Ziener BIKE Festival

Danowski victorious in first ever gravel race on German soil

Press Release / 27.05.2016

­Stefan Danowski has clinched the first ever gravel race on German soil writing history as fastest participant of the Cannondale Road Riot powered by Panaracer.

The 44-year-old master racer mastered the five rounds of the 26.95 km long circular course (745 metres of climbing) in 1:09.05,9 hours and was therefore 1:12 minutes faster than the best elite men racer. Hendrik Franke came in after 1:10.18,5 edging off Rembert Noldes to the second rank with the tiny mere of 4,7 seconds. No wonder that Danowski, a mountain bike marathon and cross ace, was pleased with the result and the race itself. "It was really nice, a fantastic course. It was fun although it was a lot of climbing," said 'Dano', who was able to break away from his competitors during the second round of the very fast race. "That's the thing with gravel bikes. They are super fast off-road. We had some mountain bikers riding next to use at one point, and they had no chance."

In the women's event, it was the main favourite to take home the win. 2015 German cross champion Jessica Lanbrecht clocked in a time of 1:19.22,7. Gravel race is a new format coming from the USA. Participants ride on race or gravel bikes. The circular course consists of gravel, meadow and forest roads and is spiced up with several obstacles. For further information on the festival, the programme or tips for accommodations and event registrations visit willingen.bike-festival.de