In Saalfelden Leogang, the motto is „Vacation, the way I want”. About 70 kilometres south-east of the city of Salzburg, in a region full of contrasts in the middle of the Alps, guests can spend their summer vacation in a flexible way with plenty of adventures and combine it with many culinary highlights and high-quality experiences in nature. In the midst of nature, surrounded by the massifs Leoganger Steinberge and Steinernes Meer, there are diverse sport and wellness offers to discover. In the biggest bike region of Austria, bike enthusiasts of all levels, mountain bikers as well as the ones who like relaxed biking tours can explore the numerous lines and trails and all use one bike ticket. Families can visit the Mountain of Senses, the Cinema of Nature or the TONspur Islands, where they can go on an adventurous trip. For the ones who love music, there is a cultural program in summer, where they can choose from numerous offers: the Jazz Festival Saalfelden, the TONspuren concerts at the Asitz mountain and the ALM:KULTUR. And guests who have the Saalfelden Leogang Card have plenty of advantages and free entries and all this, 365 days a year. “Simply hiking“ with hiking pole sharing, wooden swings and even without luggage Getting away from the everyday stress and simply spending time in nature - so the motto is: “simply hiking”. In Saalfelden Leogang there are countless hiking and running trails with breathtaking views of the mountains of the Salzburg region. The hiking trails “Pinzga’ Hatscha”, the Saalachtaler Höhenweg and the Saalachtaler Rundweg are only some of them. When hiking in Saalfelden Leogang, hikers discover some unusual installations. For example, there are 360-degree wooden benches and stainless-steel forest swings. They are an ideal place for a short break during your hike. Another special feature is the “hiking pole sharing stations”, which are set up at the starting points of the hiking trails. The wooden poles can be borrowed for your hike and at the end of your hiking tour, they can be simply brought back and put back into the stations. You can even buy the wooden poles at the Tourist Offices in Saalfelden and in Leogang. If you do not want to carry your heavy backpack the whole time, you can simply book the comfortable luggage transportation, which is called “hiking without luggage”. Your bigger and heavier luggage is transported to the next stop of your hiking tour, and you just have your light small backpack. Climbing in the climbing region Steinberge: climbing tours, via ferrata and climbing halls In the climbing region Steinberge, there are more than 1.000 climbing routes and alpine multi pitches for beginners, advanced climbers as well as for trained ones. The climbing region Steinberge consists of the massifs Loferer Steinberge and Leoganger Steinberge, the valleys Pillerseetal and Salzburger Saalachtal, as well as the massif Steinplatte. The longest climbing route of the northern limestone Alps is called “Pinzga’ Hatscha” and consists of 45 rope lengths. In addition to the attractive offer of climbing routes, there are two modern climbing halls in the region as well, where you can climb when the weather is bad and all year round. From June to November there are diverse climbing programs for families. In summer, a climbing tour can be wonderfully combined with a visit to one of the numerous mountain huts in the region, to try out local specialties. A region for mountain bikers, relaxed bikers, and bikers of all levels Since 2020, Saalfelden Leogang together with Saalbach Hinterglemm and Fieberbrunn belong to Austria’s biggest biking region. There are seven mountains, nine cable cars and over 80 kilometers of lines and trails for bikers. This offer can be used with just one bike ticket, which is valid in the entire region. Beginners, pros, and advanced bikers can all start at the valley stations of the cable cars and can then use the diverse system of lines and trails, which are easy, short and difficult. An important aspect in the vacation region is sustainable trail builing. For example, the Knappentrail has just been built with natural materials and wooden constructions, so called “North Shore-elements”. The trail has been built by the shapers without any heavy devices or machines. Furthermore, there are three more action-packed trails: the two kilometers long Forsthof trail, the 1.8 kilometers long Schwarzleotrail with a lot of high curves and flow passages and last but not least, the 3.5 kilometers long Matzalm trail. For those of you, who like it more relaxed, should definitely try the e-bike pleasure tour. You can rent an e-bike at the region here. Along the way you explore numerous regional farmer’s shops, and you can reward yourself with local delicacies from the Pinzgau region. You can book the e-bike pleasure tour in advance, and it is inclusive guide and stops. Mountain bikers can improve their biking technique and get the best tips from the guides in one of the bike schools in the region. This season, there is not only the bike school Elements, but also a new bike school called Le Guide, which also provides professional mountain bike guides. You can buy or rent the additional equipment in one of the many sports shops for example Sport Mitterer, Sport 2000 Simon, Bikepalast Saalfelden and Bikepoint. By the way, the lines and trails in the region Saalfelden Leogang can be used until November. Epic Bikepark Leogang: diverse lines and trails, bike events and a lot of sustainability In Saalfelden Leogang there is a suitable offer for every biker. The Epic Bikepark already exists for over 20 years and is the heart of the bike region. It is one of the renowned bikeparks in Europe and is opened this season from the 7th of May until November. Especially the Rider’s Playground, which is located at the valley station of the Asitzbahn cable car, is the perfect starting point for beginners of every age. On over 10.000 m2, newcomers and children can learn the right biking technique, how to manage curves and how to handle obstacles. Advanced bikers can already try the trail “Vali’s Hölle” or the lines Hangman I & II, which guarantee a lot of fun and action. For the ones, who long for more action and want to try out their first jumps, you should try the GoPro Bagjump Landingbag in the bikepark. Pumptrack enthusiasts should definitely try the paved World Champs Pumptrack located at area of the valley station of the Asitzbahn cable car. There is a 5.000 m2 big playground with a jump & dirt line. In addition to that, there is the Hot Shots-fired by GoPro, a jump line with a lot of airtime. As the region Saalfelden Leogang puts a lot of emphasis on sustainability, the motto in the Epic Bikepark Leogang is “Keep the Epic Bikepark clean”. At rainy days, there is a replacement film for a roll-off system and a 20% voucher at Sport Mitterer for 100% roll-off goggles as a goodie when you buy a ticket. Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountain bike World Cup and BIKE Festival Seit über zehn Jahren finden im Bikepark Leogang Downhill Weltcups statt und auch in dieser Saison können The Bikepark Leogang has been hosting Downhill World Cups for over 10 years and this summer, Austria's largest biking region will once again host a variety of exciting events. From June 10th to 12th, 2022, the Mountain Bike World Cup will once again make a stop in Saalfelden Leogang. Here the world's best athletes will compete in the disciplines Cross-Country Olympic, Short Track and Downhill. From September 16th to 18th, 2022, visitors to the BIKE Festival in Saalfelden Leogang can learn about the latest innovations in the bike scene and test the latest bikes, including the bike equipment. In addition to that there is also a varied workshop and touring program with the stars of the scene. The access to the BIKE FESTIVAL is free of charge. Alpine golf pleasure with „woof“ effect, fabulous views of the mountains and plenty of extras The perfect pitch in front of a fantastic mountain view – that’s the dream for many golfers. In Saalfelden Leogang, the region full of contrasts in the middle of the Alps, there are no less than two impressive golf clubs with 18-hole golf courses: the golfclub Gut Brandlhof and the golfclub Urslautal. Between the city of Saalfelden and the village of Maria Alm, there is the golf course Urslautal. It impresses with a 5.000 m2 Driving Range and two golf academies. Furthermore, there are plenty of natural elements on the golf course, such as a biotop and a bunker. At the dog-friendly golfclub Gut Brandlhof, you play over the river Saalach six times, and you can enjoy the stunning views of the massifs Leoganger Steinberge and Steinernes Meer. As the golf course at hotel Gut Brandlhof is extremely animal-friendly, you can take your dog with you. For a relaxing golf vacation, many hotels offer a diverse wellness program as well as regional culinary highlights. For the ones, who even want to pitch when the weather is bad, you have the possibility to visit the Indoor Golf Performance Center in the hotel Gut Brandlhof. The center is open 365 days a year and there even is a golf simulator. Adventures full of contrasts: Flying Fox XXL, alpaca hiking tours and summer tobogganing A special adventure for the whole family is the Flying Fox XXL – one of the longest and fastest zip steel wires of the world. This is definitely the right thing to do for adrenaline junkies, as you fly 1.600 meters seemingly weightlessly over the valley with up to 130 km per hour and with your head first. Moreover, you have got a breathtaking view of the mountains of Salzburg. If you love animals, the alpaca hiking tour is the ideal tour for you. Go hiking with the fluffy animals and explore the region around Saalfelden Leogang. For sporty outdoor fans, who like some action, there are two summer toboggan runs in the region full of contrasts, which is located in the middle of the Alps. One is in Saalfelden at the Biberg mountain, and it is 1.6 kilometers long and the other one is at the Asitz mountain in Leogang at 1.800 meters altitude and is called “LeoKlang”. Family vacation at the Asitz mountain: Park of Senses, barefoot path and “Peaceful Water at the Asitz” The Asitz mountain is a popular destination for the entire