CYCLING Preview: Schurter tries for sixth Mountain Bike World Championship

A massive field of 716 riders from 55 countries are gathering in Lenzerheide (SUI) for the 29th UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Junior (ages 17-18), U-23 (19-22) and Elite classes in both Cross Country and Downhill.

The senior Cross Country races will be held on Saturday and the Downhills on Sunday. The Cross Country route comprises 4 km and meanders through the Seewald Forest. The Downhill course is 2.2 km with a 413 m drop.

The just-completed UCI World Cup finished with these medalists:

∙ Men/Cross Country:
1. 1,861 Nino Schurter (SUI)
2. 1,355 Mathieu van der Poel (NED)
3. 1,242 Maxime Marotte (FRA)

∙ Women/Cross Country:
1. 1,930 Jolanda Neff (SUI)
2. 1,743 Annika Langvad (DEN)
3. 1,305 Emily Batty (CAN)

∙ Men/Downhill:
1. 1,178 Amaury Pierron (FRA)
2. 884 Danny Hart (GBR)
3. 860 Troy Brosnan (AUS)

∙ Women/Downhill:
1. 1,476 Rachel Atherton (GBR)
2. 1,316 Tahnee Seagrave (GBR)
3. 1,055 Tracey Hannah (AUS)

In terms of prior World Championships, the big stars have included:

∙ Nino Schurter (SUI) ~ Men’s Cross Country World Champion 2012-13-15-16-17
∙ Jaroslav Kulhavy (CZE) ~ Men’s Cross Country Worlds silver medalist 2010-16-17
∙ Thomas Litcher (SUI) ~ Men’s Cross Country Worlds bronze medalist 2017

∙ Jolanda Neff (SUI) ~ Women’s Cross Country World Champion 2017
∙ Annika Langvad (DEN) ~ Women’s Cross Country World Champion 2016
∙ Pauline Ferrard-Prevot (FRA) ~ Women’s Cross Country World Champion 2015
∙ Gunn-Rita Dahle Flesjaa (NOR) ~ Women’s Cross Country World Champ 2002-04-05-06
∙ Maja Wloszczowsla (POL) ~ Women’s Cross Country World Champion 2010

∙ Loic Bruni (FRA) ~ Men’s Downhill World Champion 2015-17
∙ Danny Hart (GBR) ~ Men’s Downhill World Champion 2011-16
∙ Greg Minaar (RSA) ~ Men’s Downhill World Champion 2003-12-13
∙ Mick Hannah (AUS) ~ Men’s Downhill silver medalist 2013-17
∙ Aaron Gwin (USA) ~ Men’s Downhill bronze medalist 2017

∙ Rachel Atherton (GBR) ~ Women’s Downhill World Champion 2008-13-15-16
∙ Miranda Miller (CAN) ~ Women’s Downhill World Champion 2017
∙ Myriam Nicole (FRA) ~ Women’s Downhill silver medalist 2016-17
∙ Tracey Hannah (AUS) ~ Women’s Downhill bronze medalist 2013-15-16-17
∙ Tahnee Seagrave (GBR) ~ Women’s Downhill bronze medalist 2014

Prize money for these events is €5,000-3,000-2,000 for the top three places winners in the senior divisions. Look for results here.