What you need to know ahead of the Leogang World Cup weekend
Race schedule, leaders and who to watch in Austria
Photo by:
Bartek Wolinski/Red Bull Content Pool
The first combined downhill and cross country World Cup of 2022 is fast approaching, as the mountain bike world gets set to converge on Leogang, Austria this weekend. It is late in the season for the first combined event to take place. The XC crowd is already three World Cups deep while the downhillers have two rounds under their collective belt.
So, who are the riders to watch? What is the live broadcast schedule? Who will be missing from the start line in Austria? Here’s everything you need to know.
Cross country: New stars and a hunt for history
It’s already a historic season for the cross country crowd. Nino Schurter matched Julien Absalon’s career wins record at the opening World Cup in Brazil. Since then, the Swiss star has found himself foiled in his quest to finally surpass the benchmark set by his long-time French rival. Twice, in Nove Mesto and Albstadt, by Tom Pidcock.
Pidcock’s returned to the road, but he wasn’t the only rider in front of Schurter in the Czech Republic. Vlad Dascalu emerges as the next rider to rival Schurter in his quest for one more win.
On the women’s side, Rebecca McConnell is on a tear. the Australian sailed to a perfect start to the XCO season, taking all three wins so far. That includes a perfect XCC/XCO weekend at the Nove Mesto World Cup.
Few riders have appeared capable of challenging the Australian. Last year’s dominant force, Loana Lecomte, has come the closest. Two young Austrian riders, Laura Stigger and Moana Mitterwallner, always seem close behind, though. With the motivation of racing at home, either one could seize the opportunity to unseat McConnell and take a career-first elite World Cup win.
Two major absences will make McConnell’s quest for four easier. Both Evie Richards and Pauline Ferrand-Prevot will sit out this weekend’s events. Richards is battling an ongoing injury. Ferrand-Prevot is opting to focus on her training for other major season goals.
Downhill – Perfect Pierron
On the gravity side of racing, it’s all about Amaury Pierron. The Frenchman is undefeated in 2022, winning in both France and Scotland. Canada’s Finn Iles was second at the Lourdes World Cup. A crash while training then slowed the Canadian down, and forced him to sit out Fort William. Iles’ teammate, Loic Bruni, also sat out Fort Bill after a crash in practice.
Thibault Daprela took up Iles position on the poidum, finishing second to Pierron in Fort William. Only Laurie Greenland could stop a French sweep of the Scottish podium.
In Leogang, Canadians can look to Mark Wallace. The Vancouver Island rider placed fourth at 2020 world championships in Austria. If the mud returns, Wallace could shine again.
Finn Iles was back on course for track walk on Wednesday, but unclear if he will race this weekend.
On the women’s side, 2022’s been a battle between Camille Balanche, who won in Lourdes, and Nina Hoffmann, the victor in Fort William. Balanche could have the edge in Leogang, though. The Swiss rider won her world championship title there in 2020, then backed that up with a win in 2021.
All eyes will be on Vali Höll, though. The young Austrian won the 2021 World Cup overall but has had no luck racing at home. She was injured in practice at Leogang in 2020 and crashed in 2021. Third time’s a charm? Or will bad luck come in threes for the Austrian phenom?
Canadians in Leogang
Fans back at home in Canada will have plenty to cheer for in Austria, but some of our best chances for a medal won’t be broadcast live on Red Bull TV.
Gracey Hemstreet rolls into the third World Cup with a perfect record in the junior women’s downhill. Jackson Goldstone, the reigning junior men’s world champion, was just 0.038 seconds away from matching Hemstreet’s record. Goldstone won in Lourdes but had to settle for second by the narrowest of margins in Fort William.
In cross country racing, Canada’s under-23s are looking fast. Carter Woods, Roxane Vermette and Emilly Johnston are all pushing closer and closer to the podium.
In races that will be shown on Red Bull TV, Gunnar Holmgren’s led the elite men for Canada with Jenn Jackson pushing through the ranks on the women’s side. Leogang should see the return of a few Canadian veterans, too. Léandre Bouchard is back from injury and Emilly Batty is picking up her World Cup season. Both riders roll into Austria with momentum from wins at the first Canada Cup of 2022.
Broadcast Schedule: World Cup DH#3 & XCO/XCC #4 – Leogang, Austria, June 10-12, 2022
Racing in Austria starts Friday with Short Track XCC. Elite races will be broadcast all weekend live on Red Bull TV.
June 10 – World Cup XCC #4
Elite Women XCC: 8:20AM PST / 11:20 EST
Elite Men XCC: 9:15 AM PST / 13:15 EST
June 11 – World Cup Downhill #3
Junior Men/Women (Not Televised)
Elite Women DH: 3:25AM PST / 6:25 EST
Elite Men DH: 4:45AM PST / 7:45 EST
June 12 – World Cup XCO #4
Under-23 Men/Women (Not Televised)
Elite Women XCO: 03:00 AM PST / 06:00 EST
Elite Men XCO: 05:30 AM PST / 08:30 AM EST