family. At the Mountain of Senses, which is located at the middle station of the Asitzbahn cable car, there is the adventurous Park of Senses. The action-packed parcourse offers the opportunity to explore the fascinating world of seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, and feeling. Sharpen your sense of hearing while listening to the sounds of the forest, while at the same time you smell the refreshing scent of the alpine and wild plants and flowers. If you prefer to go for a walk without your shoes on, you should try out the barefoot path. The soft mountain pasture ground guarantees a relaxing massage of your soles. Furthermore, there are loungers to relax, viewpoints and a flowing platform at the “Peaceful Water at the Asitz”. Cinema of Nature and TONspur Islands: Recreation with plenty of music „Sit down, enjoy and get away from everyday life” – this does not only sound wonderful, but is also the motto of the Cinema of Nature, which is located at the summit Sonnkogel. This special attraction is a panorama cinema with wooden loungers and plateaus as well as hammocks. You can reach the Cinema of Nature with the cable cars Asitzbahn and Steinbergbahn, along the Leos Game Trail or across the summit of the Asitz mountain. It is the ideal place for a break in nature. Here you can also enjoy the impressive view of the mountain massifs – simply better than Netflix and chill. Since 2020, there are five TONspur Islands, where you can listen to live recordings of the TONspur concerts from the previous year. These installations are set up along the hiking trail from the mountain station of the Asitzbahn cable car to the summit of the Asitz mountain. The TONspur islands are so extraordinary that they even received the Austrian Art Sponsorship Award MAECENAS in 2020. The popular TONspur concerts at the Asitz mountain will take place in 2022 from the 30th of June to the 18th of August. Guided theme hikes through the forests: mystical, romantic and even a little bit cheesy Forests are not only lush green, impressive and oasis of peace, but they also possess a magical attraction. Guests can discover the forests of the region Saalfelden Leogang in many thrilling was as part of the summer adventure program. You can choose from diverse possibilities, for example forest bathing or guided weekly theme hikes, such as medicinal plant hikes, torchlight hikes or beaver hikes. Especially for families there are attractive offers: “Breath in. Feel the forest. Breath out.” Included are seven overnight stays, the Saalfelden Leogang Card, two hikes with snacks at mountain huts and a THE herb workshop. Furthermore, you get goodies, a hiking map and hiking socks. The offer costs with breakfast about 289 euros in a ****hotel with half board about 598 euros. Summer music and nature enjoyment: Jazzfestival Saalfelden, TONspuren at the Asitz mountain and ALM:KULTUR The region Saalfelden Leogang also has a various cultural program to offer. This year, the 42nd edition of the Jazzfestival Saalfelden takes place from the 18th to the 21st of August. International as well as national jazz musicians, such as Isaiah Collier & The Chosen Few, Alba Careta Group, Christoph Cech's Jazz Orchestra Project and a lot more high-quality artists perform at concerts, which take place in the city and at the mountains. The main stages are the Congress Saalfelden, the house of arts Kunsthaus Nexus, the city park and the Otto-Gruberhalle, an old industrial hall from the 1950s. In addition to that there are music hikes and concerts at various mountain huts. At the Jazzfestival Saalfelden, you are offered more than 70 concerts and the majority of it is even for free. On five Thursdays, starting from the 30th of June to the 18th of August 2022, bands and musicians of different genres play as part of the concert series "TONspuren at the Asitz mountain". In good weather, you can enjoy the concerts at sunset on an outdoor stage at the foot of the summit Großer Asitz with a breathtaking view of the mountains. In case of bad weather, the mountain restaurant AsitzBräu is the place to be. Every Friday between the 15th of July and the 9th of September 2022, hikers can meet different artists at various mountain huts according to the motto “Tradition meets contemporary art”. This extraordinary series of events is called ALM:KULTUR and includes concerts and workshops of all genres to participate. You do not have to book anything in advance, it is free of charge, and you simply have to hike to the mountain hut. There you can enjoy the diverse cultural offer – sometimes also just by chance. House of arts „Nexus“: diverse cultural program for every age This season the house of arts Nexus offers a diverse program for the youngest ones as well as for adults and elderly ones again. The center of culture exists since 2002. It is an essential part of the art and cultural scene of the Pinzgau region. For culture enthusiasts, the Nexus is the ideal place, as you can choose from plenty of concerts, a children's theatre, a cinema with a program and numerous literary lectures and cabarets. At the 8th, 9th and 10th of June 2022 the youth theatre play “Thinderella” produced by Benjamin Blaikner is shown for children from 12 years and older. The vernissage “Verwirklichkeit” from the German artist Till Novak is shown from the 2nd of April until the 11th of June. The graphic designer shows pieces of arts and video works. Mining and Gothic Museum and Museum Schloss Ritzen: mineral treasures and collection of cribs A special destination is the Mining and Gothic Museum in Leogang. In the museum you can learn about the golden age of mining in Leogang. The museums also hosts sacral art, such as the “Beautiful Madonna”, and a holy gothic figure from the Alpine region, which has already been made in 1410. This year, guests can also visit two special exhibitions in the Mining and Gothic Museum in Leogang. On the occasion of the 290th anniversary of the Protestant emigration in Salzburg, visitors can visit the commemorative exhibition with the world's largest collection of screw medals. The special exhibition "Perlen der Gotik – Die Stiftung Vogl-Reitter" provides an insight into 60 gothic sculptures and panel paintings on display and this in combination with top-class loans from the Austrian Gallery Belvedere Vienna, the Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest, the Museum of Salzburg and the Diocesan Museum Bamberg. The region of Saalfelden Leogang is surrounded by four beautiful castles. One of them is the castle Ritzen with a museum containing the most important and largest collection of cribs in Austria as well as sacred treasures. In addition to the baroque church crib, there is also a large oriental crib and the local crib of Saalfelden from the famous crib maker Alexander “Xandi” Schläffer. The crib exhibitions can be visited all year round in the Museum Schloss Ritzen. Mining Museum Leogang: new virtual 3D-tour and the new “Grubenbahn“ for kids A visit in the Mining Museum is definitely worth it, when you are interested in mining and want to discover something new. Partly stooped, partly in single file, the adventurous journey through narrow tunnels with a guide leads directly into the past and gives you an insight into the hard work of the miners. Since last year, guests are now even able to discover the show mine virtually and without any barriers. You can make the virtual 3D tour at home, spontaneously and all day long at www.schaubergwerk-leogang.com. For the digital excursion you simply need a cell phone, a computer, or a tablet with internet access. For this special commitment and personal dedication, the Knappschaft Leogang was recently honored with the Tourism Award. Since 2021, a new mine train, which once transported miners and mined treasures, now takes the youngest visitors through a new, man-made gallery. Guided tours are offered from May to October. Especially sturdy shoes and warm clothing should be brought along. Relax and enjoy yourself in a region full of contrasts: diverse, sustainable and regional wellness offers The region Saalfelden Leogang is known for its high-quality hotels. Even weeks after your vacation in one of the excellent hotels in the region, you can still feel the positive effects of your relaxing stay. This is due to the diverse wellness offers, which help to balance body and soul. In addition to that, many companies focus on sustainable recreation, for example with regional natural materials such as wood and stone, which create a relaxing atmosphere for guests. The mountain village Bergdorf Priesteregg with its chalets and its bath Priesteregg Bad, offers plenty of luxury and a lot of time to relax. From June 2022, guests can enjoy the new and exclusive villa “VILLA WOSSA”, which has room for two to six persons with an incredible view of the valley and the mountains. The premium retreat offers a private, 500 m2 big natural biotope and a heated stainless steel infinity pool. Moreover, there is a chalet with extra comfort and a small, round lake house, which is connected to the chalet. Guests find enough space, in summer as well as in winter, to recharge their batteries. This summer season, the hotel Good Life Resort Die Riederalm****S offers their guests new rooms with seemingly floating bath tubes, called “Hamarca”-hammock-bathing tubes. The extraordinary carbon hammocks, from which only seven pieces exist in Europe, seem to float above the floor and have been fixed to the walls with a special construction. Furthermore, in the gourmet kitchen of the hotel, only local products are being used. The hotel Naturhotel Forsthofgut***** offers an extraordinary spa and wellness concept: in the first WaldSPA in Europe, you can recharge your batteries with the help of natural ingredients from the region. In addition to that, a lake restaurant has opened, new suites have been built and a family wellness area rounds off the offer. In the hotel Salzburgerhof****S, guests can look forward to a newly built Sky-SPA. Here you have got an area of 1.200 m2 to relax. The hotel mama thresl has increased the number of rooms since this season and now offers a very special new room, the "Room 51". The hotel Krallerhof***** convinces with a large wellness area