For the fourth points race the 20chocolate Downhill Cup series will be a paying a visit to the Austrian Cup on 27 July.
The Austrian Downhill Cup auner Austrian Gravity Series started in Maribor at the beginning of May, together with the Slovenian 20chocolate Downhill Cup. It would be rude not to return the visit to our northern neighbours. Since we won’t be able to make it to the nearby Petzen, we’re heading a bit further afield at the end of July, to the bike park above the town of Lienz in East Tyrol. The race day at the event hosted by Ride Free club will be Saturday, 27 July. It will be the fourth race for points in the 20chocolate Downhill Cup series this season, the second for the Austrian series.
Lienz is not nearly as far from Slovenia as the mention of Tyrol makes it sound. Something like 130 km or an hour and 45 minutes drive from the Karavanke tunnel.
Not the biggest, but a friendly and popular Bikepark Lienz has grown there in recent years. Among the four trails is the Alban Lakata Trail, about 2 km long, with close to 400 vertical metres of drop, which will host the downhill race. Last year’s men’s winner, Nico Ofner, took three minutes and 37 seconds (in muddy conditions) to reach the finish line at the bottom station of the gondola.
On Friday, the course will be open for riding during the park’s opening hours (from 9am to 5pm). On Saturday, the official training will take place between 9am and 11am, the ranking session will start at 12pm and the final at 3pm.
Local Rules
Please note that Austrian rules on mandatory protective equipment apply. All competitors must wear elbow pads and back protectors in addition to full face helmets, knee pads and full finger gloves.
The competition will be held according to the Austrian categories and the scoring for the 20chocolate DH Cup according to the Slovenian categories.The prizes are also according to the rules of the auner Austrian Gravity Series.
Propositions & Registration
Full details and entries here.
Registration will be open until Wednesday 24 July at midnight.
On the leaderboards
Žak Gomilšček and Tima Smrdel are heading to Lienz as the series leaders in the elite categories. Full standings after three rounds can be found here.
The Upside of Race on Saturday?
Let’s just say that on Saturday night after the race there can be a party with live music.
Check, there will be one! And on Sunday, you can go and enjoy the park. It is possible to stay in the car park.