What Happens If It Snows? - Leogang DH World Champs 2020

Oct 8, 2020
by Daniel Sapp  
It doesn t get more scenic that Leogang with a light dusting of powder.

It's common to get a weather report from the UCI prior to races, especially when inclement weather is in the forecast, but for the late-season October World Champs in Leogang this year there's a bit of frozen precipitate predicted Saturday night into Sunday morning. That makes things different.

The UCI sent an email out Thursday evening, announcing that there will be heaters for athletes at the start and finish. If the race is forced to be canceled, then qualification results will determine the final results and thus, decide the World Champion. With this announcement, there's no doubt that qualifying may look quite different this year than it has ever before. The full release is below.


UCI: DOWNHILL WEATHER INFORMATION

As you might be aware there is snow forecast during Saturday night and into early Sunday morning.

The organisation are in constant contact with the Austrian meteorological office to follow the weather situation and they have planned a night-shift of workers over Saturday night who will clear the course.

They will also implement heaters in the start hut and by the hot seat, and riders can also warm-up in the mid-station, but not in the base garage which is limited to the television bubble.

In the very unlikely event that extreme weather forces the cancellation of the DHI Final on Sunday then the result of the Qualification determines the final result of the event, but please be assured every effort will be made to avoid this situation.


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Racing and Events Leogang Dh World Champs 2020


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90 Comments
  • 215 2
 Thought this was "MOUNTAIN" Biking...... Would be frikken awesome if the track had partial snow cover lol !!
  • 34 0
 For sure! SEND IT!
  • 24 0
 I'm guessing they kepp the cancelling option for the case of it having maybe half a metre of snow, which I'm sure is not unheard of in October in Leogang.
  • 5 0
 I think the only complainer I would be the UCI, since this might be in direct overlap with the "Winter Series" they have planned lol
  • 13 30
flag buildstuf (Oct 8, 2020 at 14:50) (Below Threshold)
 when it snows in the mountains it is generally more than a light dusting. anything over 3-5 cm is pretty unrideable.
  • 25 0
 It's 2020, everything can happen and I won't be surprised Razz
  • 7 0
 @racecase: scrolled to comments just to post that. I dont know you, but i like you
  • 3 0
 Some of my most memorable rides are with a light dusting of snow. Trail Magic.
  • 24 1
 @buildstuf: Spiked tyres, fat bikes, no excuses, I don't care if they can't see the trail, or even the tape, I've waited all year for this and not letting 2020 take this away.
  • 3 0
 @buildstuf: you meant 3-5 feet right?
  • 6 0
 @buildstuf: If I can ride my cross bike in a few inches of snow, I’m sure the pros can race their dh bikes in it. SEND IT!!
  • 3 3
 Snow? Get your cameras out!!

www.pinkbike.com/news/Race-Report-US-Collegiate-MTB-National-Championships-Oct-25-27-2013.html
  • 2 1
 www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TGH7vBC2nw
  • 10 0
 @blowmyfuse: I believe that's not what Austrians mean when they think "snow"
  • 4 0
 In general riding in traction limited snow isn't that different to riding in mud. It's about who can manage riding on/just above the limit of traction for the full race run. I can't see any reason to cancel it just because of that, if so, why run mud races as it's basically just the same?

So I assume it's about big amounts of snow, or psychological that some people think you can't ride in snow..?
  • 4 0
 Quite a snowy forecast...

www.snow-forecast.com/resorts/Leogang/6day/top

I guess it will come down to the freezing level and the height of the race track. Qualies might be all we get if the track has a foot of snow on it.
  • 1 0
 The top of the track seems to be about 1300m, which is about the same as the forecast freezing level.

So the current forecast probably has snow on maybe the top 25-40% of the track, with rain on the rest.