and is working on some new highlights. Guests can receive extraordinary well-being offers in the hotel Forsthofalm****S and in the hotel Senhoog. The hotel Puradies****S affectionately arranged cute chalets with a dreamlike mountain view. The "Alpine Holistic" lifestyle concept at hotel Ritzenhof - Hotel and Spa at the Lake****S is the perfect place for guests to relax and unwind. The motto of the hotel Bio-Hotel Rupertus**** is “Organic.Active.Real.” and guests can enjoy a huge range of organic products and gourmet cuisine as well as the special hospitality. Moreover, the hotel Kirchenwirt offers diverse culinary highlights: seasonal specialties, vegetarian alternatives and typical Austrian dishes meet in the traditional hotel. When in the boutique and city hotel Die Hindenburg****, you can choose whether you want to spend your time in the mountains or in the city. Besides several sustainable beauty and massage treatments, there is a extraordinary cinema of the mountain range Steinberge with beds made out of tree trunks in the hotel LEBE FREI Hotel Der Löwe****S. The hotel Bacher Asitzstub’n has a heated infinity panorama pool at the rooftop. Moreover, the vacation region Saalfelden Leogang received numerous awards by Gault&Millau: Saalfelden Leogang scores a total of 14 Gault&Millau “Hauben” – the equivalent to the Michelin stars in Germany - in seven restaurants and can definitely be called a region full of culinary highlights. Regionality and sustainability: enjoy organic products and save the environment Especially the production of organic products is an important goal when it comes to culinary sustainability in the region of Saalfelden Leogang. More than 65% of the farms in Leogang are organic farms. Local products such as organic sausages and meat as well as other products, such as cheese, yogurt, jams or juices have a special certification: the seal of quality saying “Echt.Gsund.Guad.” marks the local products at first sight. In the last few years, more and more cute farmer’s shops have developed. You can try local products from the region, even when you are on your way. When visiting the farmer’s shop HPH anno 1905, you enter a lovely rebuilt horse stable, which has already been awarded for the homemade butter a few times now. At the organic farm Stechaubauer-Biohof, you can buy fresh and organic vegetables 24 hours a day. In the small vegetable hut, there is a self-service device where you can choose the vegetables you want via touchscreen. After you paid, you can simply take your vegetables out of the appropriate drawer. Since 2021 the region Saalfelden Leogang works together with other vacation destinations under the leadership of the Association of Consumer Information on a certificate for sustainable tourism regions. Many companies and enterprises in Saalfelden Leogang have already been awarded with the Austrian Eco-Label. This label rates a wide variety of measures such as mobility, waste disposal and resource management. For example, if electric cars are available to guests. Whether own biomass heating production, wood chip facilities or composting plants are available for the energy supply, and one also pays special attention to the reduction of waste. Travelling to Saalfelden Leogang is of course also possible with the train and there are various advantages: no traffic jams, fast and regular train connections directly from Salzburg, Innsbruck, or Munich to Saalfelden Leogang. And from the train station you can easily reach attractive destinations or bus stops where you can already start your hiking tours. By the way, with the Saalfelden Leogang Card you can use the public transport in the Pinzgau region for free. The Saalfelden Leogang Card: 365 days full of advantages Vacation, the way I want – this is possible with the Saalfelden Leogang Card. You get the guest card for free and it enables you to use numerous offers in summer as well as in winter, doesn’t matter whether it’s about culture, sport of nature. For example, from May until the start of the skiing season, you can ascent and descent with the cable cars Asitzbahn and Steinbergbahn, as well as with the cable cars in Saalbach Hinterglemm two times a day and can even take your mountain bike with you. Moreover, you have got the possibility to join guided hikes and use the public transport in the entire Pinzgau region for free as well as the bus 690 to Fieberbrunn. With the Saalfelden Leogang Card you can even access the swimming pools in Leogang Freizeitanlage Sonnrain (leisure center) and in Saalfelden Erlebnisschwimmbad Obsmarkt, as well as the natural bathing area lake Ritzensee for free. You get the Saalfelden Leogang Card automatically when you check in at one of the Saalfelden Leogang Card partner hotels. It is valid from the day you arrive until the day you leave. Event highlights in summer 2022: 10. – 12.06.2022 Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountain bike World Cup – Cross Country & Downhill 17.06. – 18.06.2022 Stoabergmarsch 2022 – a 24-hour hike between Salzburg and Tyrol 18.06.2022 Mountain fires and summer solstice at lake Ritzensee in Saalfelden 26.06.2022 Regionality fair, Congress Saalfelden 30.06.-18.08.2022 TONspur at the Asitz mountain - five Thursdays 15.07. – 09.09.2022 ALM:KULTUR in Saalfelden Leogang – eight Fridays 18. – 21.08.2022 42nd Jazzfestival Saalfelden 16. – 18.9.2022 BIKE Festival Saalfelden Leogang
For the first time this season, the Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Saalfelden Leogang brought together the worlds of Cross-Country and Downhill. The World Cup weekend in Epic Bikepark Leogang impressed with spectacular runs, a large dose of drama and spectators witnessed history in the making. Smiles and pride were seen all across the board, no matter whether they were organisers, race teams, riders or fans. Following a succesful first edition in 2021, the World Cup returned to the Saalfelden Leogang region in full force, with Cross-Country and Downhill riders descending on the Epic Bikepark Leogang. The quaint Austrian town has an established history in the Downhill world, with spectacular runs throughout the years. Even though Cross-Country has only been on the Leogang race calendar twice, there are already patterns emerging. For example, so far only Loana Lecomte (FRA) and Mathias Flückiger (SUI) have won the Cross-Country races (both Short Track and Olympic distance) and Local Hero Laura Stigger seems to have a subscription to Olympic distance third place finishes on the track with the most meters of climbing. Another pattern that has emerged over the years is the atmosphere that the amassed spectators bring with them. Over the three days, the 21,500 gathered spectators turned up in great spirits, cheering on more than 800 riders from 40 countries all the way from race start to finish, with fans gathered course-side as well as in the finish area. Even though bad weather looked to mess with the good spirits, the clouds parted right on time for the Cross-Country Short Track races on Friday evening and the sun would stay in place for the rest of the weekend. Drama and joy were readily interchanged, especially during the Downhill racing on Saturday. While Vali Höll, racing on her home turf, saw disaster strike during her race run, with two crashes putting her out of podium contention, finishing in sixth place, fellow Austrian Andreas Kolb had a career-best run, finishing on the podium in fifth place, less than a 2.5 seconds behind race winner Matt Walker (GBR) and becoming the first Austrian ever to finish on a World Cup podium. As usual, the gathered spectators were treated to much more than 'just' spectacular racing. Ahead of the Downhill finals, fans were treated to an air show, courtesy of the Flying Bulls. Pilot Miguel Hochleitner showed off his aerial acrobatics on board of the Trojan 28B, with the Top Gun soundtrack accompanying him. Meanwhile on Sunday, Senad Grosic hosted a BMX Show, which wowed Cross-Country enthusiasts in between the women's and men's races. Following the race action, fans were able to come face-to-face with some of their heroes and idols at the FOX Racing signing session. The Team Area was also frequently visited as the hunt for more signatures took attendees through the pits, where they could get an exclusive look behind the scenes of a race weekend. Meanwhile, the Expo Area was jam-packed with the latest and greatest of the bike world. "Thanks to the weather, the weekend didn't start great, but things picked up quickly once the rain stopped and made way for sunshine on Saturday and Sunday, becoming the perfect stage for the weekend's racing. Spectators were amazed by the racing here in Leogang. Andreas Kolb's podium place was the cherry on top for the Austrian fans, and I'm elated because of that. The same goes for Laura Stigger, who had an outstanding race," said Kornel Grundner, World Cup organizer and Director of the Leogang Cable Car. "After the first few hectic days, also because of the weather, today was the cherry on the cake of an incredible event. The weekend was great, and the racing was sensational. The weather gods played along and thankfully we had perfect weather across all the races, from Friday's Cross-Country Short Track, Saturday's Downhill and Sunday's Cross-Country Olympic racing. The crowd always makes it special and we witnessed history in the making once again. We couldn't be happier," said Marco Pointner, World Cup organizer and CEO of Saalfenden Leogang Touristik GmbH. The World Cup weekend carried the "Green Event Salzburg" label, which meant a focus on sustainability and environmentally friendly initiatives. The World Cup organizers offered a ticket refund for public transport, free regional shuttles, motivated teams and spectators to separate their trash and use recycling bins where possible, launched the MTB World Cup app in order to limit the use of paper and much more. Another initiative was the "Every Can Contributes", which focussed on the recycling of beverage cans. The free shuttles were a hit as well, covering approximately 1400 kilometres, which is about the distance from Leogang all the way to Barcelona. For everyone that missed the weekend's race action, replays are available on-demand on Red Bull TV.
