Losinj World Cup Track Preview with Angel Suarez - Video

Apr 9, 2018 at 15:09
by Sarah Moore  


In just two weeks, we will see the UCI DH World Cup kick off at a new venue in Losinj, Croatia. Angel Suarez rode the nearly finished track in March and gives you a preview of it.

Did you pick your dream DH World Cup team yet? Enter the Fantasy Downhill Presented by Trek and you could walk home with a Trek Session 9.9!



MENTIONS: @YTIndustries @trek


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198 Comments

  • + 240
 This track may be the most unrideable thing since the Klein Mantra.
  • + 14
 hahahahahahaha The Klein Mantra.
  • + 8
 Omg best comment
  • + 11
 Funny thing there is no Angel Suarez in Fantasy League ;O
  • + 13
 Definitely a wheel builder/mechanic's nightmare.
  • + 11
 three simple letters................... P.S.I.
  • + 1
 Klein Mantra!!! Hahahahaha
  • + 2
 psh......
  • + 13
 How ever designed this course had rocks in their head.
  • + 1
 you sir cracked me up....oughta be top comment for this week!
  • + 2
 @stacykohut: Puncture Standard Index.....kik kik kik
  • + 7
 This looks like the tracks my mate and I used to build when we were 14, not a WC track.
  • + 13
 I thought he looked a lot more in control than the Sam Pilgrim preview on his motorbike.
  • - 2
 LAME ???!!!!
  • + 1
 Everything hurts
  • + 2
 you've won pinkbike for the entire year. that's freaking gold.
  • + 1
 @Boardlife69: e-bikes in 2018 LUL
  • - 3
 I have to say, id rather ride my balls over a cheese grater than ride this.... What a disappointment for the riders...
  • + 1
 @AdamOdh: He scored no pts last year
  • + 225
 Time to be contrarian:

This track looks f*cking amazing. It's like a bunch of builders decided they were going to cut a sketchy as hell trail through some old pastures, hopping fences and the like all the way down the hill. It's the kind of trail mtb needs more of, and in reality it's the kind of trail most of the world has. It's the anti-UCI. If you think Leogang is too bike parkey, well, here's the antidote.

