The SYMPATEX BIKE-Festival in Willingen opens for the tenth consecutive time this Friday. It should be an incredible weekend. Besides 200 exhibitors who are travelling to Willingen on the first weekend in June, the German 4X Championship and the Wheels of Speed Downhill Challenge are both happening.

The world’s best downhillers have added the Wheels Of Speed event to their busy World Cup schedule for a chance to bring home some real prize money and to be the first winner of the Wheels of Speed World Downhill Challenge.

This downhill event consists of two classes – amateur and pro. However, the top eight amateur finalists will be automatically qualified for the final of the pro class which will then have 40 riders in total who will be racing for 30,000 euros of prize money.

The following 16 riders have arrived in Willingen and are prepared to battle in front of thousands of bike enthusiasts:

Sam Hill (AUS)
Steve Peat (GBR)
Nathan Rennie (AUS)
Greg Minnaar (RSA)
Marc Beaumont (GBR)
Mick Hannah (AUS)
Neil Donoghue (UK)
Chris Kovarik (AUS)
Cedric Gracia (FRA)
Filip Polc (SVK)
Antonio Leiva (CHI)
Markloff Berchtold (BRA)
Andrew Neethling (RSA)
Duncan Riffle (USA)
Justin Leov (NZL)
Bryn Atkinson (AUS)

In addition to the top 16 seeded riders, other downhill champions have announced their participation. The 11-time German Champion Markus Klausmann will give everything on his home ground, in order to be one of the first.

The course is prepared for the Wheels Of Speed Downhill Challenge, and a special feature from last year’s course is once again making an appearance. Last year in Willingen, Steve Peat won the race by finding a sniper line to go around a big jump in the middle of the course. Riders and fans alike debated which way was fastest—to hit the jump or find a creative line around it. Peaty proved to everyone that his way was the fastest, but it should be interesting to see which line the riders will choose this year, now that they have had a year to think about it.

There are still spots open in both classes. From now on applications are no longer possible through the website. Downhillers who want to compete in this unique downhill challenge should start making their way to Willingen. Until Friday noon (12pm) the application procedure is open.

Nothing stands in the way of an exciting ten-year anniversary of the SYMPATEX BIKE-Festival in Willingen. Besides the many exhibitors, the world’s best downhill riders and the German 4X elite, the Bike Festival also looks forward to welcoming thousands of visitors. The qualifying for the Wheels of Speed in the amateur class will take place on Friday, the final on Saturday. The qualifying in the pro class will take place after the amateur final on Saturday. On Sunday everyone will hold their breath for the final of the fastest downhill bikers in the world.

The SYMPATEX BIKE-Festival in Willingen opens for the tenth consecutive time this Friday. It should be an incredible weekend. Besides 200 exhibitors who are travelling to Willingen on the first weekend in June, the German 4X Championship and the Wheels of Speed Downhill Challenge are both happening.