The skies have cleared and the weather has heated up as the riders tackle the challenging, although mostly dry, course in Leogang, that will push the legs, lungs and courage of the athletes as long steep climbs meet technical and steep descents. Loana Lecomte completes back-to-back perfect weekends in Leogang After a strong performance in short track, Loana Lecomte will certainly be looking to have a similar Leogang to last year, winning both events while Austrian’s Mona Mitterwallner and Laura Stigger will be looking to capitalize on their home-field advantage and get their first wins of the season. Of course, no one will have an easy victory as this stacked field is hungry. Strong challenger and reigning World Champion Evie Richards (GBR) is out of this race with a back injury while Pauline Ferrand-Pr´evot (FRA) will also not be racing, choosing to focus on other events. An immediate pile-up right out of the start saw Austrian’s Mona Mitterwallner’s hopes of getting out in front early disappearing before her eyes. She ended up in a pile-up that saw an issue with her handlebar alignment. She ran her bike up a section of the first hill but was unable to mount her bike and join the pack, running back to have it fixed. Despite her tough fight back into the race, she ultimately ended the day in 15th place. Olympic Champion Jolanda Neff (SUI) was able to hop into the lead early on in the start lap, but she was unable to add any real distance on competition and crossed the finish line just slightly in front of a challenging Loana Lecomte. In the first big climb of the second lap, Lecomte and Rissveds were able to get by Neff and add some distance between themselves and the competition. Meanwhile, Mona Mitterwallner headed back on course and quickly began to make some moves. The distance between the leading group of Rissveds and Lecomte has grown substantially through the first lap, putting them 30 seconds in the lead. Following a good start for Jolanda Neff it appears her legs just aren’t there for her today as she falls back to 20th place. Ultimately, she pushes back up to 8th place to end her day. The battle for the final podium spot is the closest to watch with Specialized riders Frei (SUI) and Stigger (AUT) within a second of each other and playing leapfrog throughout the first three laps. Meanwhile, the undefeated Rebecca McConnell is having a challenging race as she falls back to sixth place with two laps left. Lecomte continued her dominating performance through the next laps, and her lead grew until she ultimately crossed the finish line 1:13min. ahead of a spent Rissveds to grab her 6th career World Cup win. Austria's best hope lay on the shoulders of Laura Stigger, who sat in third place with one lap left. The exciting fight for third between Stigger and Frei continued into the last lap. It was an incredible show of determination as both riders were out of the saddle, but Stigger was able to add a few bike lengths on Frei, grabbing 3rd by just a few seconds. Just behind Frei was a persistent Terpstra (NED), grabbing herself a 5th place finish here in Leogang. An elated Loana Lecomte spoke on how she's feeling after her win. "Last year I was the first person in a long time to win 4 World Cups, and this year I was the first person to win a perfect weekend in the same place. So I am very happy to be honored in mountain bike history.” Cross-Country (XCO) Results Elite Women: 1. Loana Lecomte (FRA) 1:15:42 2. Jenny Rissveds (SWE) 1:16:55 3. Laura Stigger (AUT) 1:17:10 4. Sina Frei (SUI) 1:17:23 5. Anne Terpstra (NED) 1:17:52 Overall World Cup Standings Top 5: 1. Rebecca McConnell (AUS) 1093 2. Loana Lecomte (FRA) 916 3. Anne Terpstra (NED) 713 4. Laura Stigger (AUT) 698 5. Jenny Rissveds (SWE) 695 Fluckiger staves off Schurter (SUI) for another perfect weekend in Leogang In a group of men who are all ready and in great shape to go to battle to take top honors, it is impossible to know who will finish the day on top. There is no doubt that Mathias Fluckiger will be looking to continue his streak and go back-to-back perfect weekends in Leogang. Meanwhile, Schurter (SUI) will be looking to add another World Cup win, solidifying himself in the history books with the most World Cup wins of all time. Dascalu, Fidel, Albin, and the rest of the riders will do their best to make sure neither of these rider’s plans come true. A notable absence from the men's race was Tom Pidcock, who will not be racing this weekend, choosing to focus on road bikes in order to set himself up for the Tour de France. A quick start from Henrique Avancini (BRA) saw him rocket out of the start but he wasn’t able to hold onto it as Vlad Dascalu (ROU) got by him and immediately began upping the pace of the race. Nino Schurter showed off his fitness and strength as he passed Dascalu on the first big climb of lap one. Although there was no major separation between the riders, Schurter was leading the pack. Fluckiger changed up the top 5 with an impressive push, jumping multiple spots on the final climb of lap one putting himself in fourth place joining Hatherly, Dascalu, and Cooper behind Schurter. These men worked hard and did everything they could to not let Schurter take off as he set a challenging pace. The battle was on and the group stuck together. Dascalu was able to grab the lead for a moment before Schurter showcased his strength again and reclaimed his spot out front. The group was close, with Dascalu, Hatherly and Fluckiger all crossing the second finish line all within a second of each other, trailing Nino Schurter closely. An impressive boost from Mathias Fluckiger as he capitalized on the other seemingly relaxed riders was able to pass Hatherly, Dascalu and Schurter to take the lead. Breaking up the pack and pushing himself and Shurter out in front by 7 seconds. The two fight it out and Schurter is able to get past Fluckiger to regain the lead as these two continue to bounce back and forth. With 2 laps left, the Swiss riders took a commanding lead leaving Hatherly (RSA) 8 seconds back and Marotte (FRA) another 22 seconds back from him. Fluckiger was able to put his head down again and battle past Schurter on the first big climb of the fifth lap, with the two continuing to lead by a large margin. An all-out sprint for the final laps sees Fluckiger unable to drop Schurter and Schurter unable to pass. The final hills saw Fluckiger gaining the smallest margin on Schurter coming into the finish. A final sprint put Fluckiger 6 seconds up, earning himself another big win here at Leogang. This gave Mathias the perfect weekend he was looking for but caused Schurter to fall short on his search for the most World Cup wins. Marotte pushed hard but fell back as Dascalu battled past him, leaving him with a 5th place finish. Hatherly also lost some momentum as Dascalu picked up the pace to close the gap. Hatherly was able to hold on long enough to grab 3rd place, giving Dascalu a well-earned 4th place finish. “After Friday's win and today’s, I know I am in good shape - but this is just so tough. It was a great battle once again with Nino, this time a better end for me, and I am really happy about that! Congrats to him. This is tough, really tough. It’s a really demanding course here, lots of climbing and you never really have the chance to recover.“ stated a visibly exhausted yet thrilled Mathias Fluckiger Cross-Country (XCO) Results Elite Men: 1. Mathias Fluckiger (SUI) 1:15:31 2. Nino Schurter (SUI) 1:15:37 3. Alan Hatherly (RSA) 1:16:10 4. Vlad Dascalu (ROU) 1:16:16 5. Maxime Marotte (FRA) 1:16:40 Overall World Cup Standings Top 5: 1. Nino Schurter (SUI) 964 2. Vlad Dascalu (ROU) 775 3. Mathias Fluckiger (SUI) 711 4. Alan Hatherly (RSA) 692 5. Thomas Pidcock (GBR) 600 Great performances in U23 makes for exciting racing A super strong showing for U23 racers saw a very close battle for the woman as Puck Pieterse (NED) was narrowly able to best Line Burquier (FRA) to walk away victorious over 4 laps. The men's race saw a little more distance between competitors with Martin Vidaurre Kossmann (CHI) firmly grabbing the victory 19 seconds in front of second place. Will the Swiss be able to capitalize on home soil? This season is only a third of the way through, despite the amount of action we’ve already gotten to experience so far. The battle between Mathias Fluckiger and Nino Schurter is only going to heat up as they both begin to think about overall points. It is safe to say that Schurter will be doing his absolute best to win the race next month in Lenzerheide as he would be absolutely thrilled to capture the record for most World Cup wins on home soil. Sina Frei has been looking strong all season. A 4th place finish in Leogang will undoubtedly have her confidence high as she heads back to try and collect a World Cup win at home. Successful World Cup with a difficult start Despite difficult conditions at the beginning, the Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Saalfelden Leogang developed into the expected great MTB festival. More than 21,500 spectators followed the exciting World Cup decisions of the past few days, saw great drama and outstanding triumphs. After the rain stopped, big and small fans flooded the Expo Area to marvel at the hottest innovations in the bike world or to hunt for autographs in the Team Area. Not to mention the many side events, such as a Flying Bulls air show. For more information about the Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Saalfelden Leogang, head over to www.mtb-weltcup.at. For everyone that could not make it to the double World Cup, the full action can reviewed on Red Bull TV.
Especially in the women's competition, luck and drama were very close together: while Camille Balanche secured her third victory in the third race in Leogang, local hero Vali Höll again failed to win in front of her home crowd. There was still reason to celebrate for the Austrian fans, because Andreas Kolb secured fifth place and the best placement of the Austrian Downhill men to date. Former overall World Cup winner Matt Walker secured the first World Cup race victory of his career in Leogang. Balanche (SUI) completes the 3-peat in variable conditions Fortunately for both the riders and the 20,000+ spectators, the rain has finally stopped and the sun is shining, giving the wet and muddy course a chance to dry. However, it’s safe to say that despite a little warm weather, the slippery track and mud that has accumulated is a challenge that every rider will have to face. As was expected coming into this race, the final wood section acted as both the toughest section of the course and a section that would make or break a run. Coming off her win in Fort William, Nina Hoffman (GER) came into the wood section well into the green but lost it early into the mud. She was able to get moving again only to go back off line shortly after, ending her chance of standing on top of the podium today. Eleonora Farina (ITA) showcased her skill through the wood section and was able to keep her feet on the pedals and put down a clean run. Hitting the wood gap coming out of the wooded section gained her even more time, crossing the finish line over five seconds up. Myriam Nicole (FRA) looked to be holding a little back through the motorway. A mistake up top saw her battling to get back into the green which she was able to do before the wooded section. She powered through, finding herself deeper in the green and gaining 4 seconds on the leader by the time she crossed the finish line. A terrible-looking crash towards the top for Marine Cabirou (FRA) would end her chances. Fortunately, she would be able to ride away and make it to the bottom. Valentina Holl (AUT) was certainly keen to win on home track and was 7 seconds into the green when a small crash near the top would see her fall back half a second into the red. She was looking strong into her namesake wood section, but lost it again when she went over the bars, ending her chances. A visibly disappointed Vali fell to the ground at the finish line, where she sat in 5th place. Camille Balanche (SUI), the qualifying winner, rode a clean run from top to bottom. She found herself in the green right away, hitting all of the jumps, clearing the wood section, and hitting the Red Bull drop - all adding to her winning margin. Balanche, the final rider, crossed the finish line 11 seconds in front of second place giving her the hat-trick in Leogang. "It was way better. I tried not to risk it too much, because now it’s so fast I was not expecting this. I didn’t make the mistakes at the top and then when you start your run without mistakes it’s just better in the head. It felt really good, I’m so stoked. Third time in a row here is a dream, even more in quali and then crossed the line first. I’m on the moon.” said a visibly stoked Camille Balanche Downhill (DHI) Results Elite Women: 1. Camille Balanche (SUI) 4:08:218 2. Myriam Nicole (FRA) 4:19:586 3. Eleonora Farina (ITA) 4:24:281 4. Louisa-Anna Ferguson (GBR) 4:29:876 5. Monika Hrastnik (SLO) 4:30:258 Overall World Cup Standings Top 5: 1. Camille Balanche (SUI) 685 2. Myriam Nicole (FRA) 555 3. Valentina Holl (AUT) 460 4. Eleonora Farina (ITA) 395 5. Nina Hoffmann (GER) 368 Matt Walker (GBR) takes home first World Cup win A notable absence in the men's category is Scotsman Reece Wilson. Wilson took to social media to let fans know that he has not been feeling himself lately and is taking some time to get back to feeling good. Loic Bruni who injured himself in Fort Williams will also be out for this round. After a long time off his bike with a severe ankle injury, last year's winner, Troy Brosnan, was able to make a return and qualified in 6th place. Back from recovery as well, six weeks off the bike following a concussion saw Finn Iles back to full strength with a solid 2nd place finish in qualifying. Amaury Pierron (FRA) was sitting in second place coming into the woods, but was incredibly strong throughout the section, powering over the roots and nailing the corners. A brief foot dab was the only visible fault. Pierron crossed the finish line in first place, over a second up. Pierron would end the day in 4th place. Angel Suarez Alonso (ESP) was next in the starting gates. His splits bounced back and forth between red and green, always staying close to Pierron’s times. Angel looked strong through the wood section and powered through the final jumps into first place. Angel’s efforts would be enough to finish his day on the podium, in third place. Thibaut Daprela (FRA) was riding a wild run and was looking like he might be able to challenge the leader board. A crash in the woods would take that chance away. Starting off the race in the green and looking lightning-fast for the first split, Laurie Greenland (GBR) lost over 8 seconds before the second split. He was able to ride a fast rest of the race and salvage some points but certainly didn’t end up where he wanted to finish, far back on the leaderboard. Danny Hart (GBR) found himself up by over a second into the motorway. He was able to crush the rest of the run and stay in the green through the wood section and come out a second up. Hart crossed the finish line in first up by over a second with three riders left up top. Danny’s time in the hot seat wouldn't last long as his fellow countrymen was up next and would directly knock him off. Matt Walker (GBR) found the green by the second split by the narrowest margin. He lost the green for a moment but aggressively attacked the woods and found himself back in first. He was able to hold onto it and crossed the line knocking his fellow Englishman out of first. Two riders to go. We saw some potentially over-aggressive riding up top, causing Finn Iles (CAN) to fall back a little bit, but the battle was far from over. He worked hard to try and make it back, but it wasn't enough - 6th place with one rider left. The top qualifier Benoit Coulanges (FRA) looked fast and in control through the top of his run, gaining over a second on Matt Walker. He wasn't able to continue his clean riding, losing a foot and crashing in the woods. A disappointment for Coulanges, putting him in 20th place. Although Coulanges couldn’t hold on to get his first World Cup win, Walker watched from the hot seat and claimed his. An exciting day for the Englishmen with both 1st and 2nd going to Great Britain. Coulanges’ mishap gave the Austrian fans a reason to celebrate, too, as local hero Andreas Kolb (AUT) remained in fifth place, securing the best Austrian DH World Cup result in history and his first podium. “Honestly, I can’t put it into words. It's unbelievable just trying to absorb the moment as much as possible. Honestly, I didn’t expect it this week. It’s not a track I’ve done particularly well on in the past. I felt really good in practice this morning. I was confident in my lines, I made some bold choices with tires, and it paid off“ beamed an excited Matt Walker. Downhill (DHI) Results Elite Men: 1. Matt Walker (GBR) 3:28:816 2. Danny Hart (GBR) 3:29:141 3. Angel Suarez (ESP) 3:30:370 4. Amaury Pierron (FRA) 3:30:530 5. Andreas Kolb (AUT) 3:31:249 Overall World Cup Standings Top 5: 1. Amaury Pierron (FRA) 580 2. Matt Walker (GBR) 443 3. Danny Hart (GBR) 401 4. Benoit Coulanges (FRA) 380 5. Laurie Greenland (GBR) 354 Neither qualifying winners hold onto top spots through the finals Jackson Goldstone (CAN) and Jenna Hastings (NZL) were unable to hold onto their top qualifying position through the finals. Both riders went for it but finished in second place. Phoebe Gale (GBR) put down an incredible run and took top honors over 14 seconds into first place. Jordan Williams (GBR) came out on top of the men's race with a run that put him 4 seconds faster than Goldstone. Warm weather will make for great Cross-Country racing Clear forecast and dryer conditions will certainly make for some great Cross-Country racing tomorrow. As the mud dries and the ground hardens the speed that these riders will have to find will increase. For more information about the Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountainbike World Cup in Saalfelden Leogang, head over to www.mtb-weltcup.at. For everyone that cannot make it to the double World Cup, the action can be followed live on Red Bull TV. It wouldn't be a Leogang World Cup stop without a packed schedule of side-events. Before the XCO final on Sunday a BMX show hosted by Senad Grosic will take place. The Expo Area will be filled to the brim with the latest and greatest from the bike world and in the Team Area, visitors can get a look behind the scenes at the daily life of athletes during a World Cup weekend. Both areas can be visited on Sunday (09:30 - 17:00).
The international Cross-Country elite racing kicked off the promising World Cup weekend in Saalfelden Leogang with two spectacular XCC races that were hard to beat in terms of excitement and drama. In the end, Loana Lecomte and Mathias Flückiger won their respective races in difficult conditions. Loanna Lecomte (FRA) puts it together for a dominating race win in the mud Traction would be a battle for the women competing for starting spots and overall points in the Cross Country Short Track race. Wet conditions leading up to the race created soft, slippery conditions which made the large climbs on this track even more challenging. Sadly for fans, Pauline Ferrand-Prevot was notably absent as she has chosen to focus her efforts on future events. Rebecca McConnell was able to blast out of the start and put herself in the holeshot position early on in the race. This course saw riders go straight out of the start into a massive climb which established much larger gaps between riders than we are used to seeing in these Short Track races. Lap one ended with McConnell (AUS) in the lead and Rissveds (SWE) following closely behind. McConnell was looking strong and held onto the lead through laps 1, 2, and 3 but Loanna Lecomte (FRA) was able to battle past McConnell in the 4th lap of the race. Lecomte was able to add loads of distance on the rest of the competition through the next two laps, finishing the 5th lap over 14 seconds in front of her closest competitor. Behind her, a group of 4 battled hard for second place, with McConnell at the back of that pack. Loanna continued to push her body and dominated throughout the remainder of the race. Riding hard and adding time on her competitors with each lap, she crossed the line heading into the final lap up by a whopping 21 seconds. This is even more impressive considering she was battling a flat