Before the world's best downhillers take to the slopes again in Saalfelden Leogang from Thursday, ÖSV speed stars Hannes Reichelt, Max Franz, Romed Baumann, Klaus Kröll, Georg Streitberger and Frederic Berthold kicked off the festival week today with a visit to the Leogang World Cup "Speedster" course. This was, of course, taken under the wheels in person. Predicate: brutal, even for a "wild dog" like Georg Streitberger: "Respect, in winter it's almost a bit easier, there aren't so many trees and roots on the track." And Romed Baumann also pays tribute to the downhillers: "Our sport is extreme, but what the boys and girls conjure up at the World Cup is simply insane," said the young dad enthusiastically: "Maybe it will work out and I'll come along with my little one as a spectator. That would be her first big event. For me, the Downhill World Cup is the summer event par excellence, with a great atmosphere and lots of spectators," said Baumann.
While the ski aces are making their lines in the bike park, the stars of the scene are also approaching Saalfelden Leogang after the World Cup in Fort William last weekend.
Austria's downhill specialists hope for home advantage
Styrian David Trummer is travelling to Leogang full of confidence. The reigning national downhill champion achieved his best World Cup result to date last weekend with 17th place on the selective course in Fort William. Markus Pekoll, on the other hand, will approach his season highlight in Leogang with a corresponding amount of anger in his stomach, after all, after a promising 13th place in qualifying in Great Britain, he missed out on a top position with a crash in the final and ultimately had to settle for 31st place. Just like last year, South African Greg Minaar returns to Leogang as the newly crowned World Cup winner from Fort William and thus back to one of his favourite courses, where he was crowned World Champion in 2012. But Great Britain's Rachel Atherton is also travelling to Leogang as the firm favourite and defending champion with her third consecutive win of the season in the bag.
1A framework programme
From Thursday (9 June) to Sunday (12 June), the Out of Bounds Festival at Bikepark Leogang offers exciting decisions for both the downhillers and the dirt jumpers, who will choose their winners as part of the 26TRIX. There are also plenty of highlights away from the sport: In addition to spectacular bike action, the festival also offers a sensational supporting programme for spectators. The women's final on Sunday (final races from 12.30 pm) will be kicked off with a show by Trials World Champion Tom Öhler, the Red Bull Skydive Team will then give the starting signal for the final downhill men's show-down. Spectators will also have the opportunity to put their skills to the test, whether in the Bunny Hop Contest (Thursday) or the Pump Track Contest (Friday). The Kids Pump Track Challenge awaits the kids on Saturday.
Download:
OeSV Speed Asse in Leogang.pdf
