Leogang World Cup 2011 - First Look

Jun 9, 2011

by Ian Hylands

Photos and Audio by Fraser Britton

Hill and Brosnan scoping out lines in the roots. It's going to get wild in here and there will be riders all over the place come practice tomorrow. Listen to Sam talk line choice in the audio below.

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John Cancellier, Blackbox Technician, dials in his XC lines.

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Loads of cows right next to the track means one thing....

...cow fences! You DO NOT want to fall on these, as many riders found out last year. Besides crashing, you'll also be the lucky recipient of a rather large jolt of electricity.

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Very first section of track, right out of the gate and you hang a hard left.

These are most definitely catcher berms.

What?

Troy Brosnan checks out the jumps on the first pedal section. This is where the strength and fitness training pays off. It will be interesting to look at the split times to see who is on it through here.

American JIll Kintner scored a 6th in her first WC DH ever last week. Here her and coach Scott Sharples discuss the corners up top. Look for Jill to do well here. It is slippery and muddy and has lots of berms. Jill is from the Pacific North West and is a 4x World Champion. You do the math.

Kona is a title sponsor for the festival this week and next. They have a huge custom pit setup on a gigantic wooden balcony, custom made on site. It's very Orange, and very loud in here.

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There may be some interesting line choices in this section. It's wide and has what are essentially three options. It will interesting to see who goes where on race day.

Sam Hill heads into one of the lower root sections, trying to find some lines.

How can you tell we are back in Europe? Mechanics spend the first day digging moats and preparing for the oncoming whether. Listen to the audio below to hear about Neethling's expensive rain pants.

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The mud here is so deep it sucked off a shoe from one unlucky team manager the way down.

More drops to get wild on.

There are kilometers of cable at every World cup. One of Smaragd's TV crew pulls cable while Florian Heller describes a bit of the effort involved.

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New section of the track that includes 2 huge wallrides.

Wallride #2!

Yup, you can send this wooden platform leading into the lower steep woods. If you do, look to be airborne again in about 1 second and heading for the trees. Not a good time to be a passenger. Brendan contemplates sending the wooden booter in the audio below.

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Yes, it really is that steep as you quite literally send it into the woods. Look out below.

For being as steep as it is, there are a couple of mega long pedalling sections litterred with jumps. If you get bored, you can always admire the view.

Fabien Barel admires the scenery leading to the second pedalling section, and talks to Pinkbike about cows on his race run in the audio below.

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Steep, wooden and covered in rubber mats. One of the odd selections of sections here in Leogang.

The crazy wooden berm boardwalk is back, just as slick as ever.

Ya, there's more than a few corners on the upper section of the track here in Leogang. If you can't turn, you may as well just go home now. Remember what we said about Jill being a 4X World Champ...

Got Corners?

Danny Hart got second last week. This week he is wining the internet race. The Austrian's don't do anything half assed, the pits have the fastest internet connection on the World Cup.

Marc Beaumont is stoked at SRAM's choice of snacks this week, but who wouldn't be. Look for Slugger to be aiming to get his GT Fury on the top step this weekend.

It's a long drive from Fort William to Leogang, about 36 hours. Trucker bombs in full effect. Doping control, feel free to grab a sample.

Stay tuned for more from the Leogang World Cup!

Posted In:
Racing and Events First Looks

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IanHylands
Member since Jun 23, 2008
588 articles

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44 Comments

18 0

waterdogs (Jun 9, 2011 at 14:52)

That's some crazy steep sh%t! Not me.... man enough to admit that. Plus the photo with all the tape and turns gives me a headache just looking at it, much less riding it.

brucemacd FL (Jun 9, 2011 at 14:58)

Not much of a break for the athletes, after Fort Bill the week before. Looking forward to see who will win.

mr-sam (Jun 9, 2011 at 15:27)

That steep bit is nuts... remember Lehikoinen's crash on that bit last year? And Bryceland's crash where he smashed his head into the tree? NASTY SH!T!

rejean (Jun 9, 2011 at 17:42)

Piss jugs!!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuJXTSYYIX0

martyn748 (Jun 10, 2011 at 4:35)

I loved riding Leogang last year, was just the bollox. MUST GO BACK ASAP!!! And yes that step drop in the woods is mental. you have to climb down it and even then it's scarry.

DARKSTAR63 (Jun 10, 2011 at 5:49)

One thing Ive learned is if it looks that steep in photos............its STEEP.

aoneal (Jun 10, 2011 at 8:06)

Stoked on the steep. The pro riders will make it look like a walk in the park.
Oh, and I have a good feeling who is going to gwin this one...

mtblocos1 (Jun 10, 2011 at 8:21)

steep is 1 thing, steep with mud is another....should make for an awesome race.

gouty (Jun 9, 2011 at 16:23)

so thats what piss of a wc rider looks like... some would think it would be green from all the monster?

StuHaight (Jun 9, 2011 at 17:04)

High amounts of excellence.

KURTSUCKS (Jun 9, 2011 at 22:57)

You monster is not green hahah!

deadmanriding (Jun 9, 2011 at 18:42)

steep and technical tracks means one person....Sam Hill!!

tom666 FL (Jun 9, 2011 at 14:50)

That section leading into the woods isn't half steep. Fuck That.

moongose (Jun 9, 2011 at 14:46)

Looks like its going to be a sick weekend

brooce (Jun 9, 2011 at 15:16)

and a great racing

bike-person (Jun 9, 2011 at 20:14)

So awesome, he's got M&M's!!!

letsgetit (Jun 10, 2011 at 0:38)

If somebody wants to send me a better camera than my Cannon powershot, I'd be more than happy to shoot the whole thing and post it ASAP!!!

Soooooooooo glad I don't live in Iowa anymore! Should be good, FUKING STOKED!!!!

w-e-w (Jun 9, 2011 at 21:24)

should be a good race to watch - hoping for some good footage. I think they could do without the slimy, man-made, wood sections/features though.. those sketch me ot more than anything. keep it pure: dirt, rock, roots... except for those staged finish area booters/drops.

kinglewi (Jun 9, 2011 at 15:06)

There is gunna be some epic crashes they're.it's one meaty dh course

ZMC888 (Jun 9, 2011 at 22:41)

Photographer has mastered how to show how steep the hill is on camera, great shots. Usually other photographers flatten the scenery, great work Fraser Britton!

dutchforce (Jun 9, 2011 at 15:05)

90LB I think its supposed to be £90

panzer103 (Jun 9, 2011 at 16:38)

Excellent photos. It really gives you an idea of how steep and crazy these courses are. Thats something you don't get a feel for by watching it on Freecaster, which btw worked really well for me last weekend.

juanzo (Jun 9, 2011 at 17:10)

Oh, man. Cow fences. Last year I fell flat over one of these sons of thousand parents and, apart from the fact that I broke my helmet, I had a nice shock. Gross.

downhilltoavenged7x (Jun 10, 2011 at 6:24)

That steep ass bit is bad enough...look at the forest you're gonna roll through if you miss

andytheaussie (Jun 9, 2011 at 15:24)

Could be an interesting one this weekend. I reckon this might throw up a few surprises again...

webbrider12 (Jun 9, 2011 at 19:27)

course looks amazing this year, super jealous on the conditions, and kinda wished i got that kind of riding here

lightningskull (Jun 9, 2011 at 21:22)

that looks like a really cool track, looking forward to seeing who takes it

andypandyuk (Jun 10, 2011 at 2:44)

On a slightly off topic note, I noticed Sams footwear has a different front top bit to the ones I bought

southwestdh (Jun 10, 2011 at 7:34)

i whant brendon to do well he deservis it after his crap results from the first two rounds

funkymonkey144 (Jun 9, 2011 at 14:54)

Strange track, awesome though can't wait for the race

davidstuartkelly (Jun 9, 2011 at 15:22)

Looks really technical in bits, is it on Sky sports????

five-10 (Jun 10, 2011 at 12:54)

should be on eurosport sunday night mate

davidstuartkelly (Jun 10, 2011 at 13:38)

Checked the Sky Synopsis, and found it. Monday afternoon onwards, set to record.....

captyvatemedia FL (Jun 9, 2011 at 22:17)

That track is fucking amazing!

fullbug (Jun 10, 2011 at 12:51)

in no particular order...hill, hart, gwin

damo667 (Jun 9, 2011 at 15:01)

How many corners!!!!

Jamieep (Jun 9, 2011 at 14:48)

Track looks awesome fun!

hexhamstu (Jun 9, 2011 at 14:58)

That is fucking steep.

Below threshold threads are hidden

3 23

nouser (Jun 9, 2011 at 15:03)

looks fun! until you go barreling down the hill, and do a face plant into a tree which in turn, breaks your vertebrae and kills you...

20 0

mr-sam (Jun 9, 2011 at 15:22)

Well you're quite an optimistic character!

komodo1 (Jun 9, 2011 at 15:34)

The course looks awesome because you can go flying down the hill (but without the crashing and vertebrae part). I ride downhill for the steep sections, speed, roots, etc, and this course has all of that. Wish we had something like it where I live.

BLIPDH (Jun 9, 2011 at 15:51)

thats what neck braces are for silly

BLIPDH (Jun 9, 2011 at 20:53)

ahhahaha

nouser (Jun 11, 2011 at 7:47)

yeah i was havin a bad day