rear tire for the final few laps. The final lap saw some change up with Terpstra (NED) battling through the group of 4 to grab second place, looking over her shoulder to see her Ghost teammate Bohé in third place crossing the final finish line. An exciting podium to see, with Loanna Lecomte winning back to back Leogang Short Track World Cup wins and her second short-track win overall, with Bohé finding her first Short Track World Cup podium finish. “I felt good and now I’m feeling good. I had a flat tire on the last 3 or 2 laps so I tried to push slowly to be able to finish the race. My leg is good and I can't wait for Sunday’s race. I didn’t expect to win today so if it can be possible, I will do that. I did it today and it’s a very good start for the weekend. We will see Sunday results. No pressure, just enjoy the time on my bike.” said an elated Loanna Lecomte after her incredible performance through seven laps XCC Short Track Results Elite Women: 1. Loana Lecomte (FRA) 21:21 2. Anne Terpstra (NED) 21:30 3. Caroline Bohé (DEN) 21:40 4. Alessandra Keller (SUI) 21:48 5. Rebecca McConnell (AUS) 21:55 Overall World Cup Standings Top 5: 1. Rebecca Mcconnell (AUS) 740 points 2. Alessandra Keller (SUI) 540 points 3. Loana Lecomte (FRA) 530 points 4. Anne Terpstra (NED) 504 points 5. Jolanda Neff (SUI) 475 points Mathias Fluckiger (SUI) battles for his second straight win at Leogang Round 4 of Short Track started with the men shooting straight out of the start gate into the first large grassy climb. Short Track World Champion Phillip Columbo (SUI) went down right off the bat, creating a large pile-up in the middle of the pack. Lap 1 ended with Avancini (BRA) in front of a very close race. The standings remained the same through lap 2 with Avancini in the lead and Dascalu (ROU) right on his tire with a large group of riders closely tailing them. The third lap showed a little more action with a bottleneck before the wood bridge requiring many riders to push their bike to the top of the slippery wood feature. Halfway through the race, a notable Nino Schurter (SUI) sat in 11th place. Swiss riders Fluckiger and his fellow countryman Albin were able to push past Avancini to head into first and second respectively with two laps to go. Albin was able to stay with Fluckiger for a brief period, but Mathias took off and was able to add massive distance on the rest of the competition. He started the final lap with a 17 second advantage. The battle for second place was the one to watch as Dascalu was able to stave off Albin, Avancini, and Schuermans to get the best Short Track finish of his career. This impressive performance by Fluckiger gives him his second Leogang Short Track race win in a row and an exciting start to a busy weekend. Some notable riders out of the top spots were current point leader Luca Schwarzbauer (GER) who finished 30th, Nino Schurter (SUI), who finished 11th, and Filippo Colombo who did not finish the race. “I was excited before the race and in the race. Actually this track suits me. I don’t know if it’s the track or just the location but I just enjoy riding here and when you enjoy it it’s normally a good performance.“ said an obviously thrilled Mathias Fluckiger. XCC Short Track Results Elite Men: 1. Mathias Fluckiger (SUI) 21:46 2. Vlad Dascalu (ROU) 21:57 3. Vital Albin (SUI) 22:07 4. Henrique Avancini (BRA) 22:10 5. Jens Schuermans (BEL) PHOTO Overall XCC World Cup Standings Top 5: 1. Luca Schwarzbauer (GER) 541 points 2. Mathias Fluckiger (SUI) 538 points 3. Henrique Avancini (BRA) 535 points 4. Alan Hatherly (RSA) 512 points 5. Nino Schurter (SUI) 490 points Everchanging conditions and a tight qualifying will certainly make for a great final. Tomorrow's Downhill is sure to be an exciting event to watch. As with Cross Country, the rain has made the downhill course even more challenging. The forecasted sun may turn the mud into an even trickier Peanut butter-like substance that will have every rider reevaluating their race strategy. This morning's qualifier saw Jackson Goldstone (CAN) continue his powerful riding this season with a 9-second lead over second-place while Jenna Hastings (NZL) was able to cross the line over 12 seconds ahead of second place for the juniors. Elite qualifying saw more strong riding as Camille Balanche (SUI) was able to put down a clean run, narrowly beating Vali Holl's time of 4:25.620 with a time of 4:25.019. Setting up for a dramatic finish for tomorrow's final. The men's elite qualifying was also a very close race with Benoit Coulanges (FRA) taking top honors with the next 4 riders all within 3 seconds of his time. Tune in tomorrow as the world’s fastest downhiller riders take to the mud to battle it out in Leogang Austria. For more information about the Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountain Bike World Cup in Saalfelden Leogang, head over to www.mtb-weltcup.at. For everyone that cannot make it to the double World Cup, the action can be followed live on Red Bull TV. It wouldn't be a Leogang World Cup stop without a packed schedule of side-events, including an air show of the Flying Bulls with the Trojan 28B and pilot Miguel Hochleitner Saturday before the DHI Elite finals and “Long Live Chainsaw” film screening at XCO VIP grand stand the following evening at 6:30 pm. Before the XCO final on Sunday a BMX show hosted by Senad Grosic will take place. The Expo Area will be filled to the brim with the latest and greatest from the bike world and in the Team Area, visitors can get a look behind the scenes at the daily life of athletes during a World Cup weekend. Both areas can be visited on Friday (12:00 - 20:00), Saturday (10:00 - 20:00) and Sunday (09:30 - 17:00).
Erster Trainingstag in Saalfelden Leogang für die Downhill- und Cross Country-Weltelite, die sich am kommenden Wochenende beim Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountainbike Worldcup im Epic Bikepark gegenüberstehen werden. Das erste Abtasten auf den anspruchsvollen Strecken fand heute noch bei widrigen Witterungsverhältnissen statt. Mit der Strecke am besten zurecht, kam Lokalmatadorin Vali Höll, die schnellste der Timed Training Session. Da blieb keiner trocken: Das erste Training in Saalfelden Leogang wurde für die Downhill- und Cross Country-Eilte heute zur nassen, kalten und vor allem matschigen Angelegenheit. Doch wettertechnisch ist Besserung in Sicht. Beim ersten Abtasten der Strecke ließen es die heimischen Asse deshalb heute noch etwas vorsichtiger angehen. Für Laura Stigger und Mona Mitterwallner steht morgen mit dem Short Track (ab 17.30 Uhr) bereits die erste Weltcupentscheidung am Programm: „Die Strecke ist super zu fahren, ich habe mich heute aber noch mit der B-Linie begnügt und wollte nichts riskieren", erklärt Mitterwallner, die genauso wie Landsfrau Laura Stigger zum engen Favoritenkreis zählt. Eine Dame aus Australien ist an diesem Wochenende die große Gejagte: Rebecca „Bec“ McConnell. Die Australierin jubelte zuletzt nicht nur über den Weltcup-Hattrick, sondern dominiert auch die Gesamtwertung im Short Track. Bei der Herren-Elite lief es in den bisherigen Rennen und im Gesamtweltcup auf das Duell Nino Schurter (SUI) vs. Tom Pidcock (GBR) hinaus. Die Schweizer Legende gewann das Auftaktrennen in Brasilien und liegt nach zwei weiteren zweiten und dritten Plätzen an der Spitze des Gesamtklassements. Mit einem weiteren Sieg über die olympische Distanz würde Schurter außerdem mit insgesamt 34 Weltcupsiegen zum alleinigen Rekordhalter für die meisten Weltcupsiege aufsteigen. Die Chancen auf diesen Rekord stehen gut, denn der englische Überflieger Tom Pidcock pausiert in Leogang, um sich auf die Tour de France vorzubereiten. Dennoch, Schurter und Leogang – das ist noch nicht die ganz große Liebesbeziehung. Ganz im Gegenteil zu einem anderen Schweizer: Im letzten Jahr jubelte der kletterstarke Mathias Flückiger im Short Track von Leogang, kann er auch in diesem Jahr wieder zuschlagen? Vali Höll schnellste Dame in der Timed Training Session Für die Downhiller, rund um die Saalbacherin Valentina „Vali“ Höll, die den heutigen Trainingslauf für sich entscheiden konnte, stehen morgen (ab 12.30 Uhr) die Quali-Läufe am Programm. Mit ihrem Sieg in Lourdes und einem zweiten Platz in Fort William führt Camille Balanche (SUI), die sich auch in Leogang pudelwohl fühlt, die Rangliste an. Die Schweizerin gewann im Pinzgau nicht nur das Weltcuprennen im vergangenen Jahr, sondern auch die Weltmeisterschaft 2020. Um den Sieg werden zudem Weltmeisterin Myriam Nicole (FRA) und Fort William Siegerin Nina Hoffmann (GER) ein Wörtchen mitreden wollen. Nach zwei Siegen in zwei Weltcuprennen in der Herren-Elite zieht der Franzose Amaury Pierron einsam seine Kreise. Er dominierte auch das heute Training in Leogang. Seine ärgsten Verfolger Laurie Greenland (GBR), Thibaut Dapréla (FRA), Benoit Coulanges (FRA) oder der zuletzt angeschlagene Finn Iles (CAN) scheinen noch kein rechtes Mittel gegen die Dominanz von Pierron gefunden zu haben. Viel Programm auch abseits des Renngeschehens Freitag (12 bis 20 Uhr), Samstag (10 bis 20 Uhr) und Sonntag (9.30 bis 17 Uhr) bietet die Team & Expo Area direkt im Festivalgelände an der Talstation der Asitzbahn einen exklusiven Blick hinter die Kulissen des professionellen Mountainbike-Sports. Hier kann man die Fahrer bei der Renn-Vorbereitung beobachten, aber auch den Mechanikern beim Finetunig der Bikes über die Schulter schauen. Natürlich geben auch unzählige Aussteller die Möglichkeit, die Neuheiten in Sachen Bike-Technologie und Radzubehör genauer unter die Lupe zu nehmen und in der Shimano Testarea auch gleich zu testen. Wer mit den Ridern weiter auf Tuchfühlung gehen will, der hat am Freitag um 16 Uhr an der Kassa der Talstation Asitz Gelegenheit, sich bei einer Fox Racing Signing Session ein begehrtes Autogramm zu holen. Aber nicht nur am Boden, auch in der Luft, spielt das Rahmenprogramm beim Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountainbike Worldcup in Saalfelden Leogang alle Stücke. Am Samstag um 12.15, vor dem Finale der Downhiller, wird Flying Bulls Pilot Miguel Hochleitner mit der historischen North American T-28B eine beeindruckende Airshow mit artistischen Flugeinlagen in den Himmel zaubern. Am Sonntag geht es dann auf dem BMX zur Sache. Vor dem Finale der Cross Country-Rider liefert Senad Grosic eine geniale Show am Eventgelände. Nicht zu verpassen auch am Weltcup-Wochenende: die Parties in den umliegenden Bars. Das „Warm Up“ gibt es etwa am Freitag in der Kralleralm, die Rider´s Party steigt am Samstag im Outback. Spezialtipp: Eine kostenlose Anreise mit den Öffis! Am Freitag ist die öffentliche Anreise in ganz Salzburg kostenlos und am Samstag und Sonntag ist die Event-Eintrittskarte auch die Fahrkarte mit den SVV & ÖBB (S-Bahn & REX). Für alle, die nicht live beim Doppel-Weltcup dabei sein können, gibt es die Möglichkeit die Finalrennen live auf Red Bull TV und ORF Sport+ zu verfolgen.
