News just in, the 2012 World Champs willl be held in Leogang.
Leogang held their first World Cup this year as a last minute replacement for Schladming. Checkout the DirtTV highlight vid below if you missed it.
The WC track got some grief from the riders this year, mainly because of the long flat pedally bits and some maintenance issues, but the hill does have great potential for an awesome track if they decide to build a new one.
(Just to remind you, the World Champs 2011 will be in Champery.)
Here’s the official word:
Saalfelden Leogang Secures the UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships 2012
Saalfelden Leogang, Austria, September 29th, 2010 – Last night the eagerly awaited decision was finalized that the UCI Mountain Bike & Trials World Championships 2012 will take place in Saalfelden and on the trails of the Bikepark Leogang. From August 29th to September 9th, international top athletes will meet in the four disciplines – Downhill, Fourcross, Cross Country and Trials. The international cycling association (UCI) once more validated what hasn’t been insider knowledge for a while: The Bikepark Leogang has developed into one of the most renowned bikeparks in Europe and the Region Saalfelden Leogang is almost a must do for everyone passionate about biking. Furthermore, the newly developed cross country trail will be challenging – even for the pros.
Since the Bikepark Leogang opened its gates in 2001, a lot has been done to continuously further develop the trails– a fact that didn’t go unnoticed by the UCI. The innovative trail concepts as well as the success of regular events such as the Out of Bounds Festival or since this year even the World Cup has convinced the UCI: “The World Cup, which for the first time this season took place in Leogang received great feedback from all sides and I’m truly confident that the Worlds will be extremely successful too,” says Pat McQaid, president of the UCI.
For eleven days, visitors can cheer on their favorite riders while watching the athletes compete for the rainbow jersey. At the same time, a fun and diverse series of events off the trails invites every visitor to get to know the holiday and sporting region Saalfelden Leogang. Peter Donabauer, CEO of the Saalfelden Leogang WM GmbH knows why the region in the Pinzgau Saalach valley is the perfect location for the event: “The holiday region Saalfelden Leogang has time and time again proven capable of successfully organizing large international sporting events and knows how to make them fun for everybody. Leogang already is Austria’s hot spot in the mountain bike downhill and freeride segment. Saalfelden is the sports capitol of the Salzburg region and known far beyond Austria’s borders as the ideal location for international top events; especially for endurance sports (triathlons, cross country skiing and many more). However, most importantly, the holiday region Saalfelden Leogang is known for its hospitality. We will welcome the athletes from all over the world with open arms and make sure they feel right at home with us!”
To have the perfect trail for every World Championships discipline, the preparations for the development of the new cross country trail in Saalfelden are already in full swing. Regular bikers also have a reason to be stoked about the opening of the trail during the World Cup 2011. After the World Cup, the trail will naturally be open for every visitor of the biking region Saalfelden/Leogang. That way, everyone can set a time for the future world champions to beat. The new cross country trail is being developed as an innovative mountain bike teaching trail in cooperation with the sports high school HIB Saalfelden and represents a valuable addition to the region for pros and amateurs.
Photos:Victor Lucas
Only this year, a brand new fourcross track was completed which the biker elite already checked out during the World Cup. Thanks to a very steep starting section, immediately followed by a sizeable drop, a double with step-down and other fourcross delicacies, this trail is not to be sneezed at.
On the other hand, the downhill track has been around for a while but with its very technical sections it’s in no way inferior to the fourcross track. To the contrary, over the years its path has been perfected and makes it the perfect challenge for an event such as the World Championships. Leading across gnarly root sections, through severe switchbacks and down some majorly steep parts, this is a challenge even for the future world champs.
For the trials competition a course will be built in the city center of Saalfelden allowing the bikers to show their most daring tricks against a beautiful backdrop.
With the World Championships 2012 Austria manages to secure already the second Mountain Bike Worlds. Since the championships 2002 in Kaprun, much has changed in the world of mountain biking and Saalfelden Leogang is proud to do more than just keep up. The UCI World Championships are without a doubt a further important step in the region’s history. Not least because of the experience gathered during the World Cup 2010, the World Championships are looking to be a great success!
Here’s the highlights from this years World Cup round 3 at Leogang.
