By Post the season curtain raiser at Landshaag in April, the 1.597 miles (2.570 metres) long public roads Julbach to Vorderschiffl course (race renewed since 2015, after six years running from 1979-1984), hosts round two of this year’s European Hill Climb Road Race Championship, inter-twined with national, Austrian Hill Climb Championship activities.
Notable nonstarters this weekend include TT 2026 competitor, hill climbing doyen, Julbach track-record holder, overall winner in 2023 and 2025, Maurizio Bottalico (PB event times – 1.04.584 Superbike / 1.06.798 Superstock 600 – both from 2023).
Alexander Kastenhuber, fellow Austrian, prospective 2026 Manx Grand Prix debutant Thomas Altendorfer, after his unlucky moment at Horice (resulting in a broken collarbone), get well soon ‘Uccio’!
There is still though in-spite of Bottalico, Kastenhuber, Altendorfer’s absences, quality through and through across entry-lists per category.
Superbike:
The SBK start-list features overall 2025 race runner-up, 2024 overall Julbach winner, Italian rider Christian Steinhauser, four-times outright event conqueror (2016, 2017, 2019, 2022), French ace Jean-Luc David.
Rapid Austrian racers Thomas Altenhuber, Markus Mitterbauer, Manuel Schleindlhuber, Harald Schleindlhuber, Daniel Pfleger.
German Michael Gottinger, 300 Curves of Gustav Havel participants last month, Dominik Haslinger and Daniel Wiesinger.
Plus, possible ‘dark horse’ of this class, Manx GP experienced, Salvatore ‘Salvo’ Sallustro, the current European Hill Climb Road Race Championship leader, following Landshaag competition.
Superstock 1000:
Aside Thomas Altenhuber, Markus Mitterbauer, Manuel Schleindlhuber, Harald Schleindlhuber, Daniel Pfleger the Superstock 1000 field, includes:
Italian rising-star Gabriele Peticca, currently second in SBK European Hill Climb Championship, Mario Grunwald, Austrian TT legend Toni Rechberger, Daniel Kronschalger (featured in main article photo from last season’s Julbach action).
Another Italian pilot Federico Tucci and second quickest Stare Mesto Races newcomer last month, Nicolas ‘Stengz’ Stangl.
Supersport:
SSP ones to watch include Austrian aces Mario Gastinger, Kevin Kolmhofer, Julian Enzelsberger, Emanuel Reisinger.
Stefan Gastinger, Martin Hintriger plus 600cc European Hill Climb series leader Frenchman Simon Romieu and Italian Matthias Engl.
Superstock 600:
Onto the SSTK 600 category, which has gained entries from the likes of above-illustrated Mario Gastinger, Emanuel Reisinger aside Max Oberleitner, Italian trio Marco Gabrielli, Edoardo Rea, Emiliano Di Folco and local female warrior Svenja ‘Svenschi’ Wurm, making her comeback following leg injuries from pre-season testing incident.
Supermoto:
Three expected Supermoto front runners are previously mentioned Salvatore ‘Salvo’ Sallustro, home favourites Philipp Neumuller and Stefan Kuktits.
Special Bikes/Open:
Potential Special Bikes/Open podium finishing candidates include Italian hero Daniele Stolli or Austrian tour-de-forces Daniel Kronschalger, Bernhard Hormann, Marco Oblak and Georg Gottinger.
Other classes:
Competitors looking to make a splash in categories not highlighted yet include Rudolf Bauer, ice-speedway icon Franky Zorn, Marco Vigilucci.
Bernard Depierreux, Helmut Sommer, Guido Testoni, Angelo Testoni, Rolf Haller, Johan Furbock and Roberto Della Latta.
Joining above-illustrated Svenja ‘Svenchi’ Wurm as female competitors this week are Manuela Buchinger, Manuela Voglreiter, Petra Fischer, and Laura Leichtenstern.
Bergrennen Julbach 2026 weekend timetable (local time):
Saturday 13th June
11:00 AM Riders Briefing
12:30 PM – 6:00 PM Practice Session 1 / Practice Session 2
Sunday 14th June
8:30 AM – 12:00 PM Practice Session 3
12:30 PM – 5:00 PM Races (Heat 1 / Heat 2)
6:00 PM Prize Giving Ceremony
An added bonus the current track record holders per class (not including yesteryear and Young-timers) at Julbach – unofficial information.
(Year lap record attained near racer’s name)
Superbike: Maurizio Bottalico – 1:04.584 (2023)
Superstock 1000: Wolfgang Gammer – 1:05.730 (2018)
Superstock 600: Maurizio Bottalico – 1:06.798 (2023)
Supersport: Alexander Kastenhuber – 1:07.350 (2025)
Naked Bikes: Rudolf Bauer – 1:07.368 (2025)
Special Bikes: Andreas Burgsachner – 1:08.882 (2024)
Supermoto/Supermoto-Challenge: Phillip Neumuller – 1:11.393 (2025)
250: Guido Testoni – 1:13.716 (2025)
Sidecars: Peter Gierlinger/Helga Gierlinger – 1:13.759 (2017)
500: Franky Zorn – 1:14.677 (2025)
Supersport 300: Daniele Stolli – 1:19.730 (2023)
125/Moto3: Lorenzo Tiveron – 1:20.589 (2025)
Fastest Female racer (STK 600): Svenja Wurm – 1:11.695 (2025)
Photo credit: Jan Vavra
Words by Jan Vavra