More of this please.
  • + 12
 ▲▲▲ Can't upvote this enough ▲▲▲
  • + 2
 yeah I like the look of it too. just gutted I've not been able to go and watch as the place looks good too.
  • + 11
 Except for the long urban road section through the town at the end, that is where the race will be decided besides punctures of course
  • + 11
 Would like to see a bare set of Santa Cruz Reserve carbon rims take a run.
  • + 10
 @SonofBovril: Let's be careful to not entrench ourselves in the way things are and fear change the same way roadies are notorious for. Change can be good. It's different, not bad.
A whole bunch of people seem to have put in a zillion hours of back braking labor. I have nothing negative to say. LET'S RACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • + 2
 Seems like a joy to ride, lots of flow, jumps, rocks... However not many (if any??) line choices and maybe, a bit short and a bit on the flat side of steep, gopro's taming taken into account obviously.
So a really wonderfull track, but show might suffer a bit racing wise I think...
  • + 15
 Luckily they lined the whole track with rock walls to cushion any falls.
  • + 7
 @SonofBovril: The race is decided on tough places, not on easy ones. Top ten guys will ride this urban section within 0.2s, but the upper section, boy, this will be fun! Finally a DH track which is tougher than EWS Wink
  • + 1
 @philneuve: Head nod.
  • + 1
 I beg to differ... there is 1m42 secs of decent track and then some smooth forest and the street section. I'm not saying the 1m42 - or 1m25 (for the top riders) wont be great, but that's just too short IMO.
  • + 2
 I can't wait to see and hear the raw edits. Bikes are gonna be making noises!
  • + 135
 What that course really needs is a Rock Feature.
  • + 15
 Yeah, Def too bike parky. The threat of a flat tire is no where in sight.
  • + 3
 @Jibbaman28: maybe some skinny ladders to flat drops too
  • + 30
 Looks like Dwayne Johnson made this track
  • + 4
 It IS a rock feature
  • + 17
 More Rocky than a Sylvester Stallone themed dress up party
  • + 40
 Dwayne "Losinj" Johnson
  • + 7
 The only track where somebody might have CushCore and Huck Norris in their wheels.
  • + 2
 more cow bell i think
  • + 0
 Hahahaha! I literally LOL'ed at this Guiness whore
  • + 86
 the whole trail had rock walls around it, then the town was built out of rocks. who has that many rocks.
  • + 26
 Only Croatia because they stole them from everyone else.
  • + 2
 They're only a few dry stone walls. You can find them all over.
  • - 10
flag CaliCol (Apr 9, 2018 at 15:36) (Below Threshold)
 @wpplayer18: I was in Germany for 40 days a few years ago and the liaison from the defense company we worked with made a lot of jokes about a few countries east of Germany involving theft. At one point on a pleasure trip to Nuremberg I thought we were surely gonna get jumped in an underground pub because he was drunk and telling these jokes very loud. We survived.
  • + 50
 @CaliCol: On an unrelated topic, I do wonder why Americans abroad have that bad reputation?
  • + 12
 @dirtologist: I know why!!! Can I say??
  • + 3
 The only man I know that has that many rocks is Danny Hart
  • + 10
 @dirtologist: um, the person telling the jokes was the German.
  • + 4
 @CaliCol: would like to hear those jokes Smile
  • + 10
 Dont be fooled by the rocks that they got, they're still the Croats from the Yugo block. Too soon?
  • + 1
 @Boardlife69: hahaha thats a good one Big Grin
  • + 1
 @Stenimir: oh shoot, I only remember bits and pieces. But there not something I’d recite on PB!
  • + 75
 this track really only has 3 sections....
1) rocks rocks and more rocks
2) a bit of woods to realize the parts you broke in the rocks
3) a walk of shame through town showing everyone what you broke in the rocks (allows time to dump the rocks from your underoos)
  • + 74
 So this is where all the rocks from Leogang ended up
  • + 58
 Course design brought to you by Fred Flinstone.
  • + 52
 I don't get it...

Of all the trails, at all the resorts, in all the world...this?
  • + 42
 They forked out the dough for the UCI.
  • - 11
flag hamncheez (Apr 9, 2018 at 15:56) (Below Threshold)
 I realize this trail sucks, but what vertical is available at this location? Did the trail builders simply not have much to work with?
  • + 16
 would love to see the financial revenue presentation the uci presents to prospective organizers. clearly most of the classic or would-be potential mtn venues ain't buying what the uci is selling. dh does not need the uci. the last 2 ews locales looked harder.
  • + 4
 @hamncheez: 588m says google
  • + 3
 Dolla bill y’all... dolla dolla dolla bill y’all...
Takes money, to buy that TV set...
Takes money, to place that casino bet...
  • + 5
 @nuttypoolog: uci and ioc is just like a uti
  • + 5
 Looked confusing as hell to even follow.
  • + 23
 @fullbug: The UCI makes so much money off of road biking (read: Le Tour) that MTB is is just a rounding error. Mountain biking, especially DH, needs to leave the UCI
  • + 4
 @hamncheez: very much agree. it would be bad for mtb to let the uci determine dh racing's progress.
  • + 11
 @fullbug: uci financial presentation haha... There is no such thing, only thing uci presents is a hefty 15k€ bill. It costs north of 100k to organize a wc race and uci fee only makes it worse. Ews, to my knowledge does not have such fee so the serie is much more dynamic. I've already said thah the crew which organizes this race is almost local to Maribor but they have chosen to organize a race here because local tourist organization is paying for everything...

