The fourth round of the iXS Downhill Cup took the riders to Spicak in the Czech Republic. Following several adjustments, the historic course felt more fluid than in previous years, without losing any of its technically demanding character. New combinations of turns replaced some of the narrow and rocky sections. However, the well-known rock fields and difficult key sections remained intact.

After light rain during the night, the course was initially damp and offered good traction on the first day of practice. As the sun came out, the surface dried off quickly. On Saturday, the riders encountered nearly ideal conditions for the qualifying run, with pleasant temperatures and a dry course.

In the Elite Men’s category, Lino Neumann set the fastest time right from the start. However, Anton Zierl drew particular attention. The young Austrian returned to racing after an injury and finished just about two seconds behind the fastest Elite time. With that, he already signaled that he would be a force to be reckoned with in the final as well.

On Sunday, the cloudy sky provided consistent lighting conditions in the forest. The sharp contrasts between light and dark sections were eliminated, making the course easier to read. Despite a few raindrops, conditions remained fast and grippy.

Neumann confirmed his status as the favorite in the final. The Scott Gravity Racing rider rode the course in 2 minutes and 58.932 seconds, becoming the only elite rider to break the three-minute mark. Max Becker took second place, 1.5 seconds behind. Nico Lamm rounded out the podium. For Neumann, this was already his third victory of the season. He now holds a 133-point lead in the overall standings.

Once again, Zierl delivered one of the weekend’s most remarkable performances. The 16-year-old also broke the three-minute mark. His time would have been good enough for second place among the elite men, underscoring the high level of the young riders.

In the elite women’s race, Hanna Blochberger came out on top. The German, who is still relatively unknown, won by a margin of just under two seconds over the Czech rider Karolína Kadlecová. Justine Welzel, the winner of the previous race at Semmering, took third place. With her second-place finish, the 19-year-old Kadlecová took the lead in the overall standings.

Spicak once again confirmed its reputation as one of the most popular venues on the iXS Downhill Cup circuit. The revamped course offered more rhythm while retaining its challenging rock fields and technical sections. Numerous spectators in the finish area added to the lively atmosphere.

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