5 Things You Need To Know: World Cup DH 2015 - Leogang

Jun 11, 2015
by Pinkbike Staff  


1. THE VENUE



At just over a one hour drive from Salzburg in Austria, Leogang's bike park - nestled on the slopes of Asitz mountain - has been operating since 2001. With the likes of Kona coming on board to sponsor the park in its early days, it steadily developed into a destination for European riders seeking quieter alternatives to Morzine and Les Gets. While a steady stream of riders hit the trails in Leogang, its sister town Saalbach-Hinterglemm over on the other side of the mountain grew in popularity thanks to its annual freeride festival. As that scene developed, Leogang's own development continued, and bit by bit it built its reputation for being a popular destination for riding and competitions in its own right, even though back in the early and mid 2000s it only had a small number of trails on offer.

Its massive North Shore complex, dirt jumps and 4X course soon had riders of all disciplines visiting, and in 2010, Leogang held its first UCI Mountain Bike World Cup which saw Greg Minnaar take the win. The World Cup has been held in Leogang ever since, excluding 2012, which is when the bike park played host to the MTB World Championships where once again Greg Minnaar took the top step.

Leogang Austria World Cup

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From the archives; MTB Cut and Chain Reaction Cycles bring us their recap video from the 2010 race.



2. THE TRACK



It's a bike park, so the tracks are going to be...bike park. Scratch the surface however, and you'll find Leogang's race track is a white knuckle ride at full speed, and because of that, year on year we have seen a whole lot of drama transpire without fail. The 2.5km downhill track used for the World Cup gets tinkered with every year, but essentially it is fast and full of big jumps, steep berms, roots and rocks. Situated on the Speedster track, the trail designers and builders have been busy building more high speed sections as well as extending the final jump in the finish line area.

Out of the start gate, riders enter the Asitz Gamber section; steep and fast with a few tricky rocks thrown in for good measure to complicate riders' line choice into a series of sharp berms and then into a rock garden. After exiting Steinberg Rocks, the track heads into a tunnel and out into a meadow towards the Stöckl Forest. This year, there is a new route over loose forest soil, uncovering lots of roots and stumps which will throw the racers off their pace for the Stoana Mää Jumps. Clean landings here are crucial for maintaining speed. Re-entering the forest, the Roots of Asitz await. Traitorous root carpets and rock gardens will test their technical skills. Will the riders pin over and hope for the best, or weave their way through? With the finish line in sight, the Stairs of Contrast rock-face leads the riders onto the Hollywood Section. This last, high speed passage will send them over an 18m/59ft table and onto the finish line.

2014 Leogang WC DH images

Ratty Skidson





3. THE WEATHER



"More clouds than sun with a couple of thunderstorms around in the afternoon" is the forecast for both Saturday and Sunday in Leogang this weekend. That's nothing unusual for Leogang; it's sunny one hour and then it's thunder and lightning the next. Statistically, although June is one of the warmest months of the year for Leogang, it is also the month with the highest amount of rainfall per day. Thankfully, these days the downhill track holds up pretty well in these conditions, although that can't be guaranteed for the new section. Who knows whether things will be as wet and wild in the woods here as they were in Fort William last weekend.

20 minutes is all it takes for the weather to change here in the Austrian mountians.
Danny experiencing as much G-force as possible outside of a fighter jet.



4. THE VANQUISHED



Horror show
  Gee watches on as his 2013 year comes apart in Leogang thanks to the Canadian Chainsaw Massacre.

Leogang has been a bit of a gremlin track for Gee Atherton, having finished second behind Aaron Gwin in 2011, and second behind Greg Minnaar at the World Championships in 2012. Leogang 2013 was the ultimate kick in the teeth after not only finishing in fourth but missing out on valuable points for the overall Championship title. Leogang 2014 didn't go to plan either, with Gee only managing twelfth.

Bernard Kerr hucking out and over the tape for a DQ today.
  Leogang 2014 wasn't a good year for Bernard Kerr. After having a great run down to the last few features, Bernard crossed the tape as he hucked the last drop, leading to his disqualification.

2014 World Cup 4 Leogang
  After winning here as a Junior in the 2012 World Championship and coming second in the 2013 World Cup, Loic Bruni has fallen out of favour with Leogang thanks to the 2014 World Cup race. After qualifying in first place earlier in the weekend, all eyes were on the Frenchman for race day. Unfortunately, like Steve Peat before him, Loic slid across the marbles in a turn and his bike washed out from underneath him. Loic rolled into the finish line in 27th place.