I guess this is why it’s normally in august!
  • 2 0
 @Altron5000: A foot of snow? Bring out the fat bikes!
  • 3 0
 @Altron5000: the prognosis is only about 15 cm / 6 " of snow. That's no problem as it will be slushy. If amateurs can ride in that why can't the pros? Ok the gap might be an issue, as it might with thick mud, but there's a b-line around it. The race will be spectacular, let them race.
  • 1 0
 @Altron5000: the WC track starts about halfway up the hill or even bit lower
  • 1 0
 @KondziuNS: Yeah but this is at 1300m...Let's hope we are lucky and the forecast freezing level stays above that. I'm pretty sure that there will be fresh snow somewhere on that mountain on sunday....and probably more than 15cm, if you look at the amount of rain that is forecasted.
  • 11 0
 @wowbagger: Agreed. Plus note there is duty of care for everyone on the mountain, spectators, marshals, medics, commissaires, media and of course the riders. Medical access and extraction will be key, lets not have a Brook McDonald 4hr extraction or longer taking place.
  • 3 4
 Ride in the freakin snow or give up mountain biking.
  • 1 0
 @mi-bike: This guy knows
  • 1 1
 @stepf: I'm simply referencing the epicness of DH race photos in the snow
  • 1 0
 That would be One to remember???
  • 1 2
 Bitches are scared of snow haahaa haahaahaahahaaaah.
  • 49 0
 Kinda interesting since this will mean you better put down a heater in your quali run just in case.
  • 3 0
 Yeah it's a shake up for world champs wehere evereyone usually takes it slow
  • 2 0
 Quali's will be gnarly
  • 33 0
 Heaters in the hot seat: check.
  • 37 0
 The UCI has taken all necessary precautions:
ep1.pinkbike.org/p3pb19536435/p3pb19536435.jpg
  • 8 0
 lol, and I always thought "hot seat" was figurative
  • 3 1
 @acali: No masks???
  • 28 0
 Damn. 2020 is bonkers. Better broadcast the qualies...
  • 27 0
 Plattikill used to run a winter DH race series. So man and woman up and run it
  • 18 0
 Plattekill is a place truly unique in all the world.
  • 8 0
 Best downhill around
  • 5 0
 I raced in Oct snow there before! It was the first time I witnessed horizontal icicles too because of the crazy wind up top.
  • 2 1
 @brando012: I'm bummed they scale back the DH and not at all this year. They have the best DH terrain with all those drops. If only they'd invest in it. Every other place is hanging it up on the DH'er, going for the family/non DH crowd. They could make it profitable.
  • 1 1
 We came up for the April race in I think 2001 or 2002. There were this monster pile of snow on the slope we had to tractor through but rest of the mountain was just rock.

I love that place. Michelin Comp 32 or Maxxis Mobsters all day every day. Beer
  • 22 0
 If it's not Covid, it's Snowvid. Bugger.
  • 17 0
 If the snowfall was to take out the upper sections of the track. Then if possible a shortened track could still be raced for the main finals. Just my two penneth!
  • 2 0
 Is there a minimum track length for UCI that may prevent this? I have never really seen rules related to what the track must contain.
  • 6 0
 @adrennan: I'm out of date on new regs but there will be a suggested minimum track length and fastest time. The UK nationals (BDS) were supposed to be a minimum of 1.5km long and 2mins for the fastest time.

The mountain is high/long enough that a good 2 min plus track could be raced. Not ideal but at least would give us a proper final on Saturday.

We shortened a BDS UCi Cat 1 at Fort William (Nevis Range) due to high winds stopping the gondola from running. We started the race just above the big wall ride.
  • 12 0
 It's a ski resort, I'm sure they have equipment to deal with snow. If the ground is frozen/partially snow covered Sunday, would be exciting to see if riders would use/make studded tires and switch to flat pedals, 'cause clip-in pedals can pack up with snow.
Better not cancel, a world champs in the snow would be all-time epic!
  • 1 0
 I was in Morzine in summer about 10 years ago and they shut the ski lift towards Switzerland because of snow...
  • 2 0
 I believe studded tyres (metal pins/screws) are not allowed under UCi rules.
  • 10 0
 News flash, you can run mountain bike in the snow just fine.
/Scandinavia

