2020 has been a year of disappointment in many aspects of life and not withstanding that is the lack of World Cup Downhill racing that has taken place. Unfortunately the pandemic has stopped the vast majority of mountain bike racing across the globe and taken many lives in the process. This year’s UCI DHI World Championships is set to take place on Sunday 11 October, it’s going to be the first taste of downhill for many of us and it’s broadcast live on Red Bull TV.
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Last year’s world championships saw a super close race that ultimately saw four time world champion Loic Bruni take the win in the Men’s category over Australia’s Troy Brosnan and France’s Amaury Pierron.
Miriam Nicole managed to hold onto the win in the Women’s category, taking the win over Tahnee Seagrave and Marine Cabirou. Miriam had not raced a single World Cup in 2019 due to injury and she was still able to come back and take the win at World Champs.
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The battle in the Men’s category may be between the two French riders Bruni and Pierron, but there are many riders that may well topple the champ. This year Troy Brosnan will be on an all new Canyon Sender sporting 29er wheels, something that may be just what he needs to take his first World Championships. Aaron Gwin is always a threat and despite being off-form last year, he may well come back and take the title. There will be no shortage of riders waging war on Leogang for the title and it looks set to be a huge event, perhaps the only race this year.
The Women’s category should get a shake up with Austrian Vali Holle competing on home turf for her first attempt at the Elite Women’s World Championships. Rachel Atherton may well dominate again after missing last year’s race but she will have to edge out Tahnee Seagrave, Tracey Hannah and the young gun Vali Holle.
This year’s race will see the first World Championships held so late in the year, with poor weather forecast for race day. Holding a race in the Alpes in October will mean cold and wet conditions with the possibility of snow forecast for race day. The new root section will mean steep slippery conditions for at least part of the track and we may well see some unlikely winners and some carnage for sure. Whatever the result it is sure to be an epic race and we at Brakes Wide Open will be tuning in live on Red Bull TV.
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