5. THE VICTORS



bigquotesIf you have everything under control, you're not moving fast enough. - Mario Andretti, 1978 Formula 1 World Champion

Although it is a bike park, there's an element of letting things get a bit out of control at Leogang. One of the most successful riders at Leogang is Greg Minnaar; coupled with this and his win last weekend at Fort William under his 2015 belt, will we see the South African dominate this weekend too?

ELITE MEN RESULTS:
June 2010 // UCI World Cup no.3 // Greg MINNAAR // winning time 4:05.65
June 2011 // UCI World Cup no.3 // Aaron GWIN // winning time 3:44.18
Sept 2012 // UCI World Championship // Greg MINNAAR // winning time 3:21.79
Sept 2013 // UCI World Cup no.6 // Steve SMITH // winning time 3:23.96
June 2014 // UCI World Cup no.4 // Josh BRYCELAND // winning time 3:18.75

ELITE WOMEN RESULTS:
June 2010 // UCI World Cup no.3 // Sabrina JONNIER // winning time 4:52.70
June 2011 // UCI World Cup no.3 // Floriane PUGIN // winning time 4:29.43
Sept 2012 // UCI World Championship // Morgane CHARRE // winning time 3:50.65
Sept 2013 // UCI World Cup no.6 // Emmeline RAGOT // winning time 3:52.87
June 2014 // UCI World Cup no.4 // Manon CARPENTER // winning time 3:42.52

Taking the overall
  Another memorable finish at Leogang. In 2013, Stevie Smith tore down the track to take the win and the overall for the 2013 Championship.

Leogang has played host to plenty of drama at the finish line in its time, with the likes of Stevie Smith's win in 2013, and in 2014 when Josh Bryceland won his first ever World Cup win. Although not strictly speaking a 'winner' in terms of the top step of the podium, who can forget Aaron Gwin's epic tireless run down the hill last year?

2014 World Cup 4 Leogang

For the Elite Women, the French have dominated Leogang in the past, with only Manon Carpenter breaking the trend in 2014. Rachel Atherton has never won a World Cup here, so with the win at Fort William last weekend in the bag, this elusive track will no doubt tempt her to put in that extra pedal stroke.

Emmeline Ragot gets her second win of the season in Leogang a little better than a half second up on Rachel.



Stay tuned to Pinkbike for all the news from Leogang this weekend.

With thanks to Rasoulution Agency for the additional content.


MENTIONS: @shimano / @rasoulution / @natedh9 / @parisgore / @mdelorme



Author Info:
pinkbikeaudience avatar

Member since Jul 22, 2013
3,465 articles

100 Comments
  • 84 3
 2010 is not that far ago but the bikes and gear already look retro.
  • 65 5
 Nah is just the m9 that thing has been retro since its release date.
  • 8 1
 That sounds harsh dude. but its so true
  • 23 3
 Funny since outside of the wheelsize the tech and geo hasn't changed that much from 2010/2011. That's why they are pushing the 27.5''. The are no big changess to sell for marketing so we get this bs.
  • 6 1
 I was thinking to myself, why does this video look like it came out of the 90s? Besides the handlebars everything looked dated, including Minnaars' sunglasses hahah
  • 4 1
 Thery're still developing Stans Tireless design. We all saw last years prototype. Just need to improve rolling resistance.
"Gwin is on fire with no tire"
  • 1 1
 Come to think of it, the only thing that didn't look out of place was a kashima coated Fox 40
  • 5 0
 #spaced. one thing that emerged from Dirt mag's 'history of DH bikes' was that Hill's 2007 custom IH sunday had a 63 head angle. and Barel's old 2005 Kona was pretty modern geo, with long wheelbase and slack HA. Don't know the figures off the top of my head but you're right.
  • 2 1
 It'll be interesting to see if anybody else gets to try a no tire run... with a suspicious blue thing spinning around their wheel.
  • 2 0
 they should have made them clear. every time a procore blows out...it just looks awful to have that little blue thing uselessly whipping around back there. can't speak for their reliability though.
  • 1 1
 Gees bikes look so old and all the riders race kits seemed quite dated as well
  • 1 0
 @pancakeflatted agreed, I'm sure they're looking back on the decision to make it an obvious color with some regret. I'm not willing to make a call one way or the other either, but Harry Heath's flat was decidedly odd, & doesn't really agree with they say procore should do in that situation. Of course, it's possible the rim he was using doesn't work well with procore or something else. It's interesting to watch play out, at any rate.
  • 22 1
 good post!
  • 18 2
 wait, there's a world cup this weekend or next? leogang last year was my all time facourite race. WE RAIL BERMS IN LEEEOGAANG
  • 6 0
 This weekend - June 13th and 14th.
  • 11 0
 YES!!!! Only one exam to go and it's not until the 17th. THANKYOU WC SCHEDULE FOR LETTING ME WATCH A STREAM WOOOOOO
  • 2 0
 Coincidentally...i only have one more exam and it's the 17th and i'm on the other side of the world..strange haha. Looking forward to this round of the world cup!
  • 1 0
 Good luck for it and i hope you enjoy the race as much as i will Big Grin
  • 1 0
 Thanks!, good luck with yours too! Big Grin There's potential that i may be at work, hopefully i can still watch the World Cup, watching the replay is never quite the same.
  • 9 4
 Another gripping weekend coming up. Plenty to root for. Hopefully the contest isn't too rubbery. I'll be suspended on the edge of my seat.

