Photo Epic: Practice - Lenzerheide World Cup DH 2022

Jul 7, 2022
by Nathan Hughes  


The 2022 World Cup season makes it next stop in the Swiss mountain resort of Lenzerheide.
Photo Epic
PRACTICE
2022 - DH World Cup 4 - Lenzerheide - Switzerland
Words & Photography by Ross Bell and Nathan Hughes


The next piece in the 2022 Downhill World Cup puzzle sees the return to the familiar Swiss stop of Lenzerheide. Traditionally it's been a fast bike park style track, and while the majority of it remains unchanged there is a new fresh-cut section through the top woods that has given the weekend a welcome little twist. This developed quickly throughout the day with lines coming and going; it was a hard section to feel good on and more crucially to get right. Loris Vergier and Camille Balanche seemed to get up to speed the quickest if timed training is anything to go by, and as always will be ones to watch when the clock starts ticking properly tomorrow. There are, however, many riders behind them who will fancy their chances for qualifying and then the race on Saturday - a lot can happen before then.


Camille Balanche heads up for her first practice run.
Camille Balanche heads up for her first practice run.

The woods developed quickly throughout the day.
From moss and grass the woods developed quickly throughout the day.

A lot of shapes were made in the new section from riders great and small. Brosnan throws his hat in the ring.
A lot of shapes were made in the new section from riders great and small. Brosnan throws his hat in the ring.

Goldstone dwarfed by blue skies.
Goldstone dwarfed by blue skies.

Aaron Gwin was tearing into todays practice looking re-energized and on it.
Aaron Gwin was tearing into today's practice, looking re-energized and on it.

The WC overall leader Amaury Pierron was looking as widly fast as ever.
The WC overall leader Amaury Pierron was looking as wildy fast as ever.

Brook dialing in the Gropro mount ready for hard day working on lines.
Brook dialing in the GroPro mount ready for hard day working on lines.

Jacob Dickson hammering into the fastest art of the track.
Jacob Dickson hammering into the fastest part of the track.

Myriam Nicole with her eyes focused far down the track that s unfolding infront of her.
Myriam Nicole with her eyes focused far down the track that's unfolding in front of her.

Loris Vergier making easy work of the new tight and awkward corner up top.
Loris Vergier making easy work of the new tight and awkward corner up top.

Rachel Atherton back on track and looking strong up there.
Rachel Atherton back on track and looking strong up there.

Minnaar testing the full turn where almost everybody is taking the short cut.
Minnaar testing the full turn where almost everybody is taking the short cut.

Kade unfortunately took a big fall early on today and didn t reappear fingers crossed he s not out.
Kade Edwards unfortunately took a big fall early on today and didn't reappear, fingers crossed he's not out.

Sherlock plunges down the belly of the steep section on the inside chute.
Seth Sherlock plunges down the belly of the steep section on the inside chute.

That s Lenzerheide folks it s been a while since we saw brown pow around here.
Yes, that's Lenzerheide folks, it's been a while since we saw brown pow around here.

Mob steeze with Oisin.
Mob steeze with Oisin O'Callaghan.

Connor Fearon with what looks to be a new Forbidden downhill bike beneath him.
Connor Fearon with what looks to be a new Forbidden downhill bike beneath him.

Neko Mullaly always has the tidy race lines dialled from the get-go.
Neko Mullaly always has the tidy race lines dialled from the get-go.

Dakotah Norton with a tip of the hat to Cody Kelly.
Dakotah Norton with a tip of the hat to Cody Kelley.

Brook MacDonald misses out on timed training with the 61 plate so had to make his early laps count.
Brook Macdonald misses out on timed training with the 61 plate, so had to make his early laps count.

Pinkbike Racing s Thibault Laly exits the fresh section back onto familiar territory.
Pinkbike Racing's Thibault Laly exits the fresh section back onto familiar territory.

Squint for Kaos Seagrave.
Squint for Kaos Seagrave.

Daprella sporting the new Bell helmet.
Thibaut Daprela sporting the new Bell helmet.

Finn Iles putting that new prototype through it s paces.
Finn Iles putting that new prototype through its paces.

Benoit Coulanges will be looking to bounce back from his race run crash in Leogang.
Benoit Coulanges will be looking to bounce back from his race run crash in Leogang.

Phil Atwill loves a bit of Lenzer podium action.
Phil Atwill loves a bit of Lenzer podium action.

