MERIDA athlete Lennard Heidenreich wins Sudety MTB Challenge

MERIDA rider Lennard Heidenreich has clinched overall victory at the 18th edition of the Sudety MTB Challenge. The event is one of the oldest mountain bike races in Poland and has a reputation for very technically demanding stages that challenge rider and equipment in equal measure.

Nevertheless, Lennard rode convincingly to victory, posting the fastest times on four out of the five stages, despite some stages being so steep and rough in places that he had no choice but to push. 

While a tough test, he highly recommends the race to anyone that wants a marathon that offers new experiences and challenges, though he warns that: "If you are not confident on the bike, you will have some long, hard days ahead of you". 

Despite the rough terrain, Lennard’s NINETY-SIX handled the entire five stages without any issues. In particular, the progressive geometry and suspension allowed him to gain time on the tricky descents, helping to keep him fresh for the equally tough climbs.

The win marks another successful racing excursion to Poland for Lennard from his native Germany, having taken second place in the Beskidy MTB Trophy last year and a win at the Mouflon Tracks race earlier this year. 

To follow Lennard’s racing exploits you can find him on Instagram here.

If you’d like to know more about the technical innovations of NINETY-SIX he rides, you can find all the information about the design and concept of the bike here.

If you'd like to check out the complete NINETY-SIX lineup, including our downcountry focussed models, you can see them all here.