MTB News: With the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Vallnord (Andorra), the hot phase of the season begins for both cross country riders and downhill riders. There are only four World Cup dates left until the World Championships in Canada at the end of August. The first double event of the year in Andorra already promises to be a firework of mountain bike racing.
The Principality of Andorra is the eleventh smallest country in the world. The dwarf state lying between France and Spain has only 85.000 inhabitants. But this weekend Andorra will be big! With the first UCI Mercedes-Benz Mountain Bike World Cup double event of 2019, Vallnord heralds the hot phase of the season. The races are held in the categories Short Track (XCC), Olympic Cross Country (XCO) and Downhill (DHI). The extremely challenging routes in the bike park in La Massana, the good weather and the thin air at an altitude of 1.900 meters are characteristic of Vallnord.
The short track races start tomorrow, Friday, without the Dutch short track dominator Mathieu van der Poel. Which rider uses the moment and grabs the important points? On Saturday, the downhill specialists will then fight for best times. We are very excited about Nina Hoffmann, who is of course the focus after the outstanding performances of the last races. The races over the Olympic distance mark the end of the World Cup weekend on Sunday. Switzerland's Nino Schurter is still waiting for his first win of the season - unlike reigning world champion Kate Courtney (USA) in the women's race, who has already climbed to the top of the podium twice this year.
Red Bull TV broadcasts all races live from Vallnord with German and English commentary. Christopher D. Ryan will accompany the races in the German-language live stream, on Saturday (DHI) he will be supported by gravity all-rounder Tibor Simai, on Sunday (XCC) by former vice world champion Nathalie Schneitter.
Transmission times Mercedes-Benz UCI Downhill Mountain Bike World Cup Vallnord
- XCC Women: Friday, July 05, 2019, from 17:20 p.m
- XCC Men: Friday 05 July 2019, following the XCC Women race
- DHI women: Saturday, July 06, 2019, from 12:30 p.m
- DHI men: Saturday, July 06, 2019, from 13:45 p.m
- XCO Women: Sunday, July 07, 2019, from 12:00 p.m
- XCO Men: Sunday, July 07, 2019, from 14:30 p.m