2023-06-14 12:42:17
The mountain bike world cup in Saalfelden-Leogang is even bigger. A trio of Austrians has good chances.
The Saalbach Leogang region has already staged twelve world cups and two world championships in mountain biking. But the program has never been as extensive as this year’s UCI World Cup. Competitions are held in three different disciplines. The bike festival days already start today, Thursday.
Enduro and E-Enduro are represented in Leogang for the first time. In these categories, the race is once morest the clock, the procedure is similar to rallying: Various off-road tests (stages) have to be completed. In between, transfer stages must be driven without time scoring to the start of the next stage. The route runs between Leogang and Saalfelden. The reigning World Cup winner Jesse Melamed is also at the start, as is Tracy Moseley, who knows Leogang from before: she was a downhill specialist and 2010 world champion.
Leogang is no longer new territory for the cross-country stars. Junior world champion Laura Stigger from Tyrol reminisces regarding her third place from last year: “I’m really looking forward to the races in Leogang and hope there will be a lot of fans there who will keep their fingers crossed for me.” Together with her compatriot Mona Mitterwallner she is in action in short track (Friday) and in classic cross country (Sunday). The duo finished twelfth and seventh in Lenzerheide.
On Saturday “Vali-Mania” is guaranteed. Local hero Valentina Höll will lure the crowds to the track for her first home appearance as world champion. The 21-year-old from Saalbach still has a score to settle with the “Speedster” route from Asitz: falls at the 2020 World Championships and at the 2021 and 2022 World Cups have made Leogang a hell of an experience for her so far.
Fourth place in Lenzerheide wasn’t really satisfying for Höll, while Rachel Atherton was celebrating: The British dominator of the past years won her first race following a baby break. In the men’s race, Styrian Andreas Kolb is hoping for a repeat of his coup from last year when he finished fifth.
Getting to Leogang by public transport in the province of Salzburg is free. Shuttle lines also take fans from Saalfelden and Hochfilzen to the event site every 30 minutes. Red Bull TV broadcasts live.
Internet: www.mtb-weltcup.at
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