@rockflowtbay that is the highest hill on the island but it has no acces road, dh track is built on a lower hill with appx. 250m vertical.
  • + 1
 Everlast? @nuttypoolog:
  • + 1
 @Madmanspencer: no it was coolio
  • + 3
 ask yourself why the World Cup is held in Qatar and you´ll have your answer.
  • + 1
 @winko: It is not the highest hill on the island.
  • + 1
 @winko: I see a road to the tallest peak on google maps and satellite images.

Can you explain more? Or can you describe where it is on the island? Honestly curious...
  • + 1
 @dfiler: I haven't been there in years but the road to the highest peak used to be pretty blown up gravel road and they would need to do uplifts with some sort of 4x4 vehicles. Here is an image

Race is held on far south of the island, it finishes in town of Veli Losinj, here is "map" of the track

After the first straight the track is even on strava

www.google.com/maps/@44.5129628,14.4946471,3a,75y,326.81h,73.73t/data=!3m8!1e1!3m6!1sAF1QipOcwARWuMw_vqUd4vniTJqU8vMzAMqVChKg7TPT!2e10!3e11!6shttps:%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipOcwARWuMw_vqUd4vniTJqU8vMzAMqVChKg7TPT%3Dw203-h100-k-no-pi-0-ya28.315405-ro-0-fo100!7i10240!8i5120
And this is the link to the googlemaps image from the starting ramp, embedding doesn't work so you need to
copy paste it Smile Quite a view eh, you can see the highest peak mentioned earlier, the pointy one straight ahead
  • + 1
 @winko: Thanks for all the info!

While there is not a lot of elevation, i'm still looking forward to the race. It will be fun to see world class riders smashing through all those rocks.

That road shouldn't be an issue for 4x4 vehicles. However it will affect the schedule and how easy it is to do practice runs.
  • + 51
 A track preview without Claudio is like colored pencils without color.
  • + 9
 like a cheeseburger without cheese
  • + 5
 @ibishreddin: I like hamburgers
  • + 5
 this track got me feeling like "a spaghetti"
  • + 1
 @rockyflowtbay: why are they called hamburgers when they’re made from beef?
  • + 2
 @cunning-linguist: idea/recipe was imported from Hamburg
  • + 2
 @mate1998: Hamburg Beef patties! Cheers for the insight!
  • + 1
 or like an e-bike...
  • + 1
 @ibishreddin: Like a quarterpound without the metric system
  • + 43
 Throat Losinj
  • + 37
 I am impressed with how much they are hyping up this race. all i can think about is how dangerous that rock wall on the side of the trail looks.
  • + 5
 my thought exactly.....dont go off trail
  • + 3
 yeah similar thoughts here. if you crash off the track in the top half, you're definitely smashing yourself onto a stone wall :S
  • + 10
 when you see a course like this, with them walls, you come to realize the uci doesn't give two flyin fcks about rider safety.
  • + 17
 @stacykohut: It's not like going head first into a tree would be any better
  • + 9
 @src248: at least you'd have a chance of missing a tree. If you go down here you're hitting jagged rocks no matter what
  • + 6
 @src248: and trees in high crash zones are usually padded. I wonder if they'll pad that wall.
  • + 2
 @doakwolf: They'd better wrap everything in bubble plastic. The potential injuries aren't worth it, especially this early in the season. I'd be really disappointed if riders are getting injured from crashes into those rocks. Crashes into bubble wrap though. Makes this nice poppy sound. Still exciting.
  • + 29
 So places like Schladming can't afford to have a WCDH event but a random hillside in Croatia somewhere can??? Really have no problem with new courses appearing on the circuit but only if they are good enough. (Steep / long / challenging / Not on tarmac )
  • + 21
 Places like Schladming have done the math and decided the benefits of hosting WCDH aren't justified by the costs. Any venue is welcome to step up with a proposal if they think it makes sense. The only blame you can place is with UCI for the cost structure of hosting the events.
  • + 4
 @gramboh: I also blame the venues who continually shell out those costs.

