Almost a month after the world elite of cross-country and downhill mountain biking honored themselves at the World Cup in Saalfelden Leogang, the best of the best will meet again in Lenzerheide when the next UCI Mountain Bike World Cup will take place as part of the Bike Kingdom Games takes place. From July 8th to 10th, the next decisions will be made there disciplines Short Track (XCC), Cross-Country Olympic (XCO) and Downhill (DHI). World Cup Sunday will be particularly important for local hero and XCO World Cup leader Nino Schurter, who can become the sole record holder for the most individual World Cup wins with a win at his home race.
Swiss duel for victory? Record for eternity?
Nino Schurter (SUI) has already proven several times at World Cup races and also at the 2018 World Championships that he knows how to win in Lenzerheide. Now the man who has won almost everything is one win away from becoming the sole record holder for most individual World Cup victories. He currently shares the record of 33 victories with Frenchman Julien Absalon. Cracking the number 34 in his home race of all places would certainly make the whole thing even more special.
“The home World Cup is always something very special for me. When racing in front of a home crowd, friends and family, motivation is always higher. Especially because after the Covid 19 crisis it is finally possible to fight in front of full ranks again. It would be a dream to realize the record in Lenzerheide. But a lot of things have to fit together and luck has to be on my side. If not now, I'm in good spirits that sooner or later it will work somewhere else. A great race on my part without a win would be absolutely fine.
I think Lenzerheide offers the best World Cup route. There's a bit of everything in there. Only an absolutely complete driver can win here. It's quite possible that the biggest competition will come from your own country again. After all, I'm not the only Swiss who wants to win there.” – Nino Schurter
Another Swiss could actually thwart the record hunt. Mathias Flückiger, reigning Swiss champion and overall World Cup winner from 2021, found his form after a weak start to the season in time for the World Cup in Graubünden and, alongside Schurter, is the hottest contender for victory. Due to his hard-fought victory at the World Cup in Leogang, he has now moved up to 3rd place in the overall World Cup.
“I really like the track in Lenzerheide. It is technical and varied. This year it's always the same 5-6 drivers to be reckoned with. And with Nino in Lenzerheide anyway. But that's also what makes it exciting and cool. I actually hope that there will be a duel between us like in Leogang. There are many others who are also very eager to win a World Cup, but I could imagine that the top places will ultimately be decided between the two of us. A home World Cup is always something special. I was able to be on the podium two or three times there, but not at the top yet. There are two important races for me this year: One is of course the World Championships and the other is the World Cup in Lenzerheide. That's why I'm really looking forward to it." – Mathias Flückiger
McConnell or Lecomte? Is that the dominant question this season?
After a weak start to the season, a favorite has also come back strongly among the elite women: The reigning overall World Cup winner Loana Lecomte (FRA) impressively showed with her World Cup victory in Saalfelden Leogang that she is on the way to top form. It wasn't just the Australian Rebecca McConnell, currently the overall World Cup leader and second at last year's World Cup in Lenzerheide, who lost out, but also a few other top riders. Only Lenzerheide favorite Jenny Rissveds (SWE) managed to stay close to the French. With an extra dose of motivation, the Swiss Jolanda Neff, Alessandra Keller and Sina Frei should also be at the start, who were particularly convincing in the newly created Cross-Country Short Track Overall World Cup.
First decisions on Friday evening
Rebecca McConnell is also currently leading the elite women's field over the sprint distance, followed by a consistently strong Alessandra Keller and Loana Lecomte, who is constantly improving. In the men's category, Luca Schwarzbauer (GER) is a hair's breadth ahead of Mathias Flückiger, who, after his XCC and XCO double victory in Saalfelden Leogang, is now just three points behind the German. Last year in Lenzerheide the Swiss only had to admit defeat to Henrique Avancini (BRA).
Are Balanche and Pierron extending their lead? Will there be more riders in the 2022 list of winners?
The downhill world cup seems to be firmly in Swiss and French hands at the moment. With two wins from three races, Camille Balanche (SUI) and Amaury Pierron (FRA) have been at the top of the overall World Cup rankings since the start of the season. While the Swiss only had to give way to Nina Hoffmann (GER) in Fort William, but found her way back to victory in the race in Leogang, Pierron in Austria had to settle for fifth place for the first time after a perfect start to the season, while the Briton had to be Matt Walker won the first World Cup race.
The competition is fierce in both elite competitions. In the women's category, the world champion and defending Lenzerheide champion Myriam Nicole (FRA) and the current overall World Cup winner Valentina Höll (AUT) are waiting for their first win of the season. In the men's competition, several riders are lying in wait alongside Matt Walker. Danny Hart (GBR), Benoit Coulanges (FRA) and Laurie Greenland (GBR) as well as Loic Bruni (FRA), who has returned from injury, are dying to make the 2022 winners list.
“Lenzerheide is a track that I love. It is very intense. It's a track where you must be able to target all the key points to make the difference. There is a great public and I love being in Switzerland. It's a good sign. I'm very happy to be back there. Also, I've been able to do a good physical training session and gain confidence technically, by doing several races like in Andorra.” – Myriam Nicole
Bike Kingdom Games + 10 years Bikepark Lenzerheide = party full!
When the Bike Kingdom Games coincides with the 10th anniversary of the Lenzerheide Bike Park, there will of course also be plenty of action away from the cross-country and downhill routes. Directly after the XCC races on Friday evening, the "Send It Jump Show" takes place, in which the riders use ramps and landing bags to show that mountain bikes don't just provide excitement and spectacle with the tires on the ground.
The aim of the Saturday “Whip Off” contest is also to let the bikes fly properly. The contest is open to everyone - registration is possible in advance and on site. A jury made up of Emilie Siegenthaler, Tarek Rasouli and Claudio Caluori chooses the "Best Trick", "Best Whip" and "Fans Favourite".
But not only the big ones get their money's worth with the party atmosphere with various live bands and DJs. The little ones are also well taken care of with the Steinböckli Cup and the Kids Area.
The detailed program and tickets are available online www.bikekingdomgames.ch.
Watch the entire 2022 Mercedes Benz UCI Mountain Bike World Cup season live and for free on Red Bull TV and follow us on facebook.com/RedBullBike and youtube.com/RedBullBike for more action.