Salzkammergut Trophy Individual 2020 - Photo report

"That's crazy," a man in green shakes his head and glances briefly up toward the sky. It's not entirely clear whether he means himself or the weather. "No dust!" comes the pragmatically optimistic encouragement from the man beside him. The raindrops splatter down in great numbers and with relentless persistence, and they've been doing so for days. Temperatures are in the low double digits above zero.

However, in 2020 the coronavirus put a big dent in the organizers' plans. No matter how much the OK team strove to create a COVID-19-compliant version of the Trophy with a slimmed-down program and smaller starting fields, the traditional event ultimately had to be cancelled.
In its place, on July 18 the first of several planned "Race Days" for the Trophy Individuell was proclaimed. Under this name operates the tourist alternative that was devised alongside the efforts to hold a race: the seven routes of the Trophy Individuell can be ridden independently between July and October; certain uphill sections are equipped with a timing system, with several checkpoints in between. Similar to an enduro, the chosen route must be completed in full, but the time only runs on the marked stages (details on the Trophy Individuell below).

The big advantage of the Race Days: on some of them you are even allowed to start as early as 5 a.m. Normally, under the Biker Fair-Play regulations (see below), more restrictive usage times apply and thus shorter time windows — an issue especially for the long distances.
The even greater advantage of the Race Day on July 18: a total of six water stations plus banana and isotonic-drink distribution, as well as around 30 course marshals at critical points. In addition, a rudimentary start area with check-in and commentary was set up for the original race day. Complementing this, there was a bib pickup on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. In Obertraun, the Scott Junior Trophy hosted some of the first children's and youth races of the exceptional year. And last, but not least, the Sportograf photographers positioned themselves at several locations to take souvenir photos for participants, and the Maislinger bakery opened its doors as early as 4 a.m. to offer Trophy participants and helpers the opportunity for an early breakfast in style — after all, traditions are meant to be kept.

Even the weather seems to respect such steadfastness. Shortly after the last A-rider set off on the course to the encouraging "Ois Guade!!" from the four stationed helpers, it stops raining.
Raschberg, Hütteneck, Ewige Wand, Lauffen … the first 30 kilometres of the perfectly signposted route are almost identical to the "normal" course layout; only the trail sections were reduced for safety reasons. This first loop includes two stages with timekeeping, with five more to follow. In total, seven timed sections covering 42 kilometres and 3,330 metres of elevation – or correspondingly less on the shorter courses – must be completed. 14 additional checkpoints that must be passed (two of them "hidden") guarantee that only those who complete the entire course are included in the results.

Only later does the route deviate from the usual paths. In the area of the Gamsöfen, where an abyss lurks immediately beside the narrow trail, large safety nets are usually required. "For four months we would not have been able to install these for wildlife protection reasons," explains Peter Perstl from the organising team, which is why the A-course this year is "only" 176 kilometres and 5,904 metres of elevation instead of the usual 210 and 7,120. For the same reason, the D course—known as the technically demanding "All Mountain" loop starting in Bad Ischl—also has only half as many kilometres and a significantly lower proportion of trails.
In return, this year every course can alternatively be ridden with a gravel bike (separate ranking class and therefore a start number!), and e-bikers also have all courses open to them as part of the Bosch eMTB Trophy.

And so the first 76 racers fight their way over the damp-chilly mountains, sweat on the uphills, shiver on the downhills, use the unusual mode for souvenir photos, outfit changes or a relaxed pee break with coffee, while down in the valley the next 75 prepare for the B-distance.

The people of Goisern spare their heroes nothing: even though it's not really a race and the marathoners only really open up between certain points marked green and red on the elevation profile and route map, they stand in front of their houses, interrupt their gardening or pause during their hikes and carry the mountain bikers up the climbs with their applause, cheers and clapping.
The tourists don't hold back either: tireless encouragement at the busy Salzberg, the nastiest of all uphill fiends, regularly the approving nods or friendly stepping-aside out in the woods.
At the feed stations, this year comparatively thinly spread and sparsely staffed, the banter is as lively as ever. It almost seems that the men and women positioned there compensate for the distancing and hygiene rules by giving each individual rider even more time and showing great enthusiasm for what they're doing.

And in Obertraun, at the same time as Race Day, the Scott Junior Trophy takes place. The spacious grounds of the local Austria Sport Resort, complete with pumptrack and bike arena, are made for COVID‑compliant youth races. Spread over two days and four events, it offers a more than worthy alternative so as not to gather too many people at once in Bad Goisern.

Over 250 kids between 3 and 18 years old compete over the course of the weekend in the XC-Fun-Race, pumptrack event, XCO-Pro-Race and parcours event, amounting to more than 400 individual starts. They do it grinning with joy, beaming happily, staring with concentration, nervously trembling or cheering without restraint. And they do it, as every year, for a gingerbread medal from the Maislinger bakery.

But what good is all the enthusiasm if Mother Nature doesn't cooperate? With the start of the 113-km route the rain returns too — only this time to stay. And then the grim news from Bad Ischl: rockfall in the Rettenbach Valley, thankfully minor and without injuries. A boulder about half a metre in diameter thudded onto the road — is there more to come?

The organizing team reacts immediately, reroutes those A-riders who are still ahead of the danger zone to Bad Ischl, from where they can join the B-route, closes the yet-to-start E and D routes and spontaneously opens the gates to C, F or G for participants of those distances — email, SMS and personal notifications about train transfer options and extended start windows included.
The cogs of the Trophy machinery seem to mesh seamlessly even in this exception to the exception, crisis management perfect. Still: how much can fate really throw a spanner in the works of a dedicated organizer and his stalwart followers? And how must the prevented A-riders be feeling now?