So one thing is certain in advance: The mountain bike festival on the Rothorn will once again be high-class and extremely exciting. Can Tracey Hannah (AUS) secure her first success in the overall World Cup ahead of time? Will the French start a new downhill winning streak? How will the two local heroes Jolanda Neff and Nino Schurter fare in the battle for victory on the day and success in the overall World Cup? Will Schurter reach the next milestone in cross-country history in front of his home crowd?
As usual, Red Bull TV will be broadcasting the Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountain Bike World Cup live and on-demand in English, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish as well as with German commentary. Christopher D. Ryan will be broadcasting the sixth cross-country event of the season on 09 August (XCC) and 11 August (XCO) in the German-language livestream on Red Bull TV commentate. The cult commentator will have double support for the main race on Sunday: Nathalie Schneitter, former world runner-up and multiple Swiss champion, and Sabine Spitz, Olympic champion and two-time world champion, will form a German-Austrian-Swiss triumvirate together with Ryan. For the German livestream of the seventh Downhill World Cup on Saturday 10 August, Ryan will be joined by former bike pro and gravity all-rounder Tibor Simai. The broadcast of the cross-country Short track race starts on Friday, 09 August at 17:20. The broadcasts of the downhill races on Saturday start at 12:30 pm (Ladies) and around 13:45 (men). The XCO races take place on Sunday from 11:00 am (women) and 13:30 (men) live.
DHI: Are the French returning to the hot seat? Decision for the women?
The phalanx has been broken. For the first time this season, the French were beaten in the downhill. Loic Bruni and Amaury Pierron have won six downhill races this season. Going further back, Laurie Greenland (GBR) had won eleven of the last twelve races until he produced a dream run on the Black Snake in Val di Sole and celebrated his first World Cup victory. The French now want to strike back in Lenzerheide. The Brits in the person of Greenland and Danny Hart - who finished fifth with plates - want to hold their own. Greg Minnaar (RSA) was also strong in Trentino. Despite a crash, he finished seventh. Troy Brosnan (AUS) also wants to quickly forget his worst result of the season (10th). And David Trummer (AUT) is rushing from Austrian record to Austrian record - next stop Lenzerheide.
There was also a premiere victory in the women's elite: Marine Cabirou (FRA) outclassed the competition by almost twelve seconds and secured her first World Cup victory. Tracy Hannah (AUS) already seems to be fully focussed on her overall World Cup mission - an understandable undertaking with a 170-point lead. With a success in Switzerland, the chances of an early title win are very good. The two Swiss athletes Camille Balanche and Emilie Siegenthaler also want to continue their upward trend in front of their home crowd and Nina Hoffmann (GER) wants to get back on the podium. The German, one of the shooting stars of the season, recently had to put up with two serious crashes after impressive performances.
The Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountain Bike World Cup 2019 with German, English, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish commentary from 09 - 11 August LIVE from Lenzerheide and available on-demand anytime and anywhere - only on Red Bull TV!
XC: Neff and Schurter want home victories
In the cross-country stronghold of Switzerland, all eyes are naturally on home superstars Jolanda Neff and Nino Schurter. Neff is in the overall lead for the first time this season at her home World Cup and wants to extend this with her first win of the season in the Olympic cross country. But Kate Courtney (USA) wants to reclaim the lead. After her weaker performance in Vallnord, the reigning world champion countered with a double victory in Les Gets just one week later. The five-time season winner has now set her sights on doing the same in Lenzerheide after failing to impress in Val di Sole. A good omen: she won her World Championship title in Lenzerheide last year. But it will probably not just be a duel between Neff and Courtney. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (FRA) has improved greatly so far this season following her two leg operations in December and triumphed in Val di Sole. Anne Tauber, Anne Terpstra (both NED), Jenny Rissved (SWE), Yana Belomoina (UKR), Sina Frei (SUI) and Elisabeth Brandau (GER) complete the broad field of favourites.
Mathieu van der Poel (NED) once again dominated the men's field in Val di Sole after his short summer break. Neither Henrique Avancini (BRA) in the short track nor Nino Schurter or Mathias Flueckiger (both SUI) in the main race were able to follow him. So victory in both the XCC and the XCO can only go to the flying Dutchman. However, with the home advantage behind him, Schurter and Flueckiger want to challenge him for victory. Schurter not only has a home win in his sights, but also the all-time record of Julien Absalon (FRA). One success and Schurter would have equalled the Frenchman's 33 World Cup victories.
Excitement and drama are therefore pre-programmed for Lenzerheide. Red Bull TV will be broadcasting the Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountain Bike World Cup live and on-demand, available anytime and anywhere on redbull.tv. The live broadcast starts on Friday, 09 August at 17:20. Further up-to-date information and even more action-packed entertainment on the subject of mountain biking can be found on the Red Bull Bike Channel at redbull.tv/bike.
Schedule of the Mercedes-Benz UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Lenzerheide - LIVE on Red Bull TV:
(all times in CEST, repeats of the live broadcasts will be available immediately afterwards)
Lenzerheide XCC Women: Friday, 09 August, from 17:20 live on Red Bull TV
Lenzerheide XCC Men: Friday, 09 August, directly after the Women's race live
Lenzerheide DHI Women: Saturday, 10 August, from 12:30 pm live on Red Bull TV
Lenzerheide DHI Men: Saturday, 10 August, from 13:45 live on Red Bull TV
Lenzerheide XCO Women: Sunday, 11 August, from 11:00 am live on Red Bull TV
Lenzerheide XCO Men: Sunday, 11 August, from 13:30 live on Red Bull TV
