Fan Perspective on the Lenzerheide World Champs
With this story, I don't want to replace or compete with the impressive Pinkbike photo epics from this type of venue. My intention is to give you another viewpoint from the how incredible this event was. Rather than based only on facts, this is a reflection, a personal observation that wants to give you a tale from the inside - where everything happened.
Once the World Cup season is over, riders and teams can finally focus on the most important race of the year. This is the race where riders could put an end of a good season or where riders could simply play with some magic and literally save the whole season with just three perfect minutes. This is a race that more than ever riders must have their brain prepared to handle with such pressure - doesn't matter if they have the power and the technique, if their mind isn't yet set, well... then forget about that, they're done!
The place where a dream starts or where a nightmare is over.
First gold was for Valentina Holl, the golden lady from Austria who won the Junior Womens and once again confirmed her superior level of performance. It's clear to everyone that Valentina is on another level.
Vali passing through the rock garden with confidence and precision just before the sunrise.
On the other side, the Junior Mens wasn't so easy to predict and a few riders could make it happen. There was the World Cup domination of Thibaut Daprela and Kye A'Hern, but Kade Edwards proved his dominance on this course. Elliot Jamieson was one of the big surprises of the day - from nowhere to Bronze.
Anywhere on the track we could see that the pace of this kid was on a higher level.
Anyone in the Top 10 could literally have glided into Silver or Bronze.
Mitas Wall was one of the key sections where the ones who managed to keep the momentum and build speed succeeded.
Stylin.
Pretty similar with the Junior Women, the Elite Women had only a few possibilities for the medals but just one or two real contenders for the gold. If Rachel Atherton could put it together, then it was hers. Like our predictions, Rach smoked everyone by almost 10 seconds.
She knew that everything was under control.
While others were taking precautions on the rock garden, Rachel was flying flat out.
Tahnée Seagrave chose to play it safe and beside fast, rode very controlled during the event. This approach took Tahnée on a line choice that's unusual for her - apparently slower lines.
The defending World Champion Miranda Miller - efficient and controlled but wasn't fast enough to compete with the top girls.
Tracey Hannah came with a consistent run but 5 seconds off pace from the podium.
The end of Cecile Ravanel's hope for a medal.
In the end they were proud of their achievements.
We had sweat, tears and champagne.
No doubt that the Elite Mens' race was one of the most exciting races that I can remember, simply because this year we had so many new World Cup winners. The crowd was very divided guessing who could take the gold - I literally heard more than 10 different names. As we headed to the afternoon and the temperatures rising to what we can call a beautiful Swiss Alpine summer day, the crowd were going wild as the fastest riders started their path to glory.
Loic Bruni would end up taking another gold medal for the books.
Loic Bruni 10 seconds away from his third World Championship gold medal. It's amazing that when there're medals on the table Loic seems far more consistent and precise in every section.
Martin Maes mind riding the course and getting everything dialled just a few moments before flying to silver.
Martins came "for the Enduro Spirit" and proved to all of us that the last World Cup win wasn't a mistake. Beside his mechanical problems on the qualifying and some health issues the morning of the race, he managed to ride to second place. I believe that this young rider is a step ahead of others and will bring new things to how we see, prepare and compete in the downhill racing. Definitely we have to look more to the other disciplines of mountain biking because they're all connected and only together they will envolve individually.
There's no surprise that Danny Hart is a contender at World Chmps. He made everyone scream with joy in last year's race at this venue and is a strong candidate for the medals with a bit of luck, bad weather and rough track. This time, a few meters of pace put him in third.
Gwin has the pace and the ability to fly super low but wasn't enough for the gold that he truly deserves.
Luca Shaw on a solid performance to 6th place. Isn't the best that he's done but for a World Champs and with such huge pressure on everyone, it is a very good result.
Laurie Greenland came steady and not so wild as we're used to seeing, but still had a good run.
This guy has delivered consistently for many years and it's impossible no to count Brosnan as a medal contender.
Very, very hard weekend for Amaury Pierron. He was only for the gold and nothing more.
Another crash on his race run ended his dreams of being World Champion and World Cup champion.
The young Finn Iles confirmed once again why he is the future of our sport, and with style.
The medal for the best privateer goes to Magnus Manson who finished in the Top 20.
Magnus Manson on a crucial section before the Motorex Plunge. This was another key section where riders had to predict how the track would change on the next run. The roots and braking bumps appeared everywhere and they could take you down in a blink of an eye.
Laurie Greenland pointing to the ever-changing first roots section.
Good things will come to this young rider.
Alex Marin keeping it low and fast to Top 20.
Francisco Pardal - one of the big surprises of the day.
Definitely felt like a podium for Francisco Pardal, who conquered his best result and best Portuguese result at a Downhill World Championship.
The track suited him and the result came as a result. One to remember.
Fully recovered from the Fort William injury and attacking the rock garden to 24th place.
Very similar line choice on the race run from Emanuel Pombo to his fellow Francisco Pardal.
On the other side of the Portuguese nation was Emanuel Pombo.
The young Irishman Jacob Dickson putting it all together for a solid run.
Andreas Kolb pointing and shooting the rock garden very easily. The Swiss athletes were the most applauded by the 20,000 fans but after them, the Austrian and the French riders were also cheered on very loudly.
Angel Suarez Alonso was on Aaron's pace every single run in every section but some bad luck on the final run took him from a possible podium to 38th. If Angel finds some consistency on his riding, I'm sure that he will be a tremendous threat for the top riders.
I bet Brook Macdonald was wishing his race run was his timed training run two days earlier.
The Bulldog couldn't replicate his time from Friday and battle for the win.
I was hoping to see some Wyn wheelie this turn at 60 km/h.
The Canadian Henry Fitzgerald on the second turn of the track.
Despite a huge crash on the first day, Vasco Bica found the way to a good and steady finish time.
The heroes of the day.
Pour la France!
Like in Elite Women's, we had sweat, tears, and champagne to celebrate.
That's it... the Golden Pope, Period!
With this one on the books, it's time to these heroes return to their home nations, rest and focus for what's next as we will continue to watch this season on replay until the next one knocks on our door.
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