"It was just crazy," says organizer Britta Wild, still shaking her head. "Just three days after registration opened, the FUN TEAM category was already fully booked, and one day later all the starting places for teams of two were gone!" That's a record with new dimensions. "Obviously, our fun race is very much in tune with the times. That's why we're particularly pleased that our open FUN TEAM category, which was only launched in 2020 and has never been seen before in enduro racing, sold out so quickly!" True to the motto "even more fun by bikers for bikers", the focus here is even more explicitly on the idea of camaraderie. The total of 450 riders from MONDRAKER ENDURO TEAM will start in 190 teams, 45 of which are FUN TEAMS of 3 to 6 people, the rest are teams of two in the MEN, WOMEN, MIXED and 77+ categories.

160 kilometers and 14 stages for even more trail fun

In the three days of the race, the participants ride several "stages", i.e. measured sections that are mainly downhill and last a few minutes each, just like in a classic enduro race. This year there are 14, slightly more than in previous years. The overall route is also slightly longer with almost 160 kilometers, over 10,000 meters of downhill and around 1900 meters of uphill. In concrete terms, this means even more trails and even more fun. "Around a third of the stages are new - routes that have never been ridden in the previous four MONDRAKER ENDURO TEAM events," says race director Michi Wild from the Bike Academy Davos. "Thanks to the almost inexhaustible abundance of trails in the Davos Klosters region, we can always make the event tempting for the numerous returnees. We have also changed the course considerably this year, resulting in fresh and exciting trail combinations." The grand finale will also be the final stage, which only opened in mid-August and rides directly to the finish area at Bolgen Plaza on a newly created trail - atmosphere guaranteed!

Camaraderie as the core idea

The trails are varied and attractive - but sometimes also technically challenging, as they are almost exclusively natural paths and not developed flow trails. A certain riding level on a mountain bike is therefore a prerequisite for having fun with MONDRAKER ENDURO TEAM. "Our aim is to show experienced mountain bikers the most beautiful trails in the Davos/ Klosters destination in the best of company," says Britta Wild from the extremely small organizing committee. Between the thrilling descents, the participants cover various transfer stages without being timed, often supported by mountain railroads. This leaves time to enjoy the impressive alpine backdrop of the Grisons mountains and the international camaraderie among the mountain bikers - the core idea of the event alongside the first-class trails. That's why the big closing party on Saturday evening is so important: "We are confident that we will be able to hold the ENDURO TEAM Night in Bolgen Plaza again this year in compliance with protective measures and with a Covid certificate for all attendees. This great get-together of the international mountain bike family is simply the crowning glory of our event."

Single trail world record holder Ralph Van den Berg at the start

Although the MONDRAKER ENDURO TEAM is all about fun, there are also names with racing ambitions on the start list. In the MEN category, Stefan Peter and Mike Schuler, last year's second and third-placed riders, are back - they have already proven their speed on several occasions. Ralph Van Den Berg also deserves special mention: in July, he set a new single trail world record with 20,845 meters of downhill elevation gain in one day in a two-man team - in Davos Klosters, no less. He is therefore likely to have recently ridden most of the event's trails in race mode and is therefore familiar with the terrain. In the women's category, the sisters Ramona and Jennifer Kupferschmied, who have already come second several times, are back at the start and are once again flirting with victory - although Jeanette Mayr and Berit Diel, last year's strong third-placed finishers, are also back. It will also be exciting in the 77+ category, as all three podium teams from last year are back in the race with identical line-ups: Philipp Buchs and Marco Odermatt will once again duel with the almost legendary Tanner Twins, chased by Patrick Matt and Roni Amstutz. And although the fun teams focus even more on having fun, the Flying Hamsters, who came second in 2020, are sure to step on the gas again this year. A total of 17 nations are on the start list, mainly from Europe, but some even from overseas. Let's hope that they can all travel as planned this year.

Still looking for biking helpers

"As a non-commercial association, we at MONDRAKER ENDURO TEAM rely on around 60 to 70 volunteers - especially good bikers to help secure the route," explains organizer Britta Wild. So if you weren't able to get a starting place for the long sold-out race, volunteers have the perfect opportunity to ride the trails of the race course even without a starting number and be part of the event up close. Interested parties can register directly via the Swiss Volunteers platform at www.enduro- team.ch/helfer. This is the third year that Mondraker has been a title sponsor. The small organizing committee is also supported primarily by the Davos Klosters mountain railroads and the tourism organization. "Without these partnerships, we definitely couldn't manage the event," says Britta Wild. But the work of the Trail Crew Davos, which keeps the destination's trails in shape, is also indispensable. "We are also supported by Graubünden Sport and maintain partnerships with various recognized bike hotels in the area," explains Britta Wild.

Spectators welcome

Spectators are also welcome at the mountain bike race. "Our event area is located at Chalet After7 in Davos Platz, next to the Jakobshornbahn valley station," explains Britta Wild. "From 8 o'clock in the morning, you can watch the bikers start, and from around mid-afternoon, the racers gradually arrive at the finish line. Of course, there will also be refreshments." Interested parties can also watch from a distance on the race course. Which courses and trail sections will be used and when will be posted at the mountain railroads shortly before the race.