The weather forecast does not bode well and so the highest stage of this enduro race in the border region of Austria and Switzerland is canceled due to the onset of winter. The race starts with a spectacular prologue on Saturday evening in the village center of Ischgl. Frenchman Nicolas Lau set the fastest time, ahead of Swiss riders Gusti Wildhaber and Mirco Widmer.

On Sunday, the weather was kind to the enduro racers and the muddy course dried out a little. After a technically demanding first downhill stage, a surprise follows on the second stage, with which very few of the participants are happy. After a relaxed trail and a short climb that can still be ridden, the enduro riders are faced with a tough push section. In the opinion of most of the participants, a five-minute carrying section does not belong in an enduro race. Despite this, Enduro World Series winner Jérôme Clementz (FRA) rides and runs the fastest stage time ahead of Gusti Wildhaber.

In the short stage that follows, some riders are taken by animalistic surprise. The grazing cows didn't seem to care whether some strange creatures were shooting across the trails. From riding just past the cows, getting off their bikes and shooing the cattle off the track, to a minor collision that ended without injury for either animal or rider, the participants' reports of their experiences include everything from this to that.

On the last stage, enduro racing resumes its usual course. The participants are rewarded with plenty of downhill fun after the last ascent, which they tackle under their own steam. The Swiss enduro specialist Gusti Wildhaber completes this stage the fastest and secures second place at the end. The nimble Clementz wins with a clear lead over the Swiss rider. Clementz's compatriot Nicolas Lau came third. In eighth place, another Swiss athlete, Marco Arnold, makes it into the top ten.

The women's race is clearer. The German enduro rocket Ines Thoma won the prologue as well as the first two stages. The Frenchwoman Pauline Dieffenthaler is in a solid second place. Third after the first stage, Austria's Birgit Braumann loses a lot of ground on the second stage and remains in fourth place until the end of the race. Third place goes to Anita Gehrig from Switzerland. Another successful Swiss rider, Carolin Gehrig, finished one place behind Braumann.

The "Overmountain Challenge" has not failed to achieve its goal of bringing the sport of enduro to high alpine terrain. On the contrary, the first snow confirms this and also proves that the sport has to bow to nature in such situations. Apart from the short enduro hike, the organizers of the Challenge can be pleased with the success of the first event. The winter destination of Ischgl, with its interesting trail network and extremely mountain bike-friendly infrastructure, is likely to attract attention with further enduro events in the future.www.ischgl-overmountain.com

Rankings Ischgl Overmountain Challenge 2013
Men
1.	Jérôme Clementz (FRA)	20.44,56
2.	Gusti Wildhaber (SUI)	+00.22,69
3.	Nicolas Lau (FRA)	+00.28,18
4.	Mark Weir (USA)	+01.35,18
5.	Markus Reiser (GER)	+01.51,68
6.	Scott Laughland (IRL)	+01.56,95
7.	Max Schuhmann (GER)	+02.06,44
8.	Marco Arnold (SUI)	+02.11,48
9.	Marco Bühler (GER)	+02.42,01
10.	Petrik Brückner (GER)	+02.42,48
12.	Balz Weber (SUI)	+03.06,66
15.	Mirco Widmer (SUI)	+03.31,32
29.	Stephan Noser (LIE)	+05.37,17
44.	Marco Schärer (SUI)	+07.10,28
104.	Ivan Guajana (SUI)	+21.18,51
Women
1.	Ines Thoma (GER)	25.38,59
2.	Pauline Dieffenthaler (FRA)	+02.22,57
3.	Anita Gehrig (SUI)	+02.43,53
4.	Birgit Braumann (AUT)	+03.26,48
5.	Carolin Gehrig (SUI)	+04.18,73
Masters
1.	Wilfred van de Haterd (NED)	25.26,41
2.	Peter Nilges (GER)	+00.03,17
3.	Christian Hofer (AUT)	+02.07,45
4.	Benoit Compère (BEL)	+02.15,40
5.	Martin Feyl (GER)	+02.29,34