Its been so long I’d almost forgotten but the first race is this weekend. A bit annoyed that MSN wasn’t on the schedule but found I’d overlooKed it being the venue for this year’s Worlds.
A quick course preview for the year here (I watched all of the vids whilst uploading files – DH and getting paid to watch it!:

https://www.pinkbike.com/news/downhill-world-cup-2019-tracks-previews.html

https://www.redbull.com/int-en/tv/live/AP-1XJS6F2JW2111/mercedes-benz-uci-mountain-bike-world-cup
Next weekend isn’t it? 27/28th on red bull but good to see it back again!!

I thought it was next weekend as well and I’m away with work so will miss it but I’ll be happy if it is this week

Yeah it’s the 27th/28th. This weekend I think it’s the ixs cup which alot of the wc lot are using as a warm up for wc weekend.

D’Oh I’m out by a week!
A combination of Easter this weekend and last weekend riding for 5 days daarn sarf(er). Still looking forward this season.

Yeah should be good. Interesting to see how Gwin, Gee and others get on with new teams. Hope Greenland continues to progress. Personally I would like Hart to take a win if not the series. Some more competition for Rachel Atherton would be good but I won’t hold my breath, although Seagrave impresses me. Oh and Minaar…hopefully he can get back to his best.

So all in all tonnes to look forward to.

I’m really hoping Luca Shaw gets the little bit of luck he needs after those storming nearly runs last year

Yeah fair one Mike. Interesting if the young guns can repeat their surprise results last year.

Finally I can get this thread into the right place in time. It’s back!
Lots on PinkBike today. Really looking forward to this and the Baku F1, add in Avengers Endgame and a couple of great rides and this has been a brilliant week.

Can’t wait to watch this.

The track looks good, the weather forecast looks grim, the racing will be amazing as always. I just hope the conditions are the same for everyone. There’s nothing worse than a storm rolling in half way through the men’s race.

I’ve been following it since the 90’s so I fully appreciate the sheer amount of high quality coverage we get to enjoy these days. And all in real time, not 6 months later on a 20 quid VHS tape.

balls!! going to Baku for work next weekend! slipped up there

but back to proper sport – just watched WynTV, got my all fired up for the race! cant wait

Are they racing Sat or Sun this year?

I’m sofa bound with a sore knee so this is great news.

Friday 26 April
• 08:30-11:45 // Official Downhill Training – Group B
• 12:00-15:15 // Official Downhill Training – Group A
• 15:30-17:00 // Downhill Timed Training Session (World Cup Top 60 Men Elite, Top 15 Women Elite, Top 10 Men Juniors and Top 3 Women Juniors)
• 17:00-17:45 // On Foot Downhill Course Inspection – Riders and Teams

Saturday 27 April
• 08:30-10:00 // Official Downhill Training – Group B
• 10:15-11:45 // Official Downhill Training – Group A
• 12:15 // Seeding Run – Junior Women
• 12:30 // Qualifying Round – Junior Men
• 13:30 // Qualifying Round – Elite Women
• 14:00 // Qualifying Round – Elite Men

Sunday 28 April
• 08:15-09:15 // Official Downhill Training – Junior Women, Junior Men, Elite Women
• 09:45 // Final – Junior Women
• 10:15 // Final – Junior Men
• 11:00-12:00 // Official Downhill Training – Elite Men
• 12:30 // Final – Elite Women
• 13:30 // Final – Elite Men

Are they racing Sat or Sun this year?

Meribor race day is Sunday but I think for the rest of the season they swap race day with the XC guys.

The STW youtube channel said Hart has been beaten by Walker in most of pre-season races?

Cannot wait for this. So many interesting things to look at. French domination to continue? Gee and Rachel on the Atherton bikes, Shaw getting some luck, Greenland pushing on, Seagrave really pushing for wins, new bike again for Gwin.

Should be brilliant. Hope whatever the conditions, it’s the same for all. Slightly spoilt (for me) the start of last season when the first few races were so different top to bottom as riders went out.

Hype hype! Gwin and Atherton to win!

The STW youtube channel said Hart has been beaten by Walker in most of pre-season races?

Yeah but it’s only 2 races. The British round at Rheola and Maribor IXS last weekend. He must have levelled up in the off season. Hopefully Danny will be back to his downright dangerous best on Sunday. Surely the best rider to watch when he’s absolutely frothing for it.

Just been watching #cathrovision – course looks ready to churn up:)

Also, we’ve (we the UK) got Mikayla Parton riding her first WC…straight in Elite!

Has everyone done their fantasy DH on Pinkbike?

it’s forecast to rain for finals!

YAAASSSS !!!

I’d like to see Jack Moir do well and stay injury free this year.

What’s going on with the Gee Course Preview. I keep seeing links to it and they’re all dead!

As Town get relegated from the Premier League (see Soccerball thread) come on the mad Huddersfield bastard!

Timed training results are on pinkbike
https://www.pinkbike.com/news/results-timed-training-maribor-dh-world-cup-2019.html

What’s going on with the Gee Course Preview. I keep seeing links to it and they’re all dead!

Can’t see it elsewhere, but it is on the Red Bull Bike Facebook page.

Timed training is up on PB (along with a RW gondola interview with Finn Iles).. not sure you can read much into it though (as ever!) as the weather is likely to change come Sunday.

oooh ta frogstomp – looks great!

Course preview is up on Pinkbike.

Just watched Gee’s course preview – what a track!
Looking forward to Sunday.
Those roots & clay are gonna be horrendous in the wet.

Ooh Baby I like it RAW

Ben Cathro given more than 3 minutes on course for his preview is good.

I’m really hoping Luca Shaw gets the little bit of luck he needs after those storming nearly runs last year

Out with a broken collar bone. Gutted for him.

Quali times are up.
Live timing here:
https://prod.chronorace.be/angular/results.html#/uci/event/20190327_dh/DHI/ME/dh/2/res

I wont spoil it for a couple of hours

Hearing that it rained during qualis so that has probably affected results

Believe it started raining at end of womens quali so track conditions will be changing during the mens. Hopefully consistent track conditions for all tomorrow.

Well that was a bit excruciating for Minnaar in the preview. Also has Warner got a new job as a Swiss policeman?!😂

that was awesome!
(Minnaar. not Luigi’s facial hair)

Is Greg not racing tomorrow? Im away with work and the internet is slow to nonexistent so looking this up isnt as easy as it should be. Didnt see his name on the list of qualifying times and with last years injuries i dont think hes a ptotected rider any more

Saw on Instagram, Minaar didn’t make the cut for the first time in 20yrs of racing.

Notable riders who won’t be racing tomorrow:

• Greg Minnaar
• Phil Atwill
• Wyn Masters
• Greg Williamson
• Kade Edwards
• Jackson Frew
• Thomas Estaque
• Florent Payet
• Matthew Walker (NZL)
• Max Hartenstern
• Henry Fitzgerald
• Bruce Klein
• Magnus Manson
• Angel Suarez

Well… that’s my fantasy league **** ha ha

Gutted for Phil Atwill, Wyn Masters and Greg Minnaar – can’t believe the GOAT isn’t racing tomorrow!

Go on then, I’ll put a tenner on Gwin equalising Minnaar’s record. I reckon he’ll surpass it this season anyway, he’s got 8 opportunities to do it.