2015	Hittnau/ZH
13.12.2015	Eschenbach/SG
04.01.2016	Meilen/ZH

www.ekzcrosstour.ch