Exceptional fast times were riddin at the mountain bike marathon at Saturday the 24th of May. The dry weather conditions were due to this and the cause of the bikers to win. Dutch favorite Frank Schotman finished second, a few hundreds of seconds after Hannes Genze (Germany). Kevin van Hoovels (Belgium) finished third in this sprint for the gold medal on the first mountain bike marathon ever in a World University Championship Cycling. The average speed on the 104 km long track was 30 km/hour.

The Estonian Maaris Meier deserved her second medal on this World University Championship Cycling 2008. After a second place at the mountain bike cross-country, she now won the gold medal at the marathon.

The first Open MTB Marathon participant passed the finish line after 3 hours and 50 minutes, nearly half an hour later than Hannes Genze. All results of the Open MTB Marathon can be found here.

Results

Men

1. Hannes GENZE - GERMANY 3:26:34

2. Frank SCHOTMAN - THE NETHERLANDS 3:26:34

3. Kevin VAN HOOVELS - BELGIUM 3:26:35

Women

1. Maaris MEIER - ESTONIA 4:08:43

2. Ilke DEJONGH - BELGIUM 4:18:27

3. Kerstin KOGLER - GERMANY 4:27:05