On the wrong track
When urban downhiller Tomas Slavik goes travelling, things get exciting. After his visit to Genoa, the city on the Italian Riviera was included in the Cerro Abajo city downhill series. Now Tomas is travelling to Amman. The metropolis of 4 million people in Jordan is built on seven hills. For an action clip, the speedy Czech races from the Temple of Hercules on the Jabal al-Qual'a down steep stairs and alleyways into the Roman amphitheatre from the 2nd century.
On the razor's edge
Rape fields in bloom are signalling us. It's finally getting warm! Yay! Bike pro David Cachon is happy and pulls his bike onto the rear wheel - and the trail melts in the long focal length of photographer Ibanez. Fun fact: Even the Romans used rapeseed because of its high oil content. The yellow plant experienced a boom in the 19th century when whale oil to fuel the oil lamps became too expensive - because humans had killed almost all the whales. How bitter!
Right at the top!
For his YouTube clip "Get High", World Cup racer Jérome Caroli humped his enduro bike up this Alpine peak near Verbier. "Whether it's a ridge ride or a gravel slope - I wanted to blast down the mountain like I do on my skis in winter," said the French-Swiss rider. And we say: you've succeeded, Jerome!" Look closely: his rear wheel is already taking off - this could be fun!
BIKE: Your YouTube clip shows breathtaking freeriding on Alpine peaks. It's almost unbelievable that you can bike there at all. Where did you get the skills?
Jérôme Caroli: I have competed in many World Cup races, including three Red Bull Hardline races. I'm also an experienced freeskier. So this alpine terrain is nothing new to me.
How did you come up with the idea for this clip - did your skiing have anything to do with it?
Yes, skiing gave me the idea for this "Get High" project. I wanted to bike where I ski in winter. Way up in the alpine terrain.
You've succeeded. You surf down mountain slopes on your bike like a skier. The technique is difficult. Where do you practise that?
In Utah, for example. I was at the Red Bull Rampage as a trail builder. I was able to test the technique well there. In Switzerland, it's very difficult to find a suitable spot. The gravel is usually fine enough in the upper part of the slope, but then it gets coarser and coarser until you hit real boulders further down - that's when it gets really dangerous.
But then you have found a good slope.
Yes, in Upper Valais, not far from where I live. I live in Verbier. I wanted a great panorama and a line like the one I would ski. Wide, flowy, smooth.
Your clip "Get High" lasts less than three minutes. But I bet it was a hell of a lot of work.
I put a lot of time into finding the right place. It would have taken even longer if I'd had to keep descending into the valley. But I'm a paraglider and flew down into the valley.
In the clip you say that falling is not an option.
That's right. I'm not either. I'm very calculated and think long and hard about what I want to risk.
Guys like Brage Vestavik use a big bike for scree surfing. You, on the other hand, rode the Scor 4060, a light enduro bike. Why did you do that?
Scor was my sponsor. They don't have a downhill bike in their programme. The Scor 4060 LT is the largest calibre. That's why I used it. It worked well - the uphills would have been very tedious with a downhill bike.
Parade comeback
The boy can't believe it: he's won! Red Bull Hardline Tasmania 2025, one of the toughest downhill races in the world. The year before, Jacko tore the ligaments in his knee, and the following year Jackson Goldstone won despite the long injury break. Only the wonder boy from Squamish, British Columbia, can do that. Whether he also manages to dominate the Downhill World Cup like he did in 2023 will be revealed at the end of May in Poland. Expert Marcus Klausmann says: "The downhill world has turned upside down. Goldstone will have to dress warmly - the competition is fierce!"
At 4806 metres, Mont Blanc is the undisputed king of the Alps. However, the catchment area for mountain bikers is more likely to be found in the Aosta Valley, on the Italian side of the Alpine giant. From there, however, the view is not half as impressive as from the French side (photo). Especially with the Aiguille du Midi (in clouds) and the neighbouring peaks that pierce the sky like dragon's teeth. At the back left: the Vallée Blanche. Bike pro Cyrille Kurtz has no eyes for it; he leverages his tail around the hairpin bend.
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Dimitri Lehner
Editor
