The 2017 UCI Mountain Bike World Cup continues this weekend as the world’s best downhill riders head to Austria.
Leogang plays host to the third round of this season’s downhill competition following earlier rounds at Lourdes, France and Fort William in Scotland.
Elite women
Rachel Atherton saw her incredible winning run come to an end at Fort William in the cruelest way possible.
The world champion had won the previous 14 world cup rounds but suffered a dislocated shoulder in qualifying that ruled her out of Sunday’s finals.
The Trek Factory Racing DH rider did not suffer any broken bones in the crash, and incredibly, has not yet been ruled out of action for Leogang, with a late decision set to be taken on her fitness ahead of the weekend.
Atherton’s injury meant a new rider would top the world cup podium for the first time in two years and Australia’s Tracey Hannah grabbed that opportunity with a brilliant performance in Scotland.
Hannah (Polygon UR) finished over ten seconds clear of her nearest rival and heads to Austria top of the world cup standings.
France’s Myriam Nicole (Commencal/Vallnord) is second, having finished behind Hannah at Fort William, with Atherton remarkably in third overall, despite her crash.
British interests at Leogang will be represented by Manon Carpenter (Radon Factory Downhill Team), who finished fourth at Fort William and Tahnee Seagrave (Transition Bikes / FMD Factory Racing) who was back in ninth.
Katy Curd and Cairn Bell complete the British women’s lineup.
Elite men
Home riders had a tough weekend at Fort William, with just one British rider finishing in the top ten on home soil.
Laurie Greenland (MS Mondraker Team) finished tenth, a result that puts him ninth overall after two races.
Greg Minnaar (Santa Cruz Syndicate) is the early world cup leader having taken the win in Scotland but the South African is being chased by Colombia’s Marcelo Gutierrez Villegas.
Villegas (Giant Factory Off Road Team) is just two points behind Minnaar with third and fourth placed finished under his belt so far.
Behind Greenland, the next best-placed British rider is Charlie Hatton (Intense Racing UK) who currently sits in 12th.
Brendan Fairclough (Scott-Velosolutions) and Adam Brayton are also well-placed in the top 20.
World champion Danny Hart will be hoping he can kick start his world cup season in Austria this weekend, following a disappointing opening two rounds.
The MS Mondraker Team rider finished 59th in the rain in Lourdes before taking 43rd at Fort William and is currently 53rd in the standings.
Schedule
Saturday 10 June
11.15pm - Junior women seeding run
11.30pm - Junior men qualifying
12.30pm - Elite women qualifying
1pm - Elite men qualifying
Sunday 11 June
9am - Junior women final
9.30am - Junior men final
12pm - Elite women final
1pm - Elite women final
How to follow
- Watch the elite men’s and elite women’s races live on Red Bull TV with highlights from 7.45pm on Sunday evening on the BIKE Channel
- Follow @BritishCycling for updates on Twitter
- Report will appear on the British Cycling website