From frigid rain to baking sunshine; from steep, woody tech to wide open bike park trails and from Andorra to Switzerland. A lot has changed in four days.
Photos: Seb Schieck
After a mad dash through the Alps (including a day’s riding for most teams) we’ve landed in Lenzerheide for round five of the 2017 World Cup series. The series are shaping up nicely for thrilling finales with just five points separating Hannah and Nicole in the women’s field and Aaron Gwin attempting to chase down Greg Minnaar in the men’s.
Lenzerheide is due to host the World Championships next year so we’ll be keeping a beady eye out for new tech as well as anyone who’s looking strong before the big race. Track wise, it seems pretty settled in now with the usual formula of big berms cascading underneath the chairlift punctuated with brief woods sections to be hit at high speed. It may be hardpack but its steep and marbly, meaning there’s plenty here to challenge a rider. Full commitment is needed if you want to get down it, never mind do well.
The big news comes at the bottom of the course with a new bit of woodwork that only seems to have been finished this morning. Riders are estimating it at 12 metres – safe to say it wouldn’t be out of place in Hardline.
Here’s a full look at the Lenzerheide track:
