Attacks on demanding terrain obviously are a proven means of success to mountain bike pro Soeren Nissen. At least he recently won the race “Hel Van Groesbeek“ in the Netherlands this way – and now “Amblève Légende Marathon“ in Belgium.

The race that is part of the new Belgian Ardennes Marathon Series led the field over 77 kilometers and 2,200 vertical meters. “A rather demanding course with some really tough climbs on the first 20 kilometers already“, summarized Nissen. Due to this challenge the peloton quickly narrowed down to a lead pack of ten riders and everyone “knew that it was only a question of time until also this group would dissolve“, recalls the Danish mountain bike pro who likes this kind of race scenario when you have to go full throttle and attack at the right moment.

After the group had shrunk to five riders, they began furtively watching each other: “Everyone had tired legs and until only 20 kilometers were left to ride no one dared to attack“, Nissen says. He finally took heart and escaped on a long climb. Only one rider, Joris Massaer, was able to keep his pace for some minutes until Soeren Nissen took the single lead to finish as winner of this race.

“It was a wonderful and very important success after I did not so well at Rocky Mountain Bike Marathon at Lake Garda (11th place in long distance race)“, Nissen enthused after the race that he won ahead of Joris Massaer (BEL) and Johan Mombaerts (FRA).