The Gravity specialists, led by local matador Vali Hell, officially kicked off the World Cup season today with their first training session, while the cross-country athletes will face each other for the third time this season next weekend. However, for the first time in Saalfelden Leogang: the World Cup premiere in the World Cup venue of 2020 starts tomorrow with the short track race.
Saalfelden Leogang will host a mountain bike double world cup for the first time next weekend. While the cross country athletes celebrate their World Cup debut after the World Cup in October, the Epic Bikepark is the stage for the 10th time for the downhill World Cup. The 2.5 km Speedster course awaits again, where the top riders can reach speeds of up to 65 km/h on Saturday (12 June). The new technical lower part is mostly natural, with root passages, an extremely steep area, a bridge and a huge gap - a stretch of track named after the local matador. And "Vali's hell" is to be taken literally, after all, Vali's hell fell heavily in this section last year as the top favorite for the world title. “Honestly, I’m extremely nervous. After all, it’s my first elite World Cup ever. I have extremely high expectations of myself. Theoretically, you’d have to go back to where you left off, and I’m afraid that maybe I could “only” finish fifth. But I have to learn to redefine my goals, I feel extremely comfortable on the new material and I’m already fast again in the upper part of the track,” said Héll after the first practice run.
Short track competition is first choice at Out of Bounds festival tomorrow (June 11)
The first decision will be made at the Out of Bounds festival tomorrow, Friday (June 11) in the cross country specialists with the short track competition (5.30pm and 6.15pm). An exciting sprint format in which the home hopes rest on Laura Stigger. Most recently, the Tyrolean was already sixth at the World Cup in Nove Mesto in this young cross country discipline: "Since I had to fit in 2020 due to illness, I am now all the more happy to finally start in Leogang. The fact that spectators can finally be there again is a huge relief for me as well as all other athletes. Because the audience is the most important factor for the appropriate race atmosphere."I don't think so," he said.
The short track World Cup victories of the current season were secured by American Haley Batten and Leogang world champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot. In the men's event, there will be a new winning face in this format, as so far the Dutchman Mathieu Van der Poel has dominated. However, the overall world leader is currently riding in the Tour de Suisse and will not be taking part in Leogang.
Remaining tickets are still available for all competitions of the Out of Bounds festival, including tomorrow's Cross Country Short Track race. For those who cannot attend the double World Cup live, there is the possibility to follow the final races on Red Bull TV and ORF.
