Let the racing begin! In just a few days all eyes of the Bike-scene will be directed to Saalfelden Leogang. The UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships is the MTB-event of the year. Concentrated action with about 30,000 expected spectators, exciting finals, big names, and big parties. This is what we can look forward to in the heart of the Salzburger Land.
Over 350 international journalists have already accredited their attendance in order to get to the ultimate spots of truth for MTB athletes. Between August 29th and September 9th, the new UCI world champions will be nominated in the disciplines of downhill, four-cross, cross-country, trials and for the first time also in cross-country eliminator. More than 750 pro athletes will give their best to try to get to the top of the podium. We will see the likes of Gwin, the Atherton's, Hart, and Absalon in Saalfelden Leogang, but also local heroes such as last year’s vice-world champion David Trummer from Austria, as well as the new Olympic Gold medalists Bresset and Kulhavy. All athletes can barely wait to face to the biggest challenge of the entire season.
Here is an overview of the most important competitions during the UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships:
Saturday, September 1st:
• Women and Men 4X World Championships (5:30pm)
Sunday, September 2nd:
• Women Juniors and Men Juniors Downhill World Championships (10:30am)
• Women Elite Downhill World Championships (1:00pm)
• Men Elite Downhill World Championships (2:00pm)
Wednesday, September 5th:
• Women Trials World Championships (10:00am – 2:00pm)
Thursday, September 6th:
• Cross-country Team Relay World Championships (5:00pm)
• Men Trials 20’’ World Championships (9:00pm – 10:45pm)
Friday, September 7th:
• Men Trials 26’’ World Championships (9:00pm – 10:45pm)
Saturday, September 8th:
• Women Elite Cross-country World Championships (11:00am)
• Men Elite Cross-country World Championships (2:00am)
Sunday, September 9th:
• Cross-country Eliminator World Championships (1:30pm)
You can find more detailed Information on:
www.saalfeldenleogang2012.com Real bike fans should take the opportunity to watch the events live on site, so not to miss any of the world class action. All trails and tracks, some of them completely rebuilt, some have been majorly reshaped, are fully equipped with speakers and four large projection screens. So no matter which event you are at, or where you are on the course you can follow all the action from start to finish.
Of course there will also be enough occasions to party. After the opening ceremony (which will be something for your eyes and ears), there is a diverse range of side events, which assures to keep everyone entertained. Here the most important:
Friday, August 31st: Ö3-Party with the „Jackson Eleven“-Combo in the event hall of the „Leoganger Bergbahnen“
Saturday, September 1st: Override Afterparty the Second with DJ Grandheight, on the area of the „Leoganger Bergbahnen“
Saturday, September 8th: BIKE Vibration feat. BUZZ Clubbing in the „Congress“ in Saalfelden
Let’s not forget, the Trials Nights: Both Trails World Championships finals will be at the same time big events and big parties. On Thursday night, September 6th and Friday night, September 7th the finals will take place in the city center of Saalfelden under flood lights, accompanied by DJ’s and hosts. Definitely another highlight you shouldn’t miss.
With a total 12 events on 12 days, the UCI World Championships will be held on a new, never before reached level, underlining the aspect of its spectator-friendly organization. Also a 12-day trip to Saalfelden Leogang will be very entertaining for every bike lover. Moreover most of the athletes should be highly motivated after the Olympic season, be it to keep their Olympic form, to go better than in London. In other cases the Worlds’ can be a platform for riders to become part of the world’s MTB elite. From a sporting point of view Saalfelden Leogang 2012 will be a milestone in the history of UCI events.
Learned from the difficulties of other major sporting events, the organizers have solved the problem of complete infrastructural excessive demand by establishing a deliberately user-friendly and understandable traffic management system. This gives quick and easy access to the competition areas. Also the common problem of struggle for parking should not be an issue in the hosting towns: In Leogang there are a total of 10 parking lots for cars as well as one big parking lot for buses - all in pedestrian walking distance to the worlds trails.
Saalfelden established one huge parking lot near the city center, moreover all public parking lots and all mall-parking lots can be used and all parking areas in Leogang and Saalfelden are available for free!
For the transfer from Saalfelden to Leogang and vice versa there will be a shuttle-service connecting both worlds spots. (also available for train-passengers. You can find the shuttle schedule at:
http://www.saalfeldenleogang2012.at/en/wm-info/gratis-bus-shuttle/ The organization committee, the UCI as well as all participating athletes are looking forward to the UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships and hope to see a great turnout from the national and international MTB community!