If demand exceeds supply, costs will only go up over time.
  • + 3
 Everyone knows Schladming so there is no gain for them
  • + 2
 @digthehills: Crankworks should double their venues and become the new WC DH
  • + 2
 I suppose that the benefits for a well known bike park to host a WCDH are multiple time less than the gains that a totally unknown place will take advantge off by the huge exposure that will receive
  • + 26
 That’s got to be the weirdest track I’ve ever seen. A gigantic man made rock garden, followed by a small urban section. Good luck setting your bike up for that one. For some reason I have this image in my head of Beavis building the trail. He’s going about in his usual spastic way shouting “Rocks! Rocks! Rocks! And we gotta have more rocks and more rocks more more more!!!” Until Butthead smacks him upside the head with the signature “Settle down Beavis.” Then it suddenly becomes paved and smooth.
  • + 4
 That is a very accurate description.
  • + 19
 Come now, lets be fair. It isn't a man made rock garden, it is an attempt to do the opposite, put some soil and make a way through all the rocks. A vast majority of Croatia's islands are just huge, sharp rocks in the sea. They are completely unrideable by default. Give some credit to the builders, if you saw these rocks in person you would appreciate the effort much more. I prefer to ride on mellower trails, and this track is brutal. So it will be interesting to see how the top dogs will handle it.
  • + 20
 The real question is are we going to see Angel finish the season uninjured? We still have no idea how fast he is.
  • + 5
 Neko should alliviate some of the pressure on his shoulders
  • + 6
 @JoseBravo: assuming he actually starts every race he qualifies for.
  • + 15
 @literally: or assuming he doesn't get DQ'd again for wearing a cardboard instead of a proper back protector...
  • + 1
 Was he injured two years ago when I seem to remember him racing at least most of the races?
  • + 1
 @mollow: that was my point.
  • + 1
 He finished 30th at the 3rd round of Portuguese Cup.

Results sheet: www.fpciclismo.pt/ficheirossite/25032018175149.pdf
  • + 19
 Sam Hill must be looking at this and laughing.
  • + 19
 looks like urban dh in the woods
  • + 3
 Looks like a joke in every way. As if UCI hired a hidden TV show to follow around everyone, and then tell them this is all a prank at the last minute... UCI, even at their lowest, would never stoop to such ridiculous locations, regardless of the $$$$$$$$$$$$. It’s the only explanation
  • + 14
 its different, its rugged and its in a place the WC has not been before? Isn't that what most people want?? not the smooth bike parky tracks in the same 8 places every year! Got the people talking...
  • + 17
 needs more rocks
  • + 15
 this video gave me arm pump
  • + 14
 that track looks extremely very bad for anyone who eats it.
  • + 10
 I think the enduro World Series tracks are more what World Cup DH used to be. Tracks should be raw and technical with a little bike park sprinkled in. this track seems way to forced and wtf with the town section. Someone needs to clue the UCI in on what makes a good track. I think they need to look at videos from the past. Just just idea!
  • + 10
 This comment section is gonna be good.
  • + 9
 Over/under 20 - riders who flat
  • + 6
 Over
  • + 1
 Did Cushcore sponsored this track Wink
  • + 7
 Unsure why people aren't that excited, track looks gnarly up top, it's new so there should be an even playing field and Gwin is bound to win once he flats or loses his mech
  • + 5
 All the rocks on the side of the trail must have been picked off of the trail itself.

That's insane. So many freaking rocks.

Also doesn't look that steep, but he wasn't pedaling much was he?
  • + 5
 Looks sick up to 2m14s. Not sure why the last minute of the video was just footage of him riding to the shops though? Whats that got to do with DH?
  • + 5
 that is the course, there will be an urban section and you finish next to the water
  • + 12
 Is there a ferry to ride onto that takes you to the rest of the track.... orrrrrr ??
  • + 7
 @jfkusa: I've always thought the one thing missing from the DH world cup was an uphill section on a paved road...

