Photo Report Salzkammergut Trophy 2024

A sip from the beer bottle, a quick chat with his shaggy-haired seat neighbor, then Jakob dedicates himself again completely to the event. With feeling and audible pleasure in the activity, he blows into a horn. Sometimes detached and gentle in rhythm with the music that blares from specially set up speakers, sometimes brutally and loudly booming; then again in skilled crescendo and decrescendo accompanying the passing bikers, or so sustained as only brass musicians and freedivers can manage.
Beside him, Dominik vigorously swings the cowbell and his artificial Slash hairstyle, Sina squeezes the whistle so hard that her fingers become as curved as her full-body banana costume, Silke's pale pink tutu skirt bounces in rhythm with the movements with which she dances barefoot on the edge of the track.

It's Salzkammergut Trophy time again. And like every year, when Austria's largest MTB marathon takes place in and around Bad Goisern at Lake Hallstatt, the fan group Görb has taken up position at noon in the settlement just before the bridge over the Traun, which directs five routes towards the finish, but the A- and B-riders towards Hallstätter Salzberg and Gosausee.
Nearly 3,500 participants from 39 nations pass this spot throughout the day, a good thousand of them even multiple times. This provides plenty of opportunities for Jakob and Dominik, Sina and Silke, Vera and Kerstin, Mario and Mod, their children, and all the other friends, neighbors, and acquaintances who join them over the course of the afternoon, to whistle their fingers sore, blow their lungs out, dance their feet tired, and scream their voices hoarse.

A much-celebrated home victory by Irina Fettinger (MTB Club Salzkammergut) occurred on the second longest distance of 127 kilometers and 3,758 meters of elevation. The local hero won in an impressive time of 6:48:14, ahead of Cornelia Holland from Lower Austria (Naturfreunde Wilhelmsburg). Third place went to the Polish rider Agnieszka Kachel (Rybczynski-Bikes Remmers Team).
In the men's category, as last year, Karl Markt (Shimano Austria), who had retired from the cross-country circuit, claimed the victory. The Tyrolean won in 5:42:08 hours, ahead of Christopher Schwab from Vienna (Nora Racing Team). Third place also went to a biker from Vienna, Andreas Waldmann (RC ARBÖ Garmin Merida Polizei Wien).

In the party zone in Görb, big names are irrelevant. Here, everything that has wheels is cheered on without exception - whether it's just one, like the Muni-Cyclers, or two, like the majority of participants; regardless of whether the start number is yellow, green, or black, and sometimes it doesn't even matter if they are actually in the race or just passing through with heavy holiday luggage or light support staff baggage.
Indeed, the locals have their favorites: brothers on the 200 km race, cousins and friends on the 100 km, acquaintances from Goisern and the surrounding area on all the distances that the Salzkammergut Trophy offers. But they cheer enthusiastically for everyone and anyone who passes through their fan zone.
They dance the Macarena and ride whooping and swaying in an imaginary rubber boat, wave flags, bang on a rain barrel with wooden mallets, or create waves both acoustically and physically. Special applause is given to those who hop over the small wooden ramp positioned especially at the edge.

Due to the Trophy-related road closure, her brother had initially initiated the ruckus, Marie explains. After a few years quieter due to starting a family, there has recently been more momentum because it's simply part of it. Alcohol consumption - in the past, riders were even handed beer in cups for fun - has been significantly reduced.
"If someone from the back stops and asks, of course, they get something. But our main focus is on supporting the sport," explains the woman dressed as a mix of a Mexican pistolero and Hawaiian Teletubby, who defines herself as the "worst cyclist in the world."

And for this, the group also receives quite a bit in return. At least a fleeting smile flits across every face, no matter how exhausted or dirt-smudged, with most participants reacting more visibly and audibly: raising their fists, cheering back, shaking their heads in disbelief with a broad grin, and giving a thumbs-up.
It is, in Görb as well as everywhere else along the route, where locals and guests, innkeepers and hikers, helpers and caretakers come together accidentally or intentionally to cheer, a give and take, a continuous exchange: trading applause for fresh energy, offering encouragement and getting the good feeling of being part of something very special.

OK-Chef Gregor Lindpointner provides the corresponding, emotional closing words. "At the Salzkammergut Trophy, almost everyone in the Dachstein Salzkammergut holiday region is on their feet, the athletes are celebrated as heroes. The fact that the major competitions went so well today is mainly thanks to the good will of Petrus and especially to the approximately 1,000 volunteers. They are the ones who make it possible for such incredible performances as seen today to be achieved by the participants. This race is pure goosebumps for us organizers, for the helpers, and of course for the participants."

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