Thanks - i'll be here all week, try the nuts.

BTW - I was going to call out to I Only Ride Park, but too derivative. Leognar?
  • 7 2
 Propably my favourite venue of the worldcup. Maybe because it's the only one I've ridden. I had to take abreather at the half way down and shake my acheing arms. Makes me respect those soldiers and soldierettes of the WC even more.
  • 1 0
 you're supposed to say "it's too bike parkey." ; )
  • 7 0
 Come on Bruni!!!! I want so badly that he loses his WC winning virginity, it will unleash hell. Pretty much what happened to ratboy
  • 1 0
 Definitely due the top step, it's coming!!!,
  • 7 0
 So looking forward to this race. Will be awesome to watch...
Nice article by the way. Big Grin
  • 8 0
 Nice post!
  • 7 0
 Gwin on Yeti - miss those days. Blenki, Gwin, Leov and Graves 2008.
  • 12 0
 so much talent has started out on yeti
  • 7 1
 Eliot Jackson can be added to the list
  • 1 0
 I thought Eliot was back on the WC circuit this year? What happened?
  • 2 0
 @riish - if you're gonna go there, add Rennie, Giove, Tomac, Juarez, Furtado and a ton more! Yeti's commitment to developing racers and racing is legendary. I hope they get back into the DH game next year. I am guessing Richie is aching to back up his World Championship.
  • 5 1
 Dont forget Tara Llanes!!!!!!
  • 3 1
 @neimbc : Eliot got busted up at Lourdes then crashed again at Whistler. It doesn't sound like he's going to be around at Leogang.
  • 2 0
 @herzalot Absolutely, I'd love to see them back on the circuit yet they've got an amazing thing going with Gravesy and Rude on the EWS.
  • 6 0
 can't wait for claudios course preview.....my finger already hurts from pressing refresh
  • 10 3
 Gwin with tires = Win!!!
  • 15 2
 Don't jinx it.
  • 8 0
 saying don't jink it is the perfect way to jinx it Frown
  • 4 0
 Jinxed
  • 4 0
 What is that rim gwin was on in his tyreless run?? Holds up perfectly, while Harry Heaths rim at Fort Bill exploded after a single huck.
  • 2 0
 DT Swiss EX471, recently laced one up to my DT Swiss Spline EX 1501 that I broke (same rim), good for smashing through rock gardens in the lakes!
  • 1 2
 Was it carbon? I'd imagine carbon rims wouldn't handle a tireless run the same way a alloy rim would?
  • 4 0
 In fairness to Harry's rim, he did drop straight off a drop-off directly into one of the many deep holes...the wheel stopped dead, with no tire...
  • 3 0
 @danop i expect a rim to blow up in Harrys case, but Gwins run put even more gnar to the rim, he's tackling rock gardens etc at high speed.
  • 1 0
 Was Harry running procore or just a blue tube?
  • 3 0
 Heath had procore. Gwin looks like he's flogging that rim the whole way down, & in some ways he is, but I think how smooth & how much he boosts off of the beginning of rock sections, & misses all the stuff in between, has a lot to do with why that rim was in one piece at the bottom of the hill. Gwin gently sets the bike down for landings, he doesn't just let the bike come down on it's own.
  • 1 0
 is was not smooth on that bike at all.
  • 2 0
 @groghunter Cheers. Still on the fence about procore, obviously a long way to go before they discover the best weight/armour balance. Not blaming procore in Harry's tyre blowout as I need to watch the replay again, but it'll be interesting to see if it contributed or not.

As for Gwin, he sure knows how to scrub and float over stuff that others get hung up on.
  • 2 0
 @krissboo Yup, not really sure what happened to Harry, but the replay is very interesting, makes you really wonder what's going on there. it almost seems like the procore blows up & throws his tire off the rim. Maybe something about the rim or how the procore was installed contributed, though.
  • 2 0
 @groghunter. It does look that way. I actually thought that initially but wasn't sure till I watched it back just now. Looks like the procore blew as he landed on the beginning of the take-off, and the rim exploded on impact with the ground. Definitely an interesting one.
  • 1 0
 Shame cause he was on a good run too. I wonder whether these riders would normally run procore or they are forced to by tyre sponsor. Anyone know the riders thoughts on this system?
  • 3 0
 Sam Hill has been quoted as loving it. but that's publicity, sooooOOOOooo... There was speculation it helped win him a race last year as he was able to come around that flat grass corner at the bottom of Merribel faster due to lower tire pressure.

