The countdown is on. From 7 to 11 October, Saalfelden Leogang will become the epicentre of the mountain bike scene. The team trucks arrive days in advance, the pros complete their training runs and fine-tune the suspension of their lavishly sprung racing bikes. The downhill world championship track is called "Speedster". And it is fast. The best riders reach speeds of up to 65 km/h on the rough terrain. The pros were last able to get an impression of the 2.3-kilometre course at the 2019 World Cup. It combines steep passages with challenging root carpets, stone fields, hairpin bends and fat jumps. Riders can look forward to one or two exciting new features in the World Cup year.
The cross-country elite will have to make a change. Instead of Albstadt in Swabia, the fastest MTB racers in the world will be competing in Saalfelden Leogang. The 3.6 kilometre circuit has everything a competition course needs. On Saturday, the elite around Nino Schurter and Mathieu van der Poel will be battling for gold here. The World Championship races are far more than just a weekend event. "The municipality, the mountain railways, the hotel industry, lots of volunteers - everyone helps together," says bike park boss Kornel Grundner. Unique images are broadcast around the world so that pretty much everyone can experience the big bike festival.
Timetable: The most important events of the 2020 UCI MTB World Championships in Saalfelden Leogang
Wednesday, 7 October
Here we go! The Bike World Championship kicks off:
- 12:30 pm: Cross-Country Team Relay World Championships
- 14:30: E-MTB World Championships Men
- 16:15: E-MTB World Championships Women
- 11:00 - 19:00: Team and Expo area open with numerous exhibitors and food trucks
Thursday, 8 October
The tension mounts. Testing the suspension set-up one last time, memorising the ideal line: Racers, mechanics and support staff switch on the first stage of race mode:
- 13:30: Junior Women's Cross-Country Olympic World Championships
- 15:30: Junior Cross-Country Olympic World Championships
- 17:00 - 20:00: Red Bull Pump Track Last Chance Qualifier
- 08:00 - 19:00: Team and Expo area open with numerous exhibitors and food trucks
Friday, 9 October
Now's the time! If you're not fast enough, you're out. For the top riders, the qualifying runs are the dress rehearsal. For those who are not among the world's best, it's already all or nothing. And there is already a final - at the Pumptrack World Championships.
- 10:30 - 11:30 am: Downhill Qualification (Juniors)
- 11:45 - 13:30: Downhill Qualification (Elite)
- 15:00: U23 Men's Cross-Country Olympic World Championships
- 16:00 - 20:00: Pump Track World Championships (training, warm-up, final)
- 08:00 - 19:00: Team and Expo area open with numerous exhibitors and food trucks
Saturday, 10 October
Now it counts. Who will come out on top and end up wearing the rainbow jersey?
- 10:00 am: U23 Women's Cross-Country Olympic World Championships
- 12:15 pm: Women's Elite Cross-Country Olympic World Championships
- 14:45: Men's Elite Cross-Country Olympic World Championships
- 08:00 - 19:00: Team and Expo area open with numerous exhibitors and food trucks
Sunday, 11 October
The showdown begins. What will the new downhill world champions be called?
- 09:30 am: Junior Women's Downhill World Championships
- 09:30 am: Junior Downhill World Championships
- 13:00: Women's Elite Downhill World Championships
- 14:00: Men's Elite Downhill World Championships
- 08:00 - 18:00: Team and Expo area open with numerous exhibitors and food trucks
Detailed schedule, information on ticket sales and all details on the World Championship events: www.bikewm2020.com