Their two worlds will merge from 10 - 12 June as the first double World Cup of the 2022 season takes place in Saalfelden Leogang, Austria, as the Austrian town becomes the hot-bed of global mountain biking for a few days. Over 800 athletes from 44 nations will give it their all in the hunt for valuable World Cup points, and they will be cheered on by more than 20,000 mountain bike loving spectators. Spectacular side events complete this bike-action filled weekend. Tickets can be purchased online or at the box office and if history shows, it pays to be fast, as they're sure to sell out. Tyrolean advantage? Swiss legend vs. British high-flyer? While only a third of the Cross-Country season has come and gone, one rider's name has risen above all others so far: Rebecca 'Bec' McConnell, the new rider to beat. The Australian rider has won all three Olympic distance races and has been on the podium for all of the Short Track races as well, putting her on top of both rankings ahead of the races in Leogang. Apart from the usual podium suspects, two Austrians have risen through the ranks; Laura Stigger and Mona Mitterwallner, who are ranked fourth and fifth in the XCO Overall rankings. Cheered on by their "home" crowd, both are ready to prove their mettle. "The pressure is immense, especially the one that I put on myself. I'm excited to race and I want to have fun doing it, that's what I keep telling myself. First order of business is to show the spectators that we've got what it takes," says Mona Mitterwallner, who has won multiple times in Leogang as well as winning the U-23 Cross-Country Overall World Cup in 2021. "The Short Track course is extremely demanding, right from the start. The meadow climb is quite physical, and you need to have good technique. Altogether, the Leogang track has the most vertical meters, but I think that suits the Tyroleans quite well and I'm looking forward to it." - Laura Stigger In the men's field, this season has seen a battle unfold between Nino Schurter (SUI) and Tom Pidcock (GBR). The Swiss legend leads the Overall World Cup rankings thanks to a win in Brazil, as well as podium finishes in Nove Mesto (2nd) and Albstadt (3rd) and is one Olympic distance win away from calling himself the record holder for most World Cup wins. Meanwhile, Pidcock is second in the Overall with back to back wins, but he has yet to confirm whether he's racing in Leogang. Score to settle for Austrian local? Leogang good luck charm for Balanche (SUI)? If home advantage will play a role in the Downhill races, there is one rider that would capitalize on it is Austrian Valentina 'Vali' Höll. Growing up just a stone's throw away from the iconic World Cup stop, she knows the track like no other and has a score to settle with the 'Speedster' after crashes in 2020 and 2021 took her out of the running for an Austrian win. Camille Balanche, who sits in first place in the Overall rankings after winning the season opener in Lourdes and finishing second in Fort William, will be hoping that the idyllic town continues to be her good luck charm, especially after winning the 2020 World Championships and the 2021 World Cup in this very town. Hot on the heels of Vali and Camille will be current World Champion Myriam Nicole (FRA) and Nina Hoffmann (GER), who was the fastest woman in Fort William. "It's crazy to witness the development of the World Cup, especially over the last three years. Back in the days there were maybe one or two riders who could say they won a World Cup, but now, there are six women who all have what it takes to win. Just to get into the Top 5 has become a challenge in itself. Of course, that's really motivating, but it's also a bit annoying that there are so many fast riders. Leogang is always an interesting race for me. I've qualified first every single time in Leogang, which gave me the "Quali-Vali" nickname, but I would struggle during finals. I think that that has to do with routines and the ability to deal with pressure. I know that as long as I don't crash, I'll have a good race." Valentina Höll. With two wins in two races, French rider Amaury Pierron has become the man to beat. His closest rivals, including Laurie Greenland (GBR), Thibaut Dapréla (FRA), Benoit Coulanges (FRA) and Finn Iles (CAN), have yet to find a way to break Pierron's dominance. With Loic Bruni (FRA) out due to a collarbone fracture suffered in Fort William, who will prove fast enough to beat Pierron? Electrifying atmosphere with 20,000 fans, a packed event schedule and more Saalfelden Leogang World Cup weekend means a lot more than spectacular racing. It means party vibes, bike action on- and off the trails, signing sessions, an air show and more. For the first time since 2019, spectators are once again allowed trackside in the Epic Bikepark Leogang. "We're expecting between 7,000 to 10,000 visitors per day. The other World Cup stops have done very well, and it shows just how much the sport is booming. The scene is dying to be there again, to experience a race trackside, because that's an extremely unique feeling," says Kornel Grundner, director of the Leogang cable car and organizer of the World Cup. It wouldn't be a Leogang World Cup stop without a packed schedule of side-events, including an air show of the Flying Bulls with the Trojan 28B and pilot Miguel Hochleitner, a BMX show hosted by Senad Grosic as well as a signing session with some of the best FOX Racing athletes. The Expo Area will be filled to the brim with the latest and greatest from the bike world and in the Team Area, visitors can get a look behind the scenes at the daily life of athletes during a World Cup weekend. Both areas can be visited on Friday (12:00 - 20:00), Saturday (10:00 - 20:00) and Sunday (09:30 - 17:00). Tickets for this bike-action filled weekend can be purchased online or at the box office and if history shows, it pays to be fast, as they're sure to sell out. As a "Green Event Salzburg", the World Cup focusses heavily on sustainability. The organizers aim to reduce their ecological footprint to a minimum by, for example, providing free public transport and shuttles on site, providing the means to separate and reduce waste and motivating people to use the MTB World Cup app in order to reduce paper usage, but also use energy efficiently. For more information about the Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountainbike World Cup in Saalfelden Leogang, head over to www.mtb-weltcup.at. For everyone that cannot make it to the double World Cup, the action can be followed live on Red Bull TV.
Tausende Bike-Fans werden dabei den weltbesten Fahrern bei ihrer Arbeit auf die Räder schauen. Neben dem Kampf um die Sekunden gibt es an diesem Wochenende im Epic Bikepark Leogang aber auch abseits der Strecken das volle Actionpaket – unzählige Side-Events warten. Wo die großen Wow-Momente beim Doppelweltcup vom 10. bis 12. Juni im Epic Bikepark Leogang zu erleben sind, ist klar: Direkt neben der Strecke, wenn sich die weltbesten Downhiller und Cross Country-Fahrer scheinbar furchtlos über Wurzeln, Hindernisse und Steilkurven, teils mit Highspeed ins Tal werfen. Aber auch abseits des Renngeschehens wartet der Bike-Event in Saalfelden Leogang mit einigen sehenswerten Side-Events. Wo? Etwa in der Team & Expo Area oder in luftigen Höhen bei der Red Bull Flugshow! Ein exklusiver Blick hinter die Kulissen des Bike-Sports Freitag (12 bis 20 Uhr), Samstag (10 bis 20 Uhr) und Sonntag (9.30 bis 17 Uhr) bietet die Team & Expo Area direkt im Festivalgelände an der Talstation der Asitzbahn einen exklusiven Blick hinter die Kulissen des professionellen Mountainbike-Sports. Hier kann man die Fahrer bei der Renn-Vorbereitung beobachten, aber auch den Mechanikern beim Finetunig der Bikes über die Schulter schauen. Natürlich geben auch unzählige Aussteller die Möglichkeit, die Neuheiten in Sachen Bike-Technologie und Radzubehör genauer unter die Lupe zu nehmen. Wer mit den Ridern weiter auf Tuchfühlung gehen will, der hat am Freitag um 16 Uhr an der Kassa der Talstation Asitz Gelegenheit, sich bei einer Fox Racing Signing Session ein begehrtes Autogramm zu holen. Dazu warten noch diverse Gewinnspiele, wie z.B. am Stand von Scott, wo täglich ein signiertes N1NO Schurter Jersey verlost wird. In der Shimano Test Area können die neuesten Produkte auch getestet werden. Red Bull-Shows am Samstag und Sonntag Aber nicht nur am Boden, auch in der Luft spielt das Rahmenprogramm beim Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountainbike Worldcup in Saalfelden Leogang alle Stücke. Am Samstag um 12.15 Uhr, vor dem Finale der Downhiller, wird Flying Bulls Pilot Miguel Hochleitner mit der historischen North American T-28B eine beeindruckende Airshow mit artistischen Flugeinlagen in den Himmel zaubern. Am Sonntag geht es dann auf dem BMX zur Sache. Vor dem Finale der Cross Country-Rider liefert Senad Grosic eine geniale Show am Eventgelände. Nicht zu verpassen auch am Weltcup-Wochenende: die Parties in den umliegenden Bars. Das „Warm Up“ gibt es etwa am Freitag in der Kralleralm, die Rider´s Party steigt am Samstag im Outback. Spezialtipp: Eine kostenlose Anreise mit den Öffis! Am Freitag ist die öffentliche Anreise in ganz Salzburg kostenlos und am Samstag und Sonntag ist die Event-Eintrittskarte auch die Fahrkarte mit den SVV & ÖBB (S-Bahn & REX). Für alle, die nicht live beim Doppelweltcup dabei sein können, gibt es die Möglichkeit die Finalrennen live auf Red Bull TV und ORF Sport + zu verfolgen. Tickets können vorab online unter www.mtb-weltcup.at oder am Veranstaltungswochenende direkt vor Ort erworben werden.
Der Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountainbike World Cup steht im Epic Bikepark Leogang auf dem Kalender. Beim ersten Doppelweltcup der Saison in den Disziplinen Cross Country und Downhill feiern auch die Fans ein Comeback entlang der Strecke. Die geballte österreichische Mountainbike-Power, rund um Vali Höll, Mona Mitterwallner und Laura Stigger, präsentierte heute im Rahmen einer Pressekonferenz in der Salzburger Panzerhalle stolz „ihren“ Heimweltcup in Saalfelden Leogang. Beim ersten Doppelweltcup der Saison stehen vom 10. bis 12. Juni die Entscheidungen im olympischen Cross Country (XCO) und Short Track (XCC) sowie im Downhill an. Über 800 Athletinnen und Athleten aus 44 Nationen werden über die anspruchsvollen Strecken im Epic Bikepark Leogang um wertvolle Weltcuppunkte kämpfen. Unter ihnen auch die Lokalmatadorin aus Saalbach Hinterglemm, Downhill-Weltcupgesamtsiegerin Vali Höll und die beiden Tiroler Cross Country-Athletinnen Mona Mitterwallner und Laura Stigger, die bei der Pressekonferenz über den anstehenden Heimweltcup sprachen. „Leogang ist ein spezielles Rennen und testet mich immer wieder. Aber ich kenne und liebe meine Heimstrecke und - wie heißt es so schön - aller guten Dinge sind drei“, erklärt Vali Höll, die nach der Verletzung bei der WM 2020 im vergangenen Jahr aufgrund eines Sturzes im Zielhang noch den sicher geglaubten Sieg in der Eliteklasse vergeben hatte, sich aber dennoch den hervorragenden zweiten Platz holen konnte. Laura Stigger kommt mit besten Erinnerungen zurück nach Leogang. Im Cross Country Olympic fuhr sie im vergangenen Jahr ausgerechnet beim Heimrennen zum ersten Weltcuppodium: „Wenn ich heute daran denke, ist das immer noch Gänsehaut pur. Es war ein ganz spezieller Moment - vor Familie und Freunden. In diesem Jahr freue ich mich besonders auf die Zuschauer, die uns auch entlang der Strecke anfeuern werden. Die vergangenen Weltcups haben gezeigt, wie wichtig die Fans für unseren Sport sind“, so Stigger. Nachdem Mona Mitterwallner, die dritte im Bunde der erfolgreichen österreichischen Mountainbike-Ladies, die vergangenen Weltcups in Leogang und natürlich auch die WM 2020 bei den Juniorinnen und in der U23 dominierte, kommt sie heuer erstmals als Elite-Fahrerin zurück zum Heimweltcup. Mit großen Erwartungen: „Ich liebe es zu `klettern`, deshalb taugt mir die Stecke, mit ihren steilen Auffahrten total. Natürlich ist der Druck riesig, vor allem jener, den ich mir selbst auflege. Ich möchte an den Start gehen und Freude dran haben, das habe ich mir vorgenommen. In allererster Linie geht es darum, dem Publikum zu zeigen, was wir draufhaben", so Mitterwallner. Fans sorgen für Ausnahmestimmung an der Strecke Erstmals sind in diesem Jahr auch wieder Zuseher entlang der Strecke erlaubt. „Wir rechnen mit 7.000 bis 10.000 Zuschauern pro Tag. Die vorangegangenen Weltcuporte haben ordentlich vorgelegt und das zeigt, wie sehr der Sport boomt. Die Szene brennt wieder darauf, live vor Ort dabei zu sein. Direkt an der Strecke hautnah mitzufiebern, ist nämlich ein ganz besonderes Feeling“, weiß auch der Geschäftsführer der Leoganger Bergbahnen und Weltcup-Veranstalter Kornel Grundner. Neben den Zuschauerbereichen im Ziel wird es auch wieder einen moderierten Hotspot entlang der Downhill-Strecke geben. Volles Programm also, erklärt auch der Geschäftsführer der Saalfelden Leogang Touristik und Weltcup-Veranstalter Marco Pointner: „Es ist unser drittes Jahr als Doppelweltcup bzw. Weltmeisterschaft und das dritte Jahr mit völlig unterschiedlichen Vorrausetzung – heuer erstmals wieder mit Zuschauern an der Strecke, die Paddocks der Teams werden wieder geöffnet sein. Man kann den Stars der Szene so richtig nah sein und es ist für uns der perfekte Auftakt in die Sommersaison“, freut sich Pointner. Auch neben der Strecke die volle Ladung Bikesport Neben packenden Weltcupentscheidungen sorgen zahlreiche Sideevents und eine große Expo-Area für ein gehöriges Plus in Sachen Bikesport. Unter anderem warten eine Red Bull Flugshow, eine BMX Show mit Senad Grosic oder eine große Signing Session mit den Top Athleten von FOX Racing. 150 freiwillige Helfer und Helferinnen sind am Weltcup-Wochenende im Einsatz und sie sind es auch, die mit ihrem Einsatz dazu beigetragen haben, dass Athleten, Trainer, Funktionäre, UCI und Medienvertreter den Downhill-Weltcup im vergangenen Jahr zum Besten der Saison ausgezeichnet haben: „Bester Weltcuport zu sein, darauf haben wir über zehn Jahre lang hingearbeitet“, erklärt Kornel Grundner: „Es ist eine riesige Auszeichnung für uns und unser Team.“ Liveübertragung in 93 Länder Aber nicht nur vor Ort ist beim Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountainbike World Cup vom 10. bis 12. Juni Bikesport pur geboten. Die Entscheidungen im Cross Country und Downhill werden durch das Red Bull Media House live übertragen und auf 26 TV-Sendern in 93 Ländern ausgestrahlt: „Welche Dimensionen der Weltcup mittlerweile angenommen hat, zeigt sich an der Anzahl der Akkreditierten: Über 2000 Personen waren im vergangenen Jahr vor Ort“, weiß Pointner. Der Weltcup ist die Event-Speerspitze einer Region, die sich als „Österreichs größte Bikeregion“ mit den Orten Saalbach, Hinterglemm, Leogang und Fieberbrunn ganz dem Thema Bike verschrieben hat. Auch für das SalzburgerLand ein internationales Aushängeschild, jeder fünfte Gast im SalzburgerLand ist nämlich mittlerweile Mountainbiker. Im Epic Bikepark Leogang und auch auf den umliegenden Trails setzt man seit Beginn der Saison besonders auf Nachhaltigkeit und auf neue, händisch angelegte, nachhaltige Trails. Das schätzt auch Sportlandesrat Stefan Schnöll: „Saalfelden Leogang ist ein Best Practice Beispiel, wenn es um den Mountainbikesport geht.“
It is time to get ready for another scavenger hunt. Following last year’s tremendous success, Epic Bikepark Leogang is once again preparing to send mountain bike riders all over the bike El Dorado so that they can explore every corner of the Saalfelden Leogang region on the hunt for precious treasure. Up for grabs is a prize package containing products from all of the bike park partners. The biggest Austrian bike region opens its gates on 7 May to kick off their 21st season, with their season-spanning “Gamble Now” Treasure Hunt starting on the same day. Similar to last year, the bike park will become a giant treasure map. The one difference in 2022? The hunt itself will last from the season opening until the end of August. The lucky winner of the prize package will be revealed during BIKE Festival Leogang, which takes place from 16 to 18 September. Think, Shred, Win – that’s all The Treasure Hunt is open to everyone that is planning to ride and explore the trails that the Saalfelden Leogang area has to offer. Besides a serious dose of leg power and stamina, the hunt also requires a bit of brain power. Participants will need to solve a number of emoji riddles on a treasure map before getting on their bikes. The locations on the map will lead riders to QR-coded signs which, when assembled in the right order, will reveal a password that needs to be entered on the Treasure Hunt page, along with proof of shredding, which is your lift ticket, Gravity Card or season pass. Pro Tip: The password changes every two weeks on a Friday, which means that the more riders solve, shred and explore, the more chances they have to win. The Treasure All the hard work will not go unrewarded. Epic Bikepark Leogang and its partners made sure the treasure chest is filled to the brim with some truly amazing prizes. The lucky winner will walk away with a complete, shred-ready package, including a Scott Gambler 920 Downhill mountain bike, as well as prizes such as shoes, clothing, a helmet, a luggage set and more. Yes, you read that right, 'the lucky winner', meaning that one person collects all of the prizes. The Epic Package - full list of prizes: • 1x SCOTT Gambler 920 • 1x Multicover Travel Set incl. World Traveller 125, Wash Bag, Snow Gear Roller and Mission Pro 28 by EVOC • 2x Bike outfits from FOX (1x women, 1x men) • 1x Knee protectors and a Xult Downhill Helmet from IXS • 1x Armega Goggle Anti Fog Clear Lens and Armega Forecast Film System - Full Kit from 100% • 1x Bottle for Life Bundle from MUC-OFF • 1x GoPro HERO 10 Black incl. SD-Card, Chesty & Handlbar Mount from GOPRO • 1x GRAVITA ALPACA X5 + ALPACA TOOL CARRIER saddle and GRAVITA TENSOR shoes by FIZIK • 1x MAXXIS Assegai & Minion tire set "Thousands of cycling guests visit Saalfelden Leogang to ride Epic Bikepark Leogang and the surrounding trails. We wanted to give something back to these visitors while at the same time also offering something new. The successful 2021 Treasure Hunt, with 360 entries in just two months, showed us that we have something special, so we decided to expand upon that. Just like last year, when the winner took home a custom SCOTT Gambler, we prepared a prize package that truly deserves the "Epic" moniker. I'm extremely grateful to all of the support that our partners have once again provided and I wish all of the participants the best of luck." - Kornel Grundner, Managing Director of the Leogang Mountain Railway. For more information regarding the Treasure Hunt: bikepark.saalfelden-leogang.com/giveaway-2022