PS. This hopefully gives us 2 races as the qualies will now be lit as well. DS.
  • 4 0
 Really hope they don’t cancel it, that would be a massive anticlimax. There’s only one race happening this year seems odd not to broadcast quali’s anyway! We want to see as much racing as we can!
  • 7 0
 Err... Megavalanche, Maxiavalanche Cervinia. Get on with it
  • 5 0
 I believe it was 1997 when it snowed over a foot at Big Bear the night before the race. The race went on as planned.
  • 6 1
 "The organisation are in constant contact with the Austrian meteorological office" it means they are checking daswetter.com
  • 3 0
 You mean Zamg ?
  • 4 0
 Well, should be interesting to see how many people go all out in qualies.. bad thing is no broadcast Frown
  • 5 0
 So, red bull tv will transmite the qualys??
  • 4 0
 Are studded tires allowed? Genuine question, quick Google search didn't help.
  • 6 0
 BROADCAST QUALIES
  • 4 0
 Vinny T for sleeper winner! That guy is Wild in the snow.
  • 3 0
 So basically two race runs Hell yes
  • 3 0
 As if explosive trees wasn’t enough already...
  • 2 0
 I want to know who's idea it was to run this championship in the northern hemisphere at this time of year?
  • 3 0
 Bob in accounts department
  • 1 0
 Talk about glass half full - let's have some positive vibes!! If it does snow then use studded tires. UCI - What happens if an asteroid is heading to Leogang???
  • 1 0
 Yeah, not sure the best strategy here. If you really wanna win you gotta win both days. That’s tough.
  • 2 0
 People will need the Snowshoes circa 2019. Lol I'll see myself out.
  • 3 0
 Bring on the Ski Bikes!
  • 3 1
 Break out the fat bikes! Haha make that e-fat bikes
  • 2 0
 Qualies mean everything now
  • 1 0
 Well that's understandable. Let's hope the weather is not that bad. Sooo live qualies with commentary?
  • 2 0
 Commencal are tuning edges on ski bikes as we breathe.
  • 1 2
 This is whats wrong with the DH world cup! 5 / 6 years ago people would have just got on with it. Bit like people moaning about how hard that wooded section at Fort William was, youre world cup riders! Get on with it!
  • 1 0
 okie dokie, run it on fat bikes, and whoever sends that gap near the bottom is automatic World Champ
  • 1 0
 Should it not be cancelled if there is snow due to increased risk of slippage and compromised safety?
^
sarcasm
  • 2 0
 I'm hoping for five inches tonight.
  • 1 0
 Do you think it will stick?
  • 2 0
 What ever lights your candle!
  • 2 0
 looks good to go, no snow at the middle station where the race starts
  • 1 0
 Race. The beat in the world don’t ride in the snow?!
  • 1 0
 The 2020 racing season is a bit different from what we're used to.
  • 2 0
 2020 doing his thing
  • 2 0
 Vinny T for the win
  • 1 0
 Hell yeah.....2020 bring it on. Jumanji level 10!! Snowmageddon.
  • 1 0
 What happens if it snows? The track gets muddier. Race on.
  • 5 7
 Its gonna a shit show not worth watching if it snows. None of the riders want that. Its gonna make them looks like drunken idtiots if it gets more muddy. But the PB commenters think its cool.
  • 5 0
 Remember Minnaar through the bog in Fort bill where mostly everybody else was flailing? Thats whats going to happen, the best of the best will be best. Tough conditions is ok as long as conditions are consistent.
  • 1 1
 confirmed @slayerdegnar does not slay
  • 1 0
 If it snows then why not hold the event at Ray's indoor bike park?
  • 1 0
 2020 fking sucks. #ComeGiantMeteor
  • 1 0
 God Damn 2020...







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