Thank god they didnt just put the finish line at that road he crosses at 2.14, you know, the bit where the actual DH track ends.
  • + 7
 The urban section makes me feel... marketed to.
  • + 5
 Funny, I thought those yellow platforms where just waiting for their Ožujsko Beer posters.
  • + 1
 On the actual race, the urban section will go straight down not right on the uphill... Wink
Like this: youtu.be/JBBKqbUwqEs?t=2m14s
  • + 2
 @sunki: thanks for the vid. untill now i thought this whole urban section talk was some not too funny jokes. now i see it is a joke. a super bad one that all of a sudden turned to reality.
  • + 1
 @TheDerby: It's not the posters, it's the feeling that some UCI meeting went like this:
"Hey guys, people are loving this urban downhill thing but we haven't been able to crack that egg yet. Let's throw it in at the end of a course this year to try to capture that market. Features? No just have it go down a narrow sidewalk for like twenty seconds and call it a day. No one will be able to tell the difference."
  • + 7
 The urban section is a little weird
  • + 12
 The urban section is a little stupid.
No its a lot stupid.
What the f*ck were they thinking?
  • + 4
 On the actual race, the urban section will go straight down not right on the uphill... Wink
Like this: youtu.be/JBBKqbUwqEs?t=2m14s
  • + 8
 @sunki: watching that last section makes more sense, all up looks like an awesome track. I'm personally sick of hearing the term 'wc downhill track', downhill is downhill and comes in all shapes and sizes! The top pros will go damn fast and take risks down any trail, and redbull will still only video the last 1Min of the course and miss all the actual action that happens... and we'll still love it!
  • + 1
 @sunki: God I hope you are correct. That route looks much less stupid. Still pointless in a DH race, but at least its not uphill any more.
  • + 7
 Hopefully they tape it wide and we see some wild lines tested in practice.
  • + 2
 Sooo first race of season might be sub 2 minutes? Kind of a bummer.
What’s the vert on this track?

The rock gardens and tech features are awesome compared to some of the buffed out courses, but let’s get some new longer and steeper courses UCI!
  • + 3
 Don't hit the wall. Don't hit the wall. Don't hit the wall. Don't hit the wall. Don't hit the wall. Don't hit the wall. Don't hit the wall. Don't hit the wall. Don't hit the wall. DAMMIT
  • + 6
 geez that seems really short....
  • + 3
 Track goes from 100 to 0 real quick. No need for tight concrete corners in the world cup. If the track needs urban riding to be long enough it probably shouldn't make the circuit...
  • + 1
 That looks like a track I could actually ride down. Unlike the other world DH tracks. Sure it's different, but is it really a DH track. Seems more like Enduro or something to be found in the Lake district in the UK. Not sure you actually need a DH bike to be fast on that course. I reckon you could get away with a lighter Enduro bike with stronger rims.
  • + 5
 how the f*ck does he ride with his bars like that!?!?!?!?
  • + 5
 That's a DH track. Who cares paved section?
  • + 0
 This track is maybe a little bit short...but is brutal for body and for the bike.
I`m reading those comments it is rideable with enduro bike...yes it is,but how many of you here can do that..probably no one,even on a DH bike.
This race is close and now let`s give it a chance...there is no use of crying over Schladming and similar tracks...crew in Schladming will do it again if they can get any money off it(hope they will,Maribor too).
Here is some other view of the track: vimeo.com/264049255
  • + 0
 mmm, don't know about all this urban handmade obstacles stuff. Just add a couple or 3 of Huck Norris inserts, no air required in tires. Just roll and forget to flat. Anyways, to win, a rider needs to pedal to keep/increase his speed, not easy to keep your pedal out of these rocks. Personally, I dislike this course.
  • + 1
 I finished watching this video and my arms were completely pumped. How did this guy make t down without a flat when the last course preview they showed none of the 3 riders made it without flatting?
  • + 1
 looking forward to seeing a bunch of cracked and smashed carbon rims. Be pretty interesting race and I'm guessing there will be some man made obstacles on the the urban section.
  • + 4
 I feel like it needs more tech
  • + 3
 I don’t know, I think it’s kinda cool. Certainly different.
  • + 2
 I think this track looks more influenced by red bull than anything else. Reminds me of a slightly rockier soapbox race
  • + 2
 Thats a world cup track?
And yet, still not WC round in the birthplace of mountain biking
  • - 1
 I think it should be mandatory to do a manual all the way through the town. Rules as follows:

1. Drop the front wheel down for up to 1s = .5 seconds added to time
2. 2-4 seconds = 1.5 seconds added to time
3. >4 seconds = same amount of time added as wheel on ground

This track is so stupid. I hope the riders will voice their opinion on the safety of the course, especially in relation to that narrow stone walled bit.
  • + 2
 The top three quarters of the track i totally like, but i just can not get behind the alleyways at the end.
  • + 3
 Can't wait to be there Big Grin
  • + 3
 ill be there Smile
  • + 1
 Looks really short, monster truck it and pray no flats ftw?
Can't believe a track like this is even a consideration... curious to know what WC riders will say.
  • + 2
 Give us a heinously short and heinously rocky track said no WC DH team, ever...
  • + 3
 I'm Blown Away by how far his handlebars are rolled back.
  • + 3
 I really hope the trail is named rocky road in case anyone eats it
  • + 2
 This season's points standings will start out almost as messed up as last years due to all the DNFs
  • + 0
 Why will there be a lot of DNFs? its just a little rocky, riders will make sure they have the correct gear im sure
  • + 1
 I thought he was ride into a Port-A-John when that blue door popped into view.
  • + 2
 Can I also hold a UCI downhill event in my back yard?
  • + 1
 UCI need to watch the 1st race from Maribor around 07 that shit was pure ????
  • + 1
 Any WC track that you can manual on for a good portion of it shouldn't be allowed imo.
  • + 4
 Then by your standards Ft. William should also not be allowed on the WC circuit...
  • + 2
 Jesus, Angel - don't break any bones.
  • + 1
 uuhmm UCI please turn the WC to South América or California, Colorado US Now!!
  • + 1
 Fun to ride? Almost certainly.

Looks dull as dishwater from a spectating point of view? Almost certainly.
  • + 1
 Wait, is the urban section seriously part of the course? I thought it seemed like a short track...
  • + 3
 That is a lot of rocks.
  • + 3
 not so hyped for this
  • + 2
 "In before Claudio"
-Angel Suarez.
  • + 2
 It's different not very DH more enduro
  • + 1
 Worse than South Africa. I'm usually excited at the start of the season, but this bums my stone!
  • + 2
 Anybody think Wind Rock in TN looks a lot more like DH than this does?
  • + 2
 Most underwhelming track I ever saw.......
  • + 1
 What Is going on with this track?, the top section is like a forest fire road! Then rock garden to urban alleyway
  • + 0
 Is the speed not there or are they not gonna’ bother with any crash pads whatsoever on trees? Or anything?
  • + 1
 I dub thee, Cheese Grater Track.
  • + 1
 It my muscle relaxants, or is his head/helmet crooked the entire time?
  • + 1
 Hey a run without a flat?
  • + 1
 Lošinj...the birth place of rocky garden Smile
  • + 1
 Losinj World Cup Track, deigned by CushCore.
  • + 1
 Why do they take all the rocks OUT of the trail?
  • + 2
 Where is Claudio ?
  • - 1
 What if Minaar flats on his new Santa Cruz Reserve DH wheels? I'll be watching the comment section with some warm buttered popcorn.
  • + 1
 my brain is still bouncing... and i watched this yesterday!!
  • + 1
 Looks like riding over an Elephants graveyard!
  • + 1
 PC WC. 29r lube.
  • - 1
 New DH track for SA Champs: www.youtube.com/watch?v=nR2mfLYm-KA
  • - 1
 Croatia or Crocktia
  • - 2
 Ah, you're local trails give you arm pump? How cute.
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