Loic Bruni pushing back up to have another try at an awkward section through the new woods.
Loic Bruni pushing back up to have another try at an awkward section through the new woods.

Greenland looked damn sharp as ever especially airborn.
Greenland looked damn sharp as ever, especially airborn.

Thibaut Daprela ripping through the fresh cut section in the woods.
Thibaut Daprela ripping through the fresh cut section in the woods.

Luke Meier-Smith never just cruising.
Luke Meier-Smith, never just cruising.

Charlie Hatton will be looking to continue his strong start to the season.
Charlie Hatton will be looking to continue his strong start to the season.

Loic Bruni is returning from injury this week.
Loic Bruni is returning from injury this week.

Millie Johnset with the tweaked table.
Millie Johnset with the tweaked table.

Phoebe Gale looking for a back to back win.
Phoebe Gale looking for a back-to-back win.

Dean Lucas getting stuck into the lower half of the track in timed training.
Dean Lucas getting stuck into the lower half of the track in timed training.

Antoine Vidal can never seem resist taking a bit of sideways flight.
Antoine Vidal can never seem to resist taking a bit of sideways flight.

Greg Minnaar charging through some rough stuff.
Greg Minnaar charging through some rough stuff.

Goldstone hits the big kicker.
Goldstone hits the big kicker.

He went large too large for a zoom lens to do justice.
He went large, too large for a zoom lens to do justice.

Jackson Goldstone will be looking to grab back that number 1 plate this weekend.
Jackson Goldstone will be looking to grab back that number 1 plate this weekend.

The new main line cut into the old main line.
The new main line, cut into the old main line.

Vali Holl exiting the bottom of the steep chute.
Vali Holl exiting the bottom of the steep chute.

Greg Williamson making the most of a mechanical late in the day.
Greg Williamson making the most of a mechanical late in the day.

Ominous clouds held off until close of play.
Ominous clouds held off until close of play.

Fastest man in timed training Loris Vergier dissecting the day with Ryan Gaul.
Fastest man in timed training Loris Vergier dissecting the day with Ryan Gaul.


Posted In:
Racing and Events Lenzerheide World Cup Dh 2022


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24 Comments
  • 75 0
 Millie’s table is absolutely clicked! Textbook for a dual crown rig.
  • 4 0
 Such style
  • 9 0
 goldstone pic 1 is mind blowing , the amplitude
  • 1 14
flag oevets4130 FL (Jul 8, 2022 at 3:35) (Below Threshold)
 You can't click a table.
  • 24 0
 @oevets4130: not with that attitude
  • 11 0
 @oevets4130: guessing you don't have a BMX background. You can definitely click a table
  • 4 0
 @oevets4130: @oevets4130: Maybe YOU can't...
  • 3 0
 @oevets4130: Clickety click, don't be a ...
  • 44 0
 I will NEVER get tired of World Cup DH photo epics. PB content doesn't get any better.
  • 7 0
 Goldstone super sender for the win - its amazing how much that new middle section has changed already from the track walk footage.
  • 4 0
 Just watching the practice video. . . . Jackson Goldstone is smooth! I'll put myself out there and really wanted to feel indifferent about his success, but jeeeezus! He's gonna be a thing for sure. Changing of the guards moment. Lookout! Good luck JG, kill it!!
  • 4 0
 I'm thinking that Loris might be done messing around. I really want to see him win the rest of the races this season.
  • 3 0
 Technically, Oisin was showing Dude Steez as he's not with a Mob and where is the other #44 - Rachel?
  • 4 0
 Love these photo stories. And that whip by Goldstone? Wow.
  • 4 1
 This is one of the best photo epics I've seen on PB in a while...the quality of these images is crazy good.
  • 1 0
 Dam was hoping for a side shot of the specialized proto Finn was rippin! From the instagram video it looks like it has a very big swing arm and they are hiding the magic under a lot of covers. Excited for the races.
  • 2 0
 I see the full article now.... oops
  • 4 0
 Brook gotta left calf that'll fight you
  • 2 0
 Love great photos. It stops the mayhem so you can catch details you'd never see.
  • 2 0
 This an epic Photo Epic with an extra helping of Steeze
  • 2 0
 Now that’s a photo epic! Awesome photos from start to finish.
  • 3 0
 Love this
  • 2 0
 Crazy photo quality, as always, or even better than always!
  • 1 0
 fantastic photoz!







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