Honestly, I think it's probably better than the alternative for 99% of riders, but edge cases sure are interesting.
  • 1 0
 Yeah, read into that comment by Sam hill however you want lol. There's gotta be some marketing in there I suppose, there always is. And who knows, once they figure it out, it may be an alternative to tubeless and armoured tyres. Than again, it may just end up in the products that failed category Wink
  • 1 0
 What's also interesting is that moto has a similar system, but I wonder if their wider rim profiles(their rims are almost as wide as their tires) helps their system stay seated better.
  • 2 1
 And I thought Fort William was muddy

div id="fb-root">/div>script>(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/de_DE/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));/script>div class="fb-video" data-allowfullscreen="true" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/RedBullBike/videos/778651005585784/">div class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore">blockquote cite="/RedBullBike/videos/778651005585784/">a href="/RedBullBike/videos/778651005585784/">/a>p>It's a little wet underfoot here at the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Leogang, Austria/p>Posted by a href="https://www.facebook.com/RedBullBike">RedBull.com Bike/a> on Donnerstag, 11. Juni 2015/blockquote>/div>/div>
  • 3 0
 The chance of rain this weekend here is low. Maybe some rain and thunder Sunday late afternoon. Hot and dusty is my prediction.
  • 2 0
 Uhh..... I Red Bull showing this live? I couldn't find a link to it.

Nevermind.... Found it using Google.
www.redbull.com/us/en/bike/events/1331684160070/uci-mtb-world-cup-2015-round-5-leogang-austria
  • 4 0
 I miss watching Cam Cole race, I always considered him a dark horse at any track.
  • 4 0
 I saw "preview" in the title and automatically assumed Claudio. How disappointing >.>
  • 5 1
 Gwin still rides twice as fast as me without a tyre
  • 7 5
 dang, times are getting ALOT faster each year. Do you think more because of bike technology, track conditions, or rider skill?
  • 23 1
 track's getting shorter.
  • 8 0
 track conditions also are important.... I don't know if the track has gone under big changes in the last years but anyway.... any modification in the track can make it faster for riders
  • 8 1
 It's the tires Wink
  • 6 4
 Tire size
  • 6 1
 The biggest difference in times annually was between Aaron and Greg, and both were on 26 wheels! Wink
  • 4 0
 track has become shorter,and a lot faster/smoother since the first wc.
  • 2 0
 Yeah I know, was just joking!
  • 3 0
 Kinda odd not having Rachel on the elite women's list here, seems she needs it this year
  • 10 7
 Salzburg, not Salzberg. It's named after a castle, not a mountain.
  • 6 0
 Thanks @ka-brap. It's all corrected now. My mistake, and I should have known especially as I've stayed in the city and visited the castle!
  • 12 9
 gosh what an ass for misspelling a castle by one letter
  • 9 6
 @somismtb, Spelling mistakes on a major mountain bike website are simply not professional, no matter what country you live in or are from. You wouldn't like it if PB misspelled Vantura, California so relax brah.
  • 3 2
 PM works just as fine though
  • 3 1
 Its Ventura you dick
  • 1 0
 @somismtb - my point exactly. From one American to another (which I am assuming you are), you guys are getting way bent out of shape over this when you wouldn't want it done to your own city. My original comment wasn't even trying to be snarky, you all just look for it and interpret it that way.
  • 1 0
 I was completely messing with you man. Its all good. Go shred on shredder. Ill do the same
  • 4 1
 shame what they did to the track!
  • 3 0
 gwin wheels are solid in comparaison with harry heath's ones .....
  • 1 0
 Hahahahaha bring it the fuck on!! I'm so pumped for this years WC season!!!!!!
  • 1 0
 @Pinkbike, Those damned "Traitorous" roots in the Roots of Asitz. You can't trust em.
  • 2 0
 the fzcking world cup coverage this year is on point!
  • 1 0
 If gwin doesn't get a flat......he will be on a rail..........!..
  • 1 0
 Why do I love seeing Gee pouting on the 2nd or 3rd step?
  • 1 0
 Gwin with no tyre is still faster than most average riders with tyres Big Grin
  • 3 2
 what about 26 trix??
  • 14 3
 It has 26 in it's name so no one cares
  • 2 0
 matt jones have benn uploading videos to facebook,
  • 1 1
 Praying for muuuuuud
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