With just over two weeks to go to the final of this year’s World Cup Downhill Series in Andorra we have managed to get a little look at the track in Vallnord, Andorra.

Photographer and Dirt contributor Callum Philpott was out visiting Commencal Bikes (who have their base in Andorra) riding the local trails when he spotted the track. Unfortunately (as you will see in the photos) it was particularly well ‘taped off’, which meant that there was no way he could get quick run in! Here’s what Callum had to say:

“The trail crew have been working hard out there to change–up the open section, having rebuilt the jumps and making a whole load of new corners and it’s looking to be fairly different to last year’s course. They have made the two step–downs longer and completely rebuilt the lips making them look pretty sizeable. It will be good to see how it holds up, especially as this section got pretty smashed up last year!”

The Vallnord World Cup takes place on Saturday 3rd September. Rachel Atherton has sewn–up the Women’s title race with one round to go, but it is all still to play for in both the Junior and Elite Men’s categories. In the Junior’s it is all down to Finn Iles and Gaetan Vige. Vige will be on home soil (kind of!) and is sure to want to impress his sponsors Commencal at their ‘home World Cup’.

With a maximum of 250 points available (50 to win qualifying, 200 for the main event for Elite riders) it boils down to just two riders in the men’s, Aaron Gwin and Danny Hart. Gwin has a sizeable 178 point cushion, but this is DH racing, and anything could happen. Hart is sure to go all out, and it is going to be interesting to see how the points stand after qualifying on the Friday and how that will affect the final race runs. It is also going to be interesting to see how the rest of the overall podium pans out. The top four are pretty safe, but the battle for the fifth spot could (mathematically) be anyone’s back to 20th place!