Track Walk - Val di Sole DH World Champs 2016
This is it, the final race of the 2016 season, and the one that everyone dreams of winning above all others. This is World Championships. The one-day race where riders put it all on the line to take the coveted rainbow jersey, the glory and, of course, the bragging rights that come with being the best of the best. The unique format (it's the season ender for just about all in attendance and its separate from any points series) lends a different kind of pressure, and has offered up some of the most memorable moments our sport has ever seen. It's a race where we have witnessed dominant seasons end in failure, the run of a lifetime go up in flames just meters from the finish line, or an underdog carve out a name for themselves after rolling the dice and coming up huge. In a word, World Champs is special. No other event on the calendar can even compare.
While we have seen a variety of venues over the years, some good and some bad, this week we are treated to one that is simply legendary. Val di Sole has carved a name for itself as one of the most demanding tracks in recent memory and one that has routinely been the sight of some epic race runs. There was Aaron Gwin's win by nearly 8 seconds in 2011. Or, even more famously, Sam Hill's last corner tragedy of 2008, which was coincidentally the last time World Champs was held on these slopes.
Nestled high in the peaks of Italy's pristine valley of the Sun, this week is going to be one for the record books.
Well done, Italy
While there might be glaciers on the peaks above the track, right now it is nothing but sun-baked dust down low. With little to no rain in the forecast all week, things are going to get blown out in a hurry.
Old towns and narrow, mountain roads lead the way through Val di Sole to the 2016 World Championships.
Once again we find ourselves amongst some truly giant mountains.
The hill on which we will be racing this weekend is but a fraction of the terrain accessible in the Val di Sole region.
A reminder that this region wasn't always a playgroup for bikes and skis. During WWI the Tonale Pass that runs through Val di Sole marked the border with Austria-Hungary and was heavily fortified on both sides.
Val Di Sole. Thanks for being awesome.
The bike builds started early this morning.
Dougie Fresh putting the final fresh touches on Josh Bryceland's wheel set.
John Hall gets to work building this beauty for Aaron Gwin,
Danny Hart is quietly confident this week, knowing he is on a hot streak coming into one of his favorite tracks on the circuit.
The Pivot Crew heads out on the earliest track walk of the year.
Welcome to the Italian woods; pretty scenic if you have time to look around on your descent.
The road gap at the top of the course is small but a nice warm up for the brutality to follow.
Right out of the gate things get gnarly.
Anaconda-sized roots are only too happy to claim a front wheel.
Riders started walking at 10 to get a read on the track.
After an amazing Vallnord result, Alex Fayolle may be poised to do it again on the track he managed 10th place on at the end of last season.
There are no obvious "good lines" anywhere here. It's a group effort with the WC veterans helping the new generation figure out where to go.
Danny Hart dust demonstration - it's about as deep and dry as it comes here in VDS.
The Swiss national team start to get an understanding of what they're up against.
The course returns to a path from years gone by - savage one - and is now decorated with plaques dedicated to past winners.
Davide has the media's back, but said he could do nothing about the insects.
Ed Masters throws a little pre-practice style.
Land mines everywhere hidden under the dust.
Up top, every corner's entrance and exit are littered with roots crossing the trail in all directions.
Rachel stops to take a gander at her likeness trackside.
It's going to be fabulous back lit dust again and we aren't complaining. This dirt is gold.
One of the "tame" sections of the track where the riders will get a "break."
Val Di Sole, the only track on which riders could consider this little patch a 'smooth section'.
There are a few countries who willl, no doubt, have a strong showing here at worlds, but none so strong as team GB. Williamson and Brayton proud to be a part of the crew.
Gone are the sketchy boardwalk berms of the 2015 course. This year we have just one short, straight bridge to help riders across a waterlogged area.
Just when riders need a break, the track tips and gets steeper for the final third.
One plummeting section after another.
Tahnee Seagrave is, unfortunately, still suffering with badly bruised or broken ribs from Vallnord, but is ready to ride through the pain. Riding is preferable to sneezing at this point, she assures us...
At about the midpoint, the already-steep track takes a turn downward and gets... even steeper.
Steep and through the trees, the top section of Val di Sole is truly one of a kind.
Manon tries to see the lines through the massive crowd of riders crammed into the track today.
Probably the hardest thing (besides the track itself) is seeing where you are going, The patchy light and dark shadows hide so many of the rocks, roots, and holes that riders really can't even see what they are running into half the time.
Val di Sole in a nutshell. Gentle it is not.
Australia's Tracy and Mick or Britain's Gee and Rachel? Who will triumph as star siblings with national pride on the line?
Laurie Greenland's incredible rookie year would look good with a massive result at the end of it...
About the only moment riders will have to chill on this savage special of a course.
Some call it 'technical', others call it 'gnar', but everyone considers it scary.
Someone is handy with the tape. And a monkey too. This one is at least 12 feet up the tree.
That huge booter half way down that was make, brake or break for the riders last year.
Many a rider coming to Val di Sole for the first time has high hopes of sending the big natural step-down they've seen in videos. However, once they see it and its sketchy run-up in person, most quickly change their tune.
By this point in your race run, your arms literally feel like they are going to fall off.
The course never lets up. It just serves up more and more gnar.
Manon has done well here before and is the only racer in the field to have been able to beat Rachel Atherton in recent years.
The members of Teams Germany and Portugal scope the final sender and visualise their landing zone.
Who will send it farthest off the big ski jump coming out of the woods? In years past, we have seen many a rider land well clear of the 20-meter mark.
The final sender remains unchanged from many years gone by.
The seat every rider wants to take at the end of his or her run.
It's wild and it's beautiful here in northern Italy.
Finn Iles got quite the surprise today from his mechanic in the form of his first-ever, custom-painted World Champs bike.
Rachel reckons she might lift off if she pins her jersey like this.
Loic's #1 plate to distinguish him as the current and defending World Champion.
Painted in the colors of France and dropped in accents of gold, Loic Bruni's is prepped for battle.
So far, the valley of the Sun had been living up to its name.
MENTIONS: @davetrump / @natedh9
Author Info:
Must Read This Week
Sign Up for the Pinkbike Newsletter - All the Biggest, Most Interesting Stories in your Inbox
PB Newsletter Signup
Finally loved this track, but what about this
m.pinkbike.com/photo/13915247
Hi Sam, not used to those PB threads ;-)
m.vitalmtb.com/news/news/Paul-Basagoitia-Rides-Again,1004
Apparently it will also be live on youtube.
p.vitalmtb.com/photos/users/2/photos/109675/s1600_VDS16_55A3583.jpg?1473283965