Mountain Bike World Cup – Schurter and company want to hit the mud in Leogang – sport

Conditions in Austria will likely play a decisive role in the two elite cross-country races.

It is a special season in which mountain bikers find themselves. Last week, the cross-country specialists contested the only two World Cup races this season at Nove Mesto. The highlight of the season is already on Saturday’s program with the World Cup race in Leogang, Austria.

Schurter traveled to this year’s title fights with third and fourth place finishes from the Czech Republic, a modest result by his standards. But this does not worry the Bündner. “I feel good, even if the Nove Mesto results don’t suggest it. I think I was the strongest in the second race, ”says the 34-year-old with confidence.

Battle of mud and material expected

Schurter is most concerned about conditions in the Salzburg region. The demanding field of Leogang, dotted with many meters of altitude, has become very muddy due to the rains of the last few days. New rains are also announced for Saturday. “Just passing will be difficult,” Schurter said before the race.

Bündner expects that almost all drivers, sooner or later, will have a problem with the material or be slowed down by a fall. “You need luck in racing and you have to keep calm when you have a problem,” says the eight-time world champion, who last won the rainbow jersey five times in a row.

With Mathias Flückiger, the world runner-up is also at the beginning. The Bernese was recently in poor health and it is therefore difficult to assess how he is doing. But he also expects a “real mud fight.”

A bit like Radquer

Women’s world runner-up Jolanda Neff did not travel to Austria in full force. Although he has recovered well, he has not yet reached 100 percent. The woman from eastern Switzerland has the conditions for this.

Muddy conditions are my favorite conditions. It makes everything even more technical and demanding, ”says the 27-year-old. Like the front men for the Swiss, Neff also points out that the bike has to play along. “The material is extremely demanding.”

Sina Frei starts for the first time in the elite. Last year, the Zurich woman had dominated the Under-23s and became world and European champions. In the Czech Republic, she was twice the best Swiss woman in fourth and eighth place. The circumstances should favor him, not in vain Frei is multiple Swiss cycling champion.