UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships 2012 - 4 Weeks

The summer of sports 2012 has some big events in store. At the moment all eyes are on the London Olympic Games, but for the MTB community the actual highlight is still to come: The UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships in Saalfelden, Leogang. From August 29th to September 9th the two venues in the Salzburger Land will be the epicenter of the mountain bike universe. Alongside big names and top class bike action there will also be big celebrations, appropriate for such a Mega-event as the world championships. These 2 fantastic weeks will offer great athletes, competition premieres like the cross-country eliminator as well as a diversified side program packed full of action.


Of course Saalfelden Leogang is also excited about who will take home the medals from the Olympic Games. But there is another, obviously high contagious virus raging in the Salzburger Land: The worlds-fever and the pleasant anticipation for the UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships are becoming more and more noticeable throughout the entire region. Stefan Pühringer, director of the Saalfelden Leogang Touristism GmbH describes the ambiance on site as follows: "The worlds is the ultimate supreme in the discipline of Mountain biking and it is a great honor for us to organize it. We are all very proud to host such a prominent collection of events. What started over ten years ago with a small pioneering project – the Bikepark Leogang – has become one of our core tourist markets. We are especially happy, that Saalfelden can continue to branch out in to the endurance discipline of cross country and establish itself as a true sporting city."


And endurance is what we will need to see this major event through. In order to help you plan in advance, here is the final schedule with a selection of the most important events at the UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships 2012:

Friday, August 31st:
•Men and Women 4X Qualifying Round (5:30pm)

Saturday, September 1st:
•Men and Women 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 Juniors Trials 20’’ World Championships (7:00pm – 8.45pm)
•Men Elite Trials 20’’ World Championships (9:00pm – 10:45pm)

Friday, September 7th:
•Women Under 23 Cross-country World Championships (11:00am)
•Men Under 23 Cross-country World Championships (2:00pm)
•Women Juniors Cross-country World Championships (5:00pm)
•Men Juniors Trials 26’’ World Championships (7:00pm – 8:45pm)
•Men Elite Trials 26’’ World Championships (9:00pm – 10:45pm)

Saturday, September 8th:
•Men Juniors Cross-country World Championships (9:00am)
•Women Elite Cross-country World Championships (11:00am)
•Men Elite Cross-country World Championships (2:00pm)

Sunday, September 9th:
•Cross-country Eliminator World Championships (1:30pm)

Please find more detailed information about the world’s schedule on: www.saalfeldenleogang2012.at


The opening ceremony for the World Championships takes place in the city center of Saalfelden on August 29th. We will see a parade of participating nations including all participants on the Rathausplatz starting at 7:00pm. Salzburger Land’s official delegate Mag. David Brenner, the mayors of Saalfelden and Leogang, as well as an official delegate of the UCI will begin the ceremony with some welcoming words. Afterwards, the region will present its finest performers offering a full hearted Austrian experience: traditional folk music and Jazz, as well as Schuhplattler (well-known from the Oktoberfest) and Goasslschnalzer (a “gaudy” specialty from the German-speaking Alps area) will underline the cultural heritage of the region.

The celebrations are expected to carry on throughout the 2 weeks with numerous parties and live music, for example the big Ö3-Party on Friday, August 31st with the Funk & Soul Combo „The Jackson Eleven“ (located at the Leoganger Bergbahnen event hall, entrance fee 8 Euro, 6 Euro in advance sale). On Saturday, the Leoganger Bergbahnen will be hosting the ‘Override Afterparty the Second’ (some of you might remember the ‘First Override Afterparty’ at the Out of Bounds Festival), featuring DJ Grandheight. The party starts at 9:00pm, guests must be over the age of 16.


The Trials Nights is an evening activity highlight at the worlds’: On Thursday September 6th and Friday 7th the Trials finals will take place at floodlight in the city center of Saalfelden, supported by hosts and DJ. Entrance is free! (from 7:00pm to 10:45pm)

To end the worlds in a spectacular fashion the closing party ‘BIKE Vibration’ will feature BUZZ CLUBBING on Saturday, September 8th in the „Congress“ of Saalfelden. This party will be open until the early morning. Since the big final is on Sunday, the Cross-Country Eliminator World Championships will start at 1:30pm so that everybody can get enough sleep after the closing party.

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